Physics question

Im sorry, but you did not use common core math. FAIL!

 

I don't specifically know what common core is, so I Googled it, haha. They did something similar in high schools in Alberta a few years back, parents weren't super amused and so they kind of changed things around again. In any case, this isn't typically the kind of problem you'd do in high school without making the simplifying assumptions (beam supported at centre or thickness negligible). It's been a few years since I left high school though, so my memory of physics is more than a tad hazy.

Jeff

 

Common Core math makes about as much sense as the "New Math" that was brought out decades ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mc7eb1i9o4

 

I think common core makes a lot of sense. It’s how people who are good at math do it in their heads. Very similar to how cashiers count change back to you.

 

Now it’s been over forty years since I took any college math courses and perhaps it’s all new. But aren’t there only four operations in math? Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
You can mix them all you want but that’s it. The problem is kids aren’t taught to do them only use a calculator.
One thing I used to do in an interview is hand the applicant a sheet with some math problems and tell them to do them without a calculator. Many if they ever knew how to do simple math have forgotten.

 

Sure, for basic math. Once you get into calculus and differential equations and other more complex mathematics, there’s a whole new mathematical language per say that you have to learn.