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What Is the Value of Algebra?
The Washington Post ^ | February 16, 2006 | Richard Cohen

Posted on 03/07/2006 10:12:59 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: education; matheducation
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To: RBroadfoot

My wife tells a story about being a young girl and her aunt was struggling with a college algebra class. My wife's older sister, who was about 10 at the time looked over their aunt's shoulder and said,

"Well of course you cant do this, you cant add letters"


81 posted on 03/07/2006 10:33:54 AM PST by CougarGA7 (Help control the liberal population. Have your liberals spayed or neutered.)
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To: ChinaThreat

I'm in the computer field and 20+ years out of HS. I have NEVER had a NEED to make a Trig calculation. I have done it, only as a mental exercise in wood working and often as a means of not having to take a measurement.

But I have never needed Trig.


82 posted on 03/07/2006 10:33:57 AM PST by taxcontrol
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To: Toby06

Pie aren't square, pie are round! CORNBREAD are square!


83 posted on 03/07/2006 10:34:12 AM PST by fzx12345 (Three lefts don't make a right; they invent one.)
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To: ChinaThreat

I can't see how you could do Trig if you didn't pass Alg.


84 posted on 03/07/2006 10:34:14 AM PST by Flavius Josephus (The only good muslim is a bad muslim)
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To: epluribus_2

Yep, it goes into detail but tht is it.


85 posted on 03/07/2006 10:34:22 AM PST by TXBSAFH (Proud Dad of Twins, What Does Not Kill You Makes You Stronger!!!!!!)
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To: smith288

"I never passed algebra and only made it to pre-algebra. I am now a professional programmer and web developer. "

So, if I need you to write ray tracing programs, or something to do 3D reconstruction of a series of 2D slices, you can do it? Could you write the polygon shading routines for Unreal Tournament?

To say I don't use it, so therefore it's not needed is a weak arguement. If you can't PASS a beginning algerbra class, then you should get a diploma. I suspect you could pass an algerbra class. Remember, passing is a "D". Let's work on raising the bar, not lowering it. A High School diplomma should indicate to prospective employers a certain level of baseline ablity.


86 posted on 03/07/2006 10:34:31 AM PST by brownsfan (It's not a war on terror... it's a war with islam.)
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To: RBroadfoot

Until recently, I would have agreed with Richard Cohen about the dubious value of algebra. However, to my very great surprise, I actually used algebra and trigonometry in a recent home improvement project. I saved money by calculating the optimum size of the project and quantity of materials required. I'm still not entirely convinced that it was worth the long hours spent in math class. :-)


87 posted on 03/07/2006 10:34:33 AM PST by Unmarked Package
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To: RBroadfoot

This is really simple algebra but it actually happened to me within the last few days.

Somebody walked into my office and said "My bill after tax was $508.00 and the tax rate is 6%. How do I figure out what the original charge was?"

So:

"An unknown number plus 6% of that unknown number is 508."

x + .06x = 508 (express the problem)
1.06x = 508 (combine the terms)
1.06x / 1.06 = 508 / 1.06 (isolate the variable)
x = 479.25 (solve for the variable)

"The unknown number is $479.25."

I hope some math genius will tell me that's right and there's no simpler way to do it.


88 posted on 03/07/2006 10:34:58 AM PST by Taliesan (Hunting with Cheney or cruising with Kennedy. You decide.)
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To: xsmommy

You just reminded me of one of my favorite George Burns/Gracie Allen shows. Gracie's niece is talking to her about having to study geometry. Gracie says to the niece, "Say something to me in geometry." Gracie's niece replies, "Pi R Squared". Gracie replies, wearing a puzzled look, "Is that what they're teaching you in school? They're wrong! Pie are round; cracker are square!"


89 posted on 03/07/2006 10:34:58 AM PST by NRA1995 (If feminists are so smart, why do they need masturbation workshops?)
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To: RBroadfoot
Apparently it never occurred to Mr. Cohen that someone could be competent in both mathematics and subjects like history and English.

This kind of nonsense is exactly what Spanish Jose Ortega y Gassett had in mind when he suggested that the natural progression of a modern society is a degree of specialization that makes every person a freakin' idiot except in one specific area of expertise.

90 posted on 03/07/2006 10:34:59 AM PST by Alberta's Child
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To: RightWhale

Only trouble with Algebra is that it's a doggone arabic word.


91 posted on 03/07/2006 10:35:13 AM PST by Flavius Josephus (The only good muslim is a bad muslim)
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To: MineralMan

And the gobmint tells you exactly how much to give them every year - no need to check the math... (1040EZ folks, that is)


92 posted on 03/07/2006 10:35:17 AM PST by epluribus_2
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To: cripplecreek

53 years here and doing just fine! Of course, I value spelling and grammar much more than math.


93 posted on 03/07/2006 10:35:24 AM PST by mlc9852
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Comment #94 Removed by Moderator

To: RBroadfoot
You will never need to know algebra. I have never once used it

Well, that explains Cohen's view on government spending and tax increases.

95 posted on 03/07/2006 10:36:22 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: veronica
You can write the next great novel, and know zip about algebra.

If you don't have an understanding of Math, the writer isn't likely to get a good result in the contract with the publisher.

96 posted on 03/07/2006 10:36:29 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: somniferum

You become the kind of writer who talks about "paying for" tax cuts, and thinks dynamic scoring is some kind of scam by economists.


97 posted on 03/07/2006 10:36:31 AM PST by Flavius Josephus (The only good muslim is a bad muslim)
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To: RBroadfoot
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. ...

That's very true, because Cohen is a journalist and Gabriela will probably be a waitress or a manicurist. As long as she can count the tips, she's OK. Leave the heavy lifting like "algebra" to the folks who want to get ahead in life.

98 posted on 03/07/2006 10:36:31 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: TXBSAFH
Not knowing algebra sounds like a good way to get screwed by car dealerships and mortgage brokers. How does one make basic financial decisions without the ability to back into numbers based on a set of assumptions? Or do they simply trust the person selling them whatever product they are buying?

I use algebra every day. I'm shocked that people think it is not important.
99 posted on 03/07/2006 10:36:37 AM PST by VegasCowboy ("...he wore his gun outside his pants, for all the honest world to feel.")
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To: RBroadfoot

My brother-in-law is a math teacher. When his students ask "When are we ever going to use this?" His answer is: "Never--if you don't learn it." To the people who say "I've gotten along fine in life without it, there's a lot of people who have gotten along fine without electricity and cars as well. There's a pretty good chance that with a good understanding of Algebra, you could have had even a better life than you've had.


100 posted on 03/07/2006 10:36:45 AM PST by Dr. Zzyzx
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