Topic: Actually used Algebra

[Bryco]

I don't remember using algebra at work before, or maybe I have but it was simple enough not to worry about. 
Today I had a simple one, but it still had me thinking for a few mins.
3 tracks attached to the ceiling hold strings of globes.
The first track is 116' long and the strings are 8' long w/ 17 globes per string.
The second track is 96' long w/ 9' strings w/ 19 globes per string.
The third track is 87' long w/ 10' strings  w/21 globes per string.
The total globes must not be more than 14100.
If all strings have the same spacing , what is the spacing?

[Arizona]

Don't ya just love how math sneaks up on ya...

[Bryco]

Yeah, it's alway a surprise.
I love to hear some other peoples examples.

[Chuck Gabriel]

Years ago, when I was working and going to school at the same time, I used calculus to calculate the volume of a spill containment dike.  I was just finishing up my final calculus class and differential equations at the time, so it was very fresh in my mind.

My boss, on the other hand, hadn't seen anything like it in twenty or thirty years, so he was really hesitant to accept my result, especially since my numbers indicated the volume was much too small.  He wanted me to prove my calculation using some alternate method, but I couldn't figure out any alternative methods  (except maybe to build it and fill it with water).  If I had been better with AutoCAD at the time, I guess I could have modeled it and gotten the volume that way.

If I had to do it again today, though, I'd be S.O.L.  Nearly every vestige of that knowledge has been purged from my mind by disuse.

[M-dub]

...calculate the volume of a spill containment dike.

That's about all I've used algebra for to the best of my knowledge... as far as I can remember, anyway.  It's funny when you actually think to yourself, "Hey, I'm actually using something they taught us in school!" 

[uncoolperson]

I did some cg and interface load calcs when i worked stress... also had the joy of checking other people's stress reports for things.

if only the pay and enviornment was better there i'd probably still be 'stressing out in stress'

[Bryco]

I go out of my way to not use a calculater or Cal command while doing cad.
Multiplication or division is all done by scaling a line.
Volume of a complex shape is definately way beyond my math.
(Chuck I would have forgotten it but never got it in the first place.)
Centroid-same thing -use cad.

Engineering calcs, don't know anything about them.
I presume you could write code to help out with some of it?