Neither of which require a BFA from anywhere
Well, now we're moving away from the subject of this thread... But no, they don't. I agree with you. And I want to go through a BFA program because I want to meet like-minded people, and because I work better when there's pressure and deadlines. I don't need a BFA for a job, and I don't need it to become a filmmaker. And I can afford to go to college "for fun," and I'll pay cash for it. Having connections with a USC degree won't hurt either, as I've seen this work many times in real life before. Do you know what I mean?
Unless your idea of being a good director is to spend three hours saying "No, not like that. Make it look, I don't know, like, better" to your DP before shooting a single frame of footage.
Those geometric formulas do not apply to being a good director and figuring out the best angle. It's not about sitting down and structuring some formulas, and trying to solve them, right? How often have you done this yourself? I'm going to guess never, but of course correct me if I'm wrong.
Plus, it's not only about that specific. There's more than geometry, and it gets harder and more complex. And it's all supposed to be "basics."
And, dude, the example you're giving is not exactly rocket science. If you're so high-scoring on logic and critical thinking, then you can figure those two problems out pretty quickly. It doesn't take a degree in advanced mathematics to work them out.
Logic and critical thinking have little to do with what they're asking on math tests. I do score high on those two, and I can figure out SOME tests using logic, but it's not going to work for everything. There's a lot of terminology that I don't even know the meaning of, I don't understand the question, etc. simply because it's been 8-9 years of 100% no math at all.
But if you're convinced that you will never use any of that and can't be bothered to even think about where they might be useful
I'm not "convinced." I'm not judging from a biased perspective; I'm thinking from a logical standpoint. Obviously if you can bring me an example where those formulas with roots, x's and y's and logs and angles are needed, and you can prove my logic wrong, then I'll change my mind. However, after years of running a successful business, getting a BFA, studying neuroscience in my leisure, writing evidence-based material, and doing a bunch of other stuff I'm passionate about, I have yet to encounter an instance where that type of thing would be needed.
Dude, I'm a writer and a producer and I use algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and even the occasional bits of calculus in my life on a nearly-daily basis, and moreso when I'm on set
Can you bring me an example where you used those things as a writer? I'm honestly very curious. None of my filmmaker friends had an example, but may you do, especially if you use it on a daily basis.
Finally, I'm not trying to argue my way into a degree here. Logic dictates to me that the way they do things here are not very smart, but if that's what it is, then that's what it is. Obviously my thought process may be wrong, too, but I'm open to listening to others. The reason for this thread is me asking help on how others have done it? Does every filmmaker here who's gone to college knows math to that extent?