After the collapse of a high-rise during the events of "The Mysterious Mare Do Well," Twilight decides that she needs to bring the Architecture industry into the new millennium.
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Hap
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I now realize the biggest flaw with my physics class. My professor isn't a purple unicorn.
5145718
Clearly, a major with modern education systems. The lack of fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/014/c/3/fitwi_by_comeha-d7252jt.png
Oh, that was great.
College is fun, yo.
5149132 Thanks! It's fun on both sides of the lectern!
Ah yes, vector calculus! Sadly, I only ever learned the math, not what it was actually used for. Automatic upvote for math, but a lot of your images seem funky and not lined up with the text properly.
I'm really tempted to write "Twilight Teaches You Calculus Backwards" now.
5149384
Not possible to correct without actually embedding the text of the entire paragraph into the image or FiM Fiction allowing finer control of formatting. Both approaches cause problems.
5149458 That is true. I did what I could with the images. I'd like a way to vertically center them relative to the text, but that's actually a lot to ask, and most stories don't require inline images (or math equation rendering, for that matter).
5149485
5149458
Really? I've been embedding images into my text without much problem. I suppose it's difficult if the text is abnormally tall, though. Then again, I was also using SVGs to render the text natively, which works sometimes, but occasionally there's a font mismatch. Still, to me, it seemed like there was much more of an alignment problem than there really needed to be.
If I had just read this story in my first year I would have been better at linear algebra... and subsequently my vector calculus course. If only there was a whole series dedicated to teaching mathematics with ponies, *hint* *hint*
Another reason why PurpleSmart is best pony! Great story, Hap!
5149734 Thanks!
Well Vector Mechanics are interesting...
I think I'll wait for the abridged version I'll likely get my junior high school year, or senior depending upon a few factors
I liked it because of the vector and scalar joke, is funny because it works on more then one level.
5154729 I like to think it's a joke that has... three dimensions!
Okay, that one was really bad.
Sorry.
And no, I didn't invent the joke. I work with a lot of math teachers.
5149384
Not just the centering, it doesn't work well with the dark backgrounds.
5166157 True. Let's lobby Knighty for rendering support for MathType.
Unfortunately, I majored in Arts & Technology (or Emerging Media; I switched majors a lot). So a lot of this sailed right over my head. Been a while since I was in a math class, now that I think of it.
Got the Scaler and Vector joke, though.
I didn't understand any of that math.
But, it was well written, got some chuckles from me, and I learned a new joke. And, if I ever need to build a wooden skyscraper ... I'll hire an actual engineer.
I expected Purple Smart not to limit herself to such a pedestrian special case as three-space. At least not without apologising profusely for the loss of generality
This story reminds me about a conversation I had a while ago about τ (Tau). As everypony knows, the 1 true CircleConstant is τ which is c/r. The use of τ/2 is an historical accident. The biggest proponents of τ/2 are engineers who use calipers for measuring crosssections. The could also could get the most benefit from τ:
Engineers like to use π (Pi) for τ/2 The formula for the area of a circle written in terms of π is:
πr^2
When they have to figure out the volume of a sphere, some disastrously use the formula:
πr^3
Or
¾πr^3
These mistakes are from using the wrong CircleConstant. The generic formula is:
(d-1)/dτ^d
D is dimention. In 2D, it is:
(2-2)/2τr^2
This simplfies to:
½τr^2
In 3D, it is:
(3-1)/3τr^3
This simplifies to:
⅔τr^3
¡It is impossible to mess up the mathematics if one uses the 1 true CircleConstant!
5176773 Does that work in dozenal as well?
5178770
You know perfectly well it works in duodecimal, or any base. Somewhat seriously, this raises the question what is a good base to give the ponies in our stories:
One might as well make the ponies more alien by giving them another base. The most obvious accidental base for ponies is quaternary because ponies have 4 hooves. enough said about Quaternary.
By radix-economy, the best integer base is ternary. Mathematically, the best form of ternary is balanced ternary. One uses -1, 0, and +1, Let us represent these as T, 0, and 1. τ is:
τ = 1T0 . 10T,T0T,110 , 0T1,10T,T0T , 1TT,000,001
I did the conversion myself.
It has the lowest carry-rate of only 2/9ths. One carries ¼ of the time in binary and 9/20ths of the time in decimal.
Truncation and rounding is the same operation.
Arithmetic is simplest in balanced ternary.
If we have our fictional ponies use something else than quaternary or balanced ternary, some bases are better than others. Bases which immediately come to mind are highly composite numbers and greatest common multiples of natural numbers up to a certain value:
Highly composite numbers have many factors.
Least common multiples of natural numbers up to a certain value allow for lots of consecutive low divisors. Least common multiples are highly composite up to 60. This points to sexagesimal. Sexagesimal is a good base for fictional ponies.
PHYSICS!
I THINK!
MOST DEFINITELY MATH!
imma go bash my head into a wall now......
5210358 Physics... on steroids. Well, the first part of the first semester of Physics, anyway.
5210825
the one part of science i hate with a passion
physics....
5210901 Them's fightin' words.
I always knew "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" had a lot more to say about competent civil engineering and city planning than about bragging, but I somehow never even considered how ponies would apply the right-hand rule. I really appreciate my hands.
Remind me to bring my vector calculus questions to you.
5406876 Sure!
It bothers me that I don't understand more of the math. It's been way too many years, and it's in the wrong language.
I'm guessing that this is college-level math? Most of it seems to be the same as in the advanced math classes I took, but since I never went to a college-equivalent or university I never got to use it enough to remember much.
Nice variation on the right hand rule. Statics wise, it would have been better to introduce them to 2d stuff first, no cross products that way.
5423997 a fair amount of this is easier to digest with visual aides. Yeah its college level. My introduction to vector math was in first quarter physics, you see it alot in engineering.
5423997 Yes, as jxj said, it's a college level engineering class called "Vector Mechanics for Engineers" aka "Statics." I've actually had readers who were taking this course as they read this story, and identified the book from the lecture that Twilight presents, which is pretty much copy/pasted from my lecture notes, with added dialogue and interaction with students.
5424711
5425332
I am terrified of going into mechanical engineering now... maybe I should stick with programming... I'm so terrified and I didn't even read the whole story yet.
How close does Mutlivariable Calculus and Differential equations come to this at least in terms of difficulty or when you learn it?
So despite being in arguably the best magnet program in my school county, I have still no understanding of physics... I should have taken AP Physics C this year... it's Senior year. I mean even if I bombed the AP test, I would be so much more prepared for taking physics in college.
I have so much to learn. I'm terrified that I won't be able to stand engineering as a career.
6612900 it's not as bad as it seems. As it turns out, fanfics aren't the best way to convey knowledge of statics and i've never been good at learning math from textbooks. Multi variable calculus isn't to bad. To quote my physics professor "stuff in 3d is the same as in 1d, just thee times the fun." That's essentially true For example the multi variable equivalent of the derivative is the gradient and is the derivative with respect to each variable. Differential equations range drastically in difficulty. you might have seen them already. v=dx/dt is a really simple differential equation. Multivariable calculus is typically the last calculus class you take (at least in the U.S.) and differential equations is typically after that along with some linear algebra (really useful stuff). I'm a junior (third year) and i'm still waiting for the ball to drop on math, although that's going to happen any day now.
For mechanical engineering, you'll need a strong grasp on classical mechanics. Although with the way it's structured (at least in the U.S.) You'll end up taking a basic physics class that will introduce you to basic mechanics. Then you'll take classes that cover portions of mechanics in much greater detail. It'as also useful if you can visualize parts and see how they interact in your head.
I wouldn't worry to much about taking the AP classes as long as you took the basic physics class and understood what was going on. I grew up in a small town. You mentioned being in the best program in your county, I went to the only high school in the county. One AP test in English. Now i'm going to a very had to get into school (under 10% acceptance rate) and one of the best ME programs in the state.
6613250 Congratulations on getting in!
5425332
I also neglected to mention that I am taking Multivariable Calc right now, and Differential equations next semester. So. It's this easy? Calculus wise anyway. I'll probably have to take it again in college just to help me remember, because I don't memorize this stuff, but it will be that much easier.
Thanks
6613712 I wouldn't say the class is easy, for sure. But it really, really builds on what you learn in General Physics I. Which, don't worry about not having a physics class in high school. You'll have to un-learn it all anyway, to make room for the more rigorous Gen Phys.
So, if you don't understand it now, don't worry. That's to be expected. Also, I wrote it not to convey the material, but to be funny. The way the material is presented in this story is intended to highlight the divide between Twilight and the students. She's as naive and clueless as they are, but in a different way.
Also, it's not the calculus you need to worry about. It's the trig. You'd better really fuckin' love triangles.
6613712 multivariable isn't to bad until the very end. The main problem with differential equations is that there isn't a set way to solve them. If it meets certain criteria, you can solve it one way, but if it doesn't then you can't. The point of me mentioning my school is that you don't need to go into college with a lot of AP math and trig.
Like Hap said, the class isn't easy even if the math isn't super intense compared to what you get in math classes. The hardest part will also probably be the massive slog of algebra and trig. I ended up with a system of 24 equations (without any knowledge of linear algebra). I spent 5 minutes or so generating them using statics, and I ran out of time trying to solve them with algebra.
6613939 Well I took AP Phyiscs A and II (because I happened to take AP Physics A the year before they changed it to I and II, and now they are 2 different tests too. It used to be that you had to take AP Physics A one year and then B another year, and then take 1 test for both.)
It's just that AP Physics I and II aren't worth very much to most colleges or anywhere near as Rigorous as AP Physics C. On the other hand, AP Physics C would probably have overwhelmed me now... Then again it will probably overwhelm me a bit in college too, plus I'll be taking harder courses in college on top of that... Oh well, I'll live.
I'm just worried because I'm working on deciding part of my future right now, and I'm not exactly sure what I want or need. That's what college is for though. I said that I was terrified not so much because it will be hard (because anything I want to do will be hard, and worth it), but because I'm not sure if I can stand doing so many equations and math all the time in a career. Well it depends on exactly what jobs I take, and even then, I shouldn't ever have a job where I do math most of the day. I hope. Math's not bad, it just takes a while to go through all the steps, and after a while I can go crazy, but I assume that it's because of all the repetition and practice to make us learn and memorize how to do these problems in general.
I will read the rest of the story though, and I do find it funny so far.
Do you have any funny professor stories? The only ones that I have are from my AWESOME comp sci teacher. He's great and makes funny lessons. Well he did, not so much for comp sci 3 where we are learning Flash, even though it's dying.
Thanks
WOAH! That's a HUGE wall of text...
6614485 This actually is a true professor story. I literally had t-shirts printed up with "The Pegasus" drawn on the front. All the engineering students got one at the end of that class.
But as to your worries, no, engineering isn't about math. Math is a language you use to describe and express things that happen in real life. Until math becomes a second language to you, it will be a struggle.
Are the images available? Cannot load any
6687317 All the images work for me. They are hosted on my sta.sh account. Try right-clicking and copy/pasting the URL?
6614959
Just r X F and break the forces down into the Fr at the point. Torque resultant is a free moment, so it can go anywhere!
Heh, this brings me back to when I had this stuff back in uni. I actually liked the subject, but haven't used it for anything since. Good job making it a fun read!
8363983
Glad you liked it, and thanks!
I'm really tempted to give this its first downvote just to tickle you......
But I enjoyed it way too much for that.
8907639
Heh, I was honestly expecting that someone would. Glad you found it enjoyable.
8908181
Too much Math, my brain hurts