u/myopicsurgeon

When I was 18 I bought a Peugeot 206+, drove it for 3 years from 100k to 120k miles or so. I've had to get new tires, exhaust components, my clutch started showing wear, and eventually my coolant system started leaking which led to head gasket failure. I loved it but hated it at the same time, more so once I read about how unreliable Peugeots are compared to some brands.

So now at 21 I started browsing a bit, and of course Toyota was mentioned everywhere. I'm now eyeing the 2003-2008 Corolla range, but my dad warns me that it is over 20 years old (I trust his common sense...), but I'm wondering how much that puts me at risk compared to a 2010 car of some other brands.

The reason I'm asking about an older Corolla specifically (they're not particularly common in the Netherlands, compared to other Toyota's), is because I'm looking for something that's a bit more powerful on highways and spacious. A smaller car like a Yaris might be a better buy moneywise, but then still I'd probably be looking in the same age range.

How much of a risk are these age related issues really? In contract to the extreme reliability of these cars? I don't have a huge budget, maybe €3000-4000, so my gut tells me to rather spent it on an older, but good car rather than a newer but mediocre one.

From my understanding, Calculus 3 as it's called in the USA is Multivariable + Vector Calculus. Basically an extension of Calculus 1 and 2 that introduces scary shapes in the end?

Now, I'm studying for my third Calculus course, and I find it to be way easier. I feel well prepared after three days. Whereas I spent a full week on both 1 and 2, and only got around 50%. I did change my study methods, where now I immediately dive into sample exams from scratch, whereas in 1 and 2 I'd work my way through all of the homework problems.

Now, Vector Calculus is a seperate course for me, do you think that could be the reason?

Interestingly though, looking at my uni's quality report, Calculus 3 (Multivariable) has a passing rate of around 30%, whereas for Vector Calculus it is around 50%.

Europe uses a system of European Credits to allocate study load to courses. 1 EC is worth 28 hours of study. Small courses can be 1 or even 0.5 EC, up to 7 or more for big projects. My university requires at least 45 out of 60 to be passed in the 1st year for the student to proceed with the study programme. Since a large portion of the EC's in the first year come from math or physics based courses, a lot of students miss points, and thus get kicked off the program. Overall about 60% of students pass.

My programme:

* Quartile 1: Calculus 1, Set Theory, Statics 1, Fundamentals of CE, Project (Intersection general design)

* Quartile 2: Calculus 2, Fluid Mechanics 1, Fluid Mechanics experiments, hydrology, Multi-actor problems, Intro to Python, Project (Dam design)

* Quartile 3: Linear Algebra, Transport Systems&Policy, Data Analysis (particularly relating to traffic), Statistical math, Project (redesigning road network to meet sustainable goals)

* Quartile 4: Calculus 3, Statics 2 (statically indeterminate), intro to project disciplines, Project (redesigning a train station area)

As you might notice, the last 3 quartiles serve the three core themes of my study programme: water, traffic and construction. The first quartile is an introduction to these three.

Overall, I found the programme to be very enjoyable. It is not an easy programme, and the pace is very high, but it is doable if you study consistently. More so than attending the lectures, because frankly I could not hear half of what was said (professors with strong accents). I had some stressful weeks because I was lousy at the start, but thankfully we have resits for each exam so I did well.

The subject that was arguably received best among me and other students is Fluid Mechanics 1. It introduces the core principles, and applies it to realistic problems like forces on underwater hinges or the appliance of Reynold's number. I must admit, FM1 also had the most enthusiastic teacher, but the course itself was really perceived as the first time people saw themselves becoming an engineer (I know this because my uni creates a feedback report for each quartile, using panel meetings and questionnaires for students).

The one that stuck most with me personally, though, was Linear Algebra. It is just an absolutely beautiful subject. I put the most time into it of any course, and it also has the lowest success rate of all those courses. But it was really a moment where a lot of math just comes together, and ignited a spark in me to further explore how important math really is. It seems like alien language at first, and many theorems have a dozen ways to define it, but once it makes sense, it REALLY makes sense.

Then, statics. Statics 1 was an intro to trusses/frames and beams. Statics 2 introduced deriving equations, method of forces and cross, and stress transformations. I personally really liked how this course forces you to explain what you do through drawings. But the most memorable part was deriving equations for shear up to deflection for beams. We learned this after calculus 1 and 2, so seeing the iterative integration process actually have a very useful application was just beautiful. Now, solving for 10 unknown constants is tedious work, but the chain of integration is probably the most intuitive way I've seen Calculus 2 be explained.

My least favorite course was probably governance of multiactor problems. The material consisted of 500 pages of vague policy statements, where you kind of have to fish out the important concepts, wasn't all that fun to do. But doing the stakeholder analysises in the projects were not so bad.

I didn't move out because I live close by (90% of my classmates live in dorms), so I missed a lot interactions with others, but I don't really mind. I get along well enough with everyone to join activities occassionally. However since most live on dorms, the student culture is quite strong here. A few of my most avid drinking buddies from my introduction week group ended up failing, so maybe it's good I stayed home lol.

All in all, it was a hell of a ride!

Hello all!

The deeper I get into my civil engineering bachelors (well, I'm almost finishing my 1st year, but it's been quite the year), the more I realize the absolutely beauty of mathematics. I loooove the endless questions and mystery. Like seeing e and pi come together with i to form -1.

This year, I've learned basic set/logic theory, calculus 1,2 and 3, statistical maths and linear algebra. Next year I'll learn some vector calculus and more mechanics, or expansions on math fields I've already learned. But there are so many interesting ones that I might never learn about: category theory, number theory, topology...

At night, I read about unsolvable math problems, or how some conjectures were proven after many years. Some I understand, most I do not.

The reason for my post is that I would like to be somewhat educated on most fields of math, so that I can a) understand what the fields are about, b) why they are important and c) be able to reasonably understand their challenges. For example, I still have a hard time understanding the importance of prime numbers. I know they're useful in cybersecurity, but how? Or, why is a coffee cup topologically a donut, and why is that relevant?

Is that a reasonable goal? Not mastery, but a jack of all trades kind of understanding, just for fun?

Can be as specific as you like!

For me, it's eating onions. I'll pan fry in a little bit of butter (like 5-10ml, around 50 kcal), and then just chop up a few onions. Usually between 2 and 4 onions.

Pros: tastes good, fills well for its calorie content, cheap, easy to make

Cons: mom complains about the smell, people respond puzzled when they see I'm eating 4 bland onions

About half a year ago my PC started refusing to start up. I didn't need it as it was just for occasional gaming, but this week I decided to see what's wrong with it.

I've opened a PC before to install a new WiFi card, but that's about all I've done hardware-wise.

I googled a lot and started with trying the screwdriver on front panel pins, didn't work. However, there were a few lights on on the mobo so I figured it was something with the mobo or PSU.

I tried connecting my mobo to an old PSU (which required taking it out) and voila, some fans started spinning! So I ordered a new PSU.

How I installed it was maybe not the most efficient way. I removed the mobo entirely, and at the back of it was a big mess of cables. So I disconnected ALL cables to organize it a bit. Even the rgb/fan cables on the case.

A big struggle was removing the RAM for hand space and the 24pin cable, they felt like they were glued stuck. I spent like 10 minutes on getting the 24pin loose because I was afraid of breaking the board.

But eventually I managed to get it loose, get the new PSU in and reconnect everything. Now everything is working again :)

Took me a few hours but I have to say I'm feeling proud and learned a lot about building a PC!