[Deusk]

Hi,

I am a First-Year Engineering student.

I have a very specific idea of how I want to use Chemical Engineering. I would like to design and build (on a small scale) a process to take household garbage (mostly plastic/aluminum) and heat it up in a vacuum to depolymerize the plastic and melt the metals and separate them into useable parts (ie. Gasses/Liquids/Carbon/Metals).

Knowing that, my question is, where might I find examples (or can anyone give me some) where I might use specific Calculus or Pre-Calculus math in the case of designing the above process?

For example, (when designing the above process) where might I use graphing of complex or polynomial functions or the Rational Zero Theorem. Etc.? (I could go through both my calculus books for every separate type of question but that might be a little long). 

Does this type of information exist out there? I would like try as much as possible to learn Calculus with examples in the area where I want to use it.

Thank you for any assistance!

[Arkcon]

I remember in General Calculus learning how to minimize/maximize area using functions, so you're correct that you can use calculus to optimize things.  However, I don't see how the ability to min/max area, or other dependent variable relates to the chemical processes involved in waste reclamation.  But hopefully, someone more versed in math will be by shortly.

[Deusk]

Thank you for moving this to the correct forum, and for the reply!  I hope whatever comes from this question can also be used or expanded-on by others to find more specific paths to learning different (but related) subjects.

[Compaq]

Calculus is one way to optimize something. Statistics is another. Did you consider statistical analysis, studying how variables affect processes on their own and in interactions? This is a very much used method to optimize processes. Of course, you need either 1) knowledge of experimental design and statistical analysis, or 2) enough knowledge of your idea that you can efficiently and sufficiently explain what needs to be done to a professional statistician, who can help you design the experiment and run the analysis and interpretation of the results for you.

[curiouscat]

Rather than bend the problem to fit the tools might it not be easier to select the tools to fit the problem?