[infinitifall]

I have always found questions like "when are we going to use this" repulsive. It is the mark of an individual who sees themselves as little more than a slave, forced to learn things to stay useful.

The logical conclusion of this would be a world where everyone only knows exactly what is required of them and nothing more. Answering this question would miss the whole point. What ever happened to general knowledge? Don't you want to understand a fundamental part of how the universe in which you exist works?

If you don't know calculus I consider you illiterate and unable to understand much of world you live in, just like you are illiterate if you don't know that the earth is round (and why would you need to know that, I wonder?).

[bick_nyers]

I think the illiterate part is a bit harsh but I generally agree with the rest of your sentiment.

I was just recently giving your exact argument, that if in high school you learned only exactly what was needed to perform your job as an adult, you would essentially be a cog in a machine that requires the world to stay completely static for your entire life in order for you to not get screwed when your skills inevitably become obsolete.

The point of calculus (which imo is just the common path of achieving mathematical maturity) is not that you will use math in your day to day, but that you will be a more well-rounded and dynamic person mentally.

That being said, uninspired high school mathematics focused on memorization is not helpful for anyone.

[ablyveiled]

>Don't you want to understand a fundamental part of how the universe in which you exist works?

Only for a reasonable price. The price differs between individuals for many meaty and mindful reasons.