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Say Goodbye To X+Y: Should Community Colleges Abolish Algebra?
NPR ^ | July 19, 2017 | Kayla Lattimore and Julie Depenbrock

Posted on 07/21/2017 5:12:11 AM PDT by C19fan

Algebra is one of the biggest hurdles to getting a high school or college degree — particularly for students of color and first-generation undergrads.

It is also the single most failed course in community colleges across the country. So if you're not a STEM major (science, technology, engineering, math), why even study algebra?

(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: algebra; college; communitycollege; highereducation; immigrants; math; matheducation; race
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To: Dr. Sivana

Yeah. Like, you know?


81 posted on 07/21/2017 5:57:35 AM PDT by jmacusa (Dad may be in charge but mom knows whats going on.)
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To: C19fan

So if you are not going into science or technology you can administer investment funds, project expenses on a construction bid, handle health care cost projections, deal with the national debt, etc. all without algebra or grasping mathematics?

No wonder politicians have run this nation in debt.


82 posted on 07/21/2017 5:57:46 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Bill Clinton and Al Gore took illegal campaign contributions from the Chi-Coms and 'nobody' cared..)
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To: C19fan

Lets get rid of Algebra and replace with required social justice classes. /s


83 posted on 07/21/2017 5:57:51 AM PDT by willk (everyone)
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To: Flash Bazbeaux; Boogieman

> Quadratic equations have two right answers. :) <

Ah, yes. Two numbers, when substituted in, would make a quadratic equation true. And inequalities usually have infinite such numbers. But there is only one correct solution set.

:)


84 posted on 07/21/2017 5:58:41 AM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: Mr. K

In the 1970s programing was still an exotic thing. Some people just hated it. The teacher tried to explain but the guy was too rigid. He was a math major and he said he took the programming class as an elective so he dropped it.


85 posted on 07/21/2017 5:59:01 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: JTHomes
People with lower IQ will struggle with algebra. Better question is why are these low IQ folks in college at all?

A college degree has become a participation award for some. I can say that when I watch individuals who either:

1) Do not advance their opportunity and apply themselves in a work position worthy of their education, or

2) They get their affirmative action card repeatedly punched and satisfy a race quota in some organization, still not performing par with their stated education.

Algebra pulls on our thought processes in a different way and required that we understand how to factor unknowns into a decision process and solve for the unknowns. It is a basis for critical thinking. Without it, we are just going with the flow - Fat, Dumb and Happy

86 posted on 07/21/2017 5:59:03 AM PDT by Dustoff45 (Pass the spicy catsup. We have Trump now.)
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To: C19fan

The modern professoriat prefers students who do not arrive at their conclusions by reasoning, but simply by parroting what they are told.


87 posted on 07/21/2017 6:01:50 AM PDT by jmcenanly ("The more corrupt the state, the more laws." Tacitus, Publius Cornelius)
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To: C19fan

As long as they have they correct attitudes and love the Party, the masses can do anything.


88 posted on 07/21/2017 6:02:29 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: jjotto

Algebra is just a way to trick the oppressed into acting white!

...

The secret to white privilege is acting white.


89 posted on 07/21/2017 6:03:43 AM PDT by Moonman62 (Make America Great Again!)
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To: Olog-hai

I wanted to like it, couldn’t get past imaginary numbers.


90 posted on 07/21/2017 6:04:43 AM PDT by mykroar (Congratulations President Trump)
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To: mykroar
I actually loved math through Trig. But then Calc. arrrrrrgh

Same here! College Calc kicked my backside.

91 posted on 07/21/2017 6:05:08 AM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: C19fan

I thought the purpose of education was education.

Silly me.


92 posted on 07/21/2017 6:05:37 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Some people consider government to be a necessary evil, others their personal Ponzi scheme.)
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To: jmcenanly

You do understand that the foundations of math are ‘axioms’? You know how to parrot the definition of ‘axiom’, right?


93 posted on 07/21/2017 6:05:52 AM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: jjotto

Algebra was invented by Muslims though.


94 posted on 07/21/2017 6:09:58 AM PDT by Trump20162020
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To: LRoggy

“Trigonometry? Harder than Algebra.”

The way my brain works Trig was easier than Algebra. Maybe something to do with being able to visualize shapes vs the pure abstraction of Algebra?


95 posted on 07/21/2017 6:10:37 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Climate Change: The Imminent Crisis That Never Arrives and the gravy train that never ends.)
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To: miss marmelstein

I’m an engineer.

And I’m not particularly good at math.


96 posted on 07/21/2017 6:10:55 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: mykroar

Ok folks. Math in the morning.

First, complete the square for:

x[squared] + bx

Then, in a different problem, solve for x in:

ax[squared] + bx + c = 0. a, b, and c not equal to 0.

Show all work for both problems.


97 posted on 07/21/2017 6:11:41 AM PDT by Lmo56 (If ya wanna run with the big dawgs - ya gotta learn to piss in the tall grass ..)
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To: JTHomes

I would suggest four categories:

1. The people who naturally fall in line with algebra.
2. The people who need a seasoned instructor to introduce it to them and lay out the various uses.
3. The people who see zero use in their life with algebra.
4. The people with the low IQ, who ought to be digging ditches, stocking shelves, flipping burgers, or driving city buses.


98 posted on 07/21/2017 6:12:12 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: C19fan

Original work in math is hard and requires true genius.

Learning how to use already discovered math is not much more than remembering a simple set of rules.

As for really advanced math, you don’t actually understand it...you just get used to it.


99 posted on 07/21/2017 6:12:31 AM PDT by Bobalu ( Healthcare - someone must pay. Who should it be, and how did they get that obligation?)
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To: bert

If they can master COMMIE CORE Math they can Algebra, it’s not being taught in all states, grandson is HS Freshman, no Algeria on horizon for Sophomore year. Only 22 in the class, small school, that divorced itself from Shelby County like many small towns did when Memphis surrendered their school charter so they would not have to fund schools, dumped it on the county to take over the entire county without spending a dime.

Several in his class have violent/drug rap sheets.


100 posted on 07/21/2017 6:12:45 AM PDT by GailA (Ret. SCPO wife: suck it up buttercups it's President Donald Trump!)
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