What Is the Value of Algebra?

The Washington Post ^ | February 16, 2006 | Richard Cohen

[RBroadfoot]

None, according to Richard Cohen of the Washington Post.

EXCERPT: I am haunted by Gabriela Ocampo. ... failing algebra six times in six semesters, trying it a seventh time and finally just despairing over ever getting it.

The L.A. school district now requires all students to pass a year of algebra ...

Here's the thing, Gabriela: You will never need to know algebra. I have never once used it and never once even rued that I could not use it. ...

Gabriela, sooner or later someone's going to tell you that algebra teaches reasoning. This is a lie propagated by, among others, algebra teachers. Writing is the highest form of reasoning. This is a fact. Algebra is not. The proof of this, Gabriela, is all the people in my high school who were whizzes at math but did not know a thing about history and could not write a readable English sentence. ...

Algebra ruined many a day for me. Now it could ruin your life.

[SoothingDave]

Algebra is about understanding mathematics as a general principle, and not as a matter of which specific numbers add up to what or what. It is an abstraction of thinking, a seeing the forest rather than the trees.

One who can not acheive this on a rudimentary level is going to have a difficult time thinking about numbers in general.

SD

[Red Badger]

Just checking...........

[confederacy of dunces]

if zot = kitty and kitty is less than tinfoil, but more than hugh, how much is series?

Moose, but only if beeber is stuned.

[Publius6961]

So, how did you fail your oldest daughter?

[IamConservative]

f zot = kitty and kitty is less than tinfoil, but more than hugh, how much is series?

I believe series equates to one moose bite.

I pay $1,495 for an item and want to sell it for 30% margin. What should my retail price be? Algebra 101.

[dfwgator]

I bet he's one of those enlightened liberals who thinks President Bush is stupid. Just like Barbara Stricesand.

[Toby06]

I am almost 37 and have never used algebra for literally anything.

If you have ever compared prices of products in different volume containers, you have used algebra in some form.

I can't beleive all the freepers here admitting they are idiots.

[veronica]

I don't think knowing algebra is in any way a requirement for success in life. Unless you specifically need it for your profession. Some people have an aptitude for math, some don't. You can write the next great novel, and know zip about algebra.

[CharlieOK1]

I loved Algebra! and Geometry and Trig and Calculus. I just have a thing for numbers I guess.

[wmileo]

Just using Spreadsheet Software with equations is a reason to know something on a practical level with respect to the subject of Algebra. Cohen assumes that if you know something about Algebra, you won't know anything about History. After reading some of his garbage (he calls it work), I can say that he is living proof that a person can know nothing about both.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.

ROBERT HEINLEIN

[epluribus_2]

algebra is no more and no less basic math. But different.

[Sertorius]

Algebra II is required for high school diploma.

[Sertorius]

In Louisiana.

[Sarastro]

Any time you have a logical relationship, know some facts about it, and need to derive another fact, you're using algebraic thinking. This describes lots of life's problems. If I want to be able to retire at age X and interest rates are Y, how much do I need to set aside each year? If I buy rather than rent and my tax rate is X, what is my monthly break-even point? Etc., etc....

It is very tiresome listening to people who don't get algebra promote their word-smithing abilities as far more important.

Here's a hint: without BOTH verbal and mathematical skills, you are not going to be able to function at a high level, and it doesn't matter whether you're in a hunter-gatherer, agricultural, industrial, or post-industrial economy.

[Jim Noble]

Algebra is a screening tool to identify the small fraction of the population capable of abstract thought.

A state requirement that all persons 14-16 attend school, and that all such persons pass "algebra", is an absurdity, since 75% of them (at least) cannot.

Hence, either the definition of "pass" or the definition of "algebra" needs to be changed, most schools are trying furiously to do both.

It would be much easier to end compulsory schooling at a realistic grade 8 level, which is where 75% of the population functions.

[MineralMan]

Well, shoot fire. I don't need to know algebra. The cash register tells me how much change to give the customer. Besides, isn't algebra one of those Mooselimb inventions?

[Flavius Josephus]

Along the way you picked up some algebra since every assignment statment is an algebraic equation. Unless you use one of those tools that doesn't require you to write any code. In which case I'd have to question whether you're really a programmer. Boolean Logic is a little hard to understand without any foundation as well.

Myself, I sucked at math, got bad grades in algebra, and never did feel very good in math until my mid-twenties when I took Finite Math and Calculus for my business program and actually took the time to do all the homework and attend all the classes.

It was hard, but it was very satisfying to get over that hump. I will say that I never appreciated Algebra as a tool until I took Calculus.

[Caveman Lawyer]

Gabriela, sooner or later someone's going to tell you that algebra teaches reasoning. This is a lie propagated by, among others, algebra teachers. Writing is the highest form of reasoning.

This is complete B.S. Formal logic is highly dependent on mathematical concepts, often expressed in algebraic form. Formal logic may be as unnecessary as algebra to most of our lives, but to say that algebra and "reasoning" are foreign concepts is completely false.

[YouPosting2Me]

F(Richard Cohen) = 1/X

Where the X-Axis represents "Getting a Clue"!

Richard is asymptotic and will never reach "Getting a Clue" and he is undefined when X=zero.