Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General Off Topic why chemists are weak in maths ?

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  • Doreen

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 10:37 am

    ??

  • Chemist77

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 10:49 am

    what have you been smok……ing???

  • Doreen

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 11:07 am

    Chemist77 said:

    what have you been smok……ing???

    :joy: :joy:

  • OldPerry

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    There could be any number of reasons.

    Maybe because it’s too basic

    or maybe because we only use math periodically.

    or maybe because our calculators Argon

  • smok

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 2:28 pm
    i know what is argon but dont know what does mean calculators argon
    ps : english is not my mother language
  • NeilL

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 2:29 pm

    It’s a Chemist attempt at a poor joke! ‘Argon’ sounds like ‘are gone’…..

  • smok

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 2:36 pm

    Perry said:

    There could be any number of reasons.

    Maybe because it’s too basic

    or maybe because we only use math periodically.

    or maybe because our calculators Argon

    you too know that chemists are are weak in mathematics  ?

  • OldPerry

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    Sorry, those weren’t meant to be serious replies. Just humorous puns.

    There is no good serious reply to your question because I don’t believe it is generally true that chemists are weak at math. In fact, to become a chemist you have to complete a year of Calculus. You have to take Physical Chemistry which is applied calculus. And you have to take Statistics. 

    But formulators do not have to use much math beyond calculating percentages of ingredients and working out the statistics of a market research study. So that could be a reason that you don’t see a lot of brilliant math coming from cosmetic chemists.

  • Sibech

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 3:44 pm
    Different Chemists uses math to different degrees. If you were to find a physical chemist, a quantum chemist, an analytical chemist or computational chemist, you would find some chemists who know a great deal of math.
    And while these subjects focus on the mathematics behind chemistry, all chemists need to know some level of these subjects.
    Basically, calling chemists bad at math is wrong and overgeneralizing.
    Granted most synthesis chemists use less specific math on an everyday basis, but they need to have a grasp of the underlying math in order to do their job properly.
    Formulating chemists have to use even less math, but need a better grasp on the interaction of various ingredients innately - every subject requires different levels. And if you dig deeper into cosmetic chemistry than most cosmetic chemists need to, there is actual math to find as the systems are thermodynamic by nature. Stokes Equation, Derjjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory, The Hagen-Poiseulle equation. These and many more are used by cosmetic chemists on a practical and empirical level.
  • Microformulation

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 4:10 pm

    I use Math on a daily basis. One of my undergrad courses was actually on Pharmaceutical Calculations. I think this is simply a peek at some of the value a formal education can bring.

  • smok

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 6:19 pm

    Sibech said:

    Different Chemists uses math to different degrees. If you were to find a physical chemist, a quantum chemist, an analytical chemist or computational chemist, you would find some chemists who know a great deal of math.
    And while these subjects focus on the mathematics behind chemistry, all chemists need to know some level of these subjects.
    Basically, calling chemists bad at math is wrong and overgeneralizing.
    Granted most synthesis chemists use less specific math on an everyday basis, but they need to have a grasp of the underlying math in order to do their job properly.
    Formulating chemists have to use even less math, but need a better grasp on the interaction of various ingredients innately - every subject requires different levels. And if you dig deeper into cosmetic chemistry than most cosmetic chemists need to, there is actual math to find as the systems are thermodynamic by nature. Stokes Equation, Derjjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory, The Hagen-Poiseulle equation. These and many more are used by cosmetic chemists on a practical and empirical level.

    very haapy to meet you dear
    i inderstnd you very thanks
  • smok

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    Perry said:

    Sorry, those weren’t meant to be serious replies. Just humorous puns.

    There is no good serious reply to your question because I don’t believe it is generally true that chemists are weak at math. In fact, to become a chemist you have to complete a year of Calculus. You have to take Physical Chemistry which is applied calculus. And you have to take Statistics. 

    But formulators do not have to use much math beyond calculating percentages of ingredients and working out the statistics of a market research study. So that could be a reason that you don’t see a lot of brilliant math coming from cosmetic chemists.

    heelo dear happy to meet you  in think tht i have to  take more and more from
  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 6:40 pm

    Chemists are weak in Maths for the same reason they are weak in Englishs

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    I am pretty sure it’s a bias, but what surprises me is that many people formulate without Excel. I can’t imagine how is it even possible.

  • smok

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 7:47 pm

    Chemists are weak in Maths for the same reason they are weak in Englishs

    no, a mathematician can learn a language in 6 months

    Do you know how many years a literary  needs to learn mathematics
  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 8:07 pm

    The premise of the original question is based on a false assumption … that most Chemists are weak in Math.  An overgeneralization based on a false assumption.  It’s like asking “Why are all foreigners weaks in Englishs”?

    What exactly does any of this have to do with cosmetic chemistry anyhow?

  • Dirtnap1

    Member
    February 5, 2019 at 9:41 pm

    Because we have Google and online calculators.

  • gld010

    Member
    February 11, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    I had to take  the same math classes as engineers did at my school to get my chemistry degree, I don’t think math is a weak point for me at all.

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    February 11, 2019 at 9:06 pm

    Does it mean that mathematicians are weak in chemistry…. provided that I mixed anionics with cationics ones it might be true ?

  • Dr Catherine Pratt

    Member
    February 24, 2019 at 10:23 am
    Einstein quote ‘Do not remember anything you can look up’ (I think it was him)
    that is why I love my argon calculator so much.
    Where has the humour gone? Perry must be part British…
  • em88

    Member
    February 25, 2019 at 7:37 am

    To solve this problem, first we have to understand what “weak in mathematics” means.

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