When does math stop being plug and chug?

when you start studying combinatorics

The moment you have to think about what formula to use, or possibly derive your own

>>7838995
>The moment you have to think about what formula to use

That's still plug and chug

>>7838990
When it becomes math.

the middle of calc 1

>>7839050
Kek no
>>7838990
Pretty much never unless you start doing research because even doing proofs that have already been done can be simplified to plug and chug

>>7839058
kek yes

>>7838990
First year university at a good university
second year at a decent university
third year at a shit university

>>7839058
>even doing proofs that have already been done can be simplified to plug and chug
Huh?
I mean, I'm with you that certain proofs can be plug and chug.
Proving that some set and some operation satisfies the group axioms is typically a plug and chug ordeal.
However, a lot of proofs require quite a bit of ingenuity even in the undergrad years.

>>7839062

Calc 2 is all plug and chug

>>7839062
What are you talking about? In calc 1 you learn a bunch of rules for derivatives and integrals and you hardly have to think ever.

>>7839078
Same with calc 3 and diff eq. Linear algebra was the only lower div course I took that came close to requiring any thought.

>>7839091
>tfw all the internet told me linear was easier than calc
>tfw linear is kicking my ass in ways Calc III never did
Any tips?

>>7839002

He's right though, do you know that? When you start asking your own questions, and thinking of your own approach /leading to a real answer of some kind, and in turn possibly (hopefully) more questions/, then you're doing "real" math.

I would suggest that if you have an IQ north of 110, enough personal drive, and you've taken a calc sequence plus linear algebra, this is just enough background to be able to start to ask and answer (for one's self) somewhat interesting questions, notwithstanding that they've probably been answered before.

>>7839063

This is a good answer.

>>7839058

This is not.