[SampleMan]

Even in the mid 80’s algebra wasn't a requirement for graduation for most public schools. Having said that, algebra isn't that hard, and I do believe the real purpose of school is to learn, even if the grade received is a C or D.

Using algebra is fairly handy in day to day calculations for material, etc. I am saddened when I see grown people guessing or concluding that a determination is impossible, when all that is required is a simple algebra equation.

[yldstrk]

It sure as heck was at my high school. Guess what? They also had calculus and advanced algebra and trigonometry and physics. so there.

[Sacajaweau]

I consider algebra and geometry as exercises. It is orderly and there's a REAL answer. Sure beats writing those "pretty, descriptive" paragraphs for English Class.

Remember an old dissertation on when we were considering going totally metric....One of the old phrases that would be effected: "Walk a mile in my shoes".

Psst....one college prof made us use only a slide rule. He also had flash exams....where we were told to approximate the answer in our head and write it down. What a great teacher.

[MachIV]

I had Algebra I, II, Geometry, Physics, and something some called “Senior Math”, “Pre-Calculus”, and some others called it “Trigonometry”. I had to have “College Algebra” when I was in college and I pretty much slept through that and got an A. It was just a review of what I had already had in high school.