Uh the point seemed that they knew the theory (of differentiation, tangents, trig etc) but were absolutely helpless in practically applying it. Couldn't relate

Uh the point seemed that they knew the theory (of differentiation, tangents, trig etc) but were absolutely helpless in practically applying it. Couldn't relate the theory they had learnt to what they knew of the world, at all. Didn't think 'But the lowest point of ANY curve is horizontal!'