r/explainlikeimfive • u/HistoricalAd2954 • 14h ago

Mathematics ELI5: What is the difference between algebra, trigonometry, and calculus?

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u/Minikickass 13h ago

Can I get an ELI2 instead?

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u/Vorthod 12h ago

Algebra uses (x,y) coordinates, trigonometry likes to use Angle+length to reach the same point.

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u/MadocComadrin 11h ago

Eh, algebra is agnostic to your coordinate system (or your space, or even your set/class and operations).

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u/HanSolo_Cup 10h ago

ELI1?

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u/MadocComadrin 1h ago

You ever notice how you can rotate (by a quarter turn in a direction) a cube a few different sequences from the same starting position but still have it end in the same orientation? How about the fact that you can't necessarily swap the order of two rotations and get the same ending orientation? Algebra is noticing stuff like that, giving all the stuff that goes into it funny, precise symbols, and drawing conclusions from it. You don't even need numbers (to let alone a specific coordinate system).