No, those are not complex problems in the way that the article means. If you understand the tools taught in calculus, they are absolutely routine: no thought required, beyond a routine translation of words into symbols. The Calculus Trap is exactly people's unthinking assumption that calculus must be challenging because it comes last at school. It isn't, as taught at school; it's easy and unchallenging, and there are many more useful things for young mathematicians to spend their time on.
I disagree about calculus in general, but agree that maths as taught in schools puts too much emphasis on superficial stuff.
But this situation isn't calculus's fault. Calculus is a beautiful mathematical achievement, and the fact that schools dumb it down is an argument for better teaching and better schools that actually present challenging material to capable students.
Yeah, pipe dream. I know.
