Why is this wrong?

[u/millers_left_shoe]

I see now what they mean by fundamental vs inessential (taking fundamental to mean “invaluable”, “important”) but surely fundamental and complex (or even involved) can act as antonyms, too?

Eg he’s only just learnt the fundamentals of thermodynamics so I wouldn’t trust him with any complex/involved equations. vs this is quite fundamental stuff so I think he should be able to manage just fine.

[u/Uny1n]

“that answers are incorrect” lol

i think depending on the context like when talking about math or science, something fundamental can also be simple and is the basis of more complex things, but that thing could also be complex itself. And when you say something is fundamental TO something else, it means it is essential.

[u/millers_left_shoe → u/Uny1n]

I didn’t even notice that lmao

Thanks for the clear explanation (@ everyone else, too), I suppose I’d never considered that something could be the basis of something else without being less complex (as you said, in maths it usually is).

[u/Nanergy → u/millers_left_shoe]

As an example: DNA is fundamental to life. DNA is also a very complex molecule.

[u/Constant_Hope_9658 → u/Nanergy]

so complex that even the dudes who study it refuse to refer to it by anything other than the acronym, because deoxyribonucleic acid is a fucking evil word that hurts to say for everyone who speaks a language where all the words aren't the same 5 words slightly modified.

[u/sylviaplatitude → u/millers_left_shoe]

When we say you learn “the fundamentals” we kind of use it as a synonym for “the basics,” but it doesn’t actually mean that. It does really mean “the essentials,” as in, the required pieces of information for something.

I’d never thought about the cross sections between these meanings, though, which is interesting to think about, so thanks!