Source
r/EngineeringStudents•
dhaugh

Help me with a belligerent professor

Rant/Vent

Today I approached my materials science professor after class with a question about an apparent error in our homework problem statement. The problem included a design criteria that "delta t < abs(0.050 mm)" which I thought should've been "abs(delta t) < 0.050 mm". In the context of the problem, delta t will always be a negative number. He got mad at me, refused to discuss it, and I later exchanged a few emails with him. Refusing to admit to making a mistake, he eventually explicitly asserted that "delta t < abs(0.050 mm)" is equivalent to  "abs(delta t) < 0.050 mm". So I'm asking for your help, what kind of ridiculous proofs can we derive from this supposed 'fact' so that I can submit incorrect homework answers that are technically correct based on this assertion? I don't care about the 10% of my grade that's based on homework, I just want to spite him.

Posted Jan 31, 2022, 8:15 PM UTC

28
mrhoa31103•

Are you sure that delta t will always be a negative number? What does "delta t" refer to?

Delta "anything" is a difference in values therefore could be considered always positive when "viewed from the proper perspective (for example in heat transfer, it's usually from the high temperature to the lower temperature") and if so, the prof is right. You may want to vet the context of delta t.

If it's truly the case of "delta t is negative" then any negative number satisfies < .050 as simple line graph would show that.

1
dhaughOP•

Delta t is definitely negative. In this case it's representing the lateral deformation of a beam under axial tension. The same professor even ranted in lecture about how you absolutely MUST include the negative sign in such cases

3
QuixoticMcGee•

Few people, especially professors, like getting called out on errors. It’s a fact of life.

You are being petty for its own sake and wasting his time and yours. You’re not proving anything by doing this.

1
dhaughOP•

Terrible take. I've never before been met with anything but appreciation for noticing an error. One professor offered me a job on the spot. Even if I was wrong professors are usually happy to educate me, that's their fucking job.

1
QuixoticMcGee•

Okay and he isn’t. He’s arrogant. Your intention is to sabotage your own work to prove him wrong? Work that is probably getting graded by a TA anyway?

Stop wasting your time and picking fights. Focus on learning and ask some other more receptive instructor.

1
dhaughOP•

I don't care if it effects my grade. I have a vendetta.

2
captainunlimitdMechE•

This right here is the bad take. This is what makes a bad engineer, those unwilling to take the circumstances and make it work for them.

1