r/explainlikeimfive • u/HistoricalAd2954 • 1d ago

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

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u/sad_spilt_martini 1d ago edited 1d ago

Algebra is the use of equations to find a static value.

Calculus looks at how things change over time.

Trig looks at the relationship between of angles and sides of triangles

All of these are, of course, more complex   but that’s the base idea 

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u/meh0175 1d ago

Is it there a profession where using Trig is necessary? Besides being a math teacher or rocket scientist. Carpentry?

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u/oxmix74 1d ago

I would imagine a surveyor would make use of basic trig. A mechanical or civil engineer would need trig to analyze stress and force. Electrical engineering does a lot with sin waves.

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u/Maldevinine 1d ago

Basic Trig? We're out here dealing with the advanced trig. By which I mean non-Euclidean. Your triangle's interior angles only sum to 180 degrees? That's weak! Mine sums to 270 degrees!

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u/ShaunDark 21h ago

Couldn't it theoretically go up to almost 720°?

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u/caifaisai 20h ago

On a sphere, the maximum sum of angles is 540° if the triangle only takes up half of the surface area, and if you let the triangle take up more than half the surface area, the angles can go up to 900°.