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 ...
Education ping.
I suspect there are two main reasons for these differences. First and foremost, years ago, craftsmanship was a first priority for builders. Today, speed means money.
Secondly, the house built in the 50's was probably framed with lumber cut from old growth timber. Forests planted today reach maturity so quickly, I believe they lose much in quality.
Is that approaching infinity from the right or the left?
Indian civilization invented zero, this invention was transmitted to Europe via the Arabs. Remember in 800AD much of what today is Arab/Islamic was then Roman/Christain. Islam had not yet completely turned the lights out on the older Roman civilization.
Try this: 508-508*.06, you'll get the right answer.
Because you don't want to take 6% off of the figure you have.
You want to know which figure had 6% added to it to yield the number you have now.
SD
I'm glad you did. I made a mistake in the second equation :-)
[Hint: I forgot to carry the decimal point.]
At any rate, after reading this thread, I have come to the conclusion that most people are quite capable of doing algebra; they just prefer to call the variables something more colorful than x or y.
A friend of mine is taking geometry as part of the curriculum to become a teacher. She can play quite well computer games dealing with shapes, such as Tetris, but she's struggling in geometry. I guess the lack of color and pizazz in the math books leads to her brain refusing to see the geometry concepts she already knows by playing computer games.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/02/richard_cohen_advocate_for_ign.php
A slightly long piece which proves conclusively that Cohen is an idiot.
An idiot writing for the WaPOst? Nawwwwwwwwwwwwww!
Yeah, I think recognizing that "math works in mysterious ways", especially in different minds, might help. For example, to this day, I cannot subtract if I have to "borrow" more than once, but I can add those things in my head, set them aside and come up with the answer. I basically can only get the answer by using the method prescribed for "checking your work". Strangely enough, though, geometry made perfect sense to me.
What do you think algebra is? Algebra IS basic math. It is simply using the basic math you mention above in a rational and meaningful manner. Most people use algebra everyday and don't even realize it.
No, you won't.
SD
275 lbs? I am impressed, remind me never to piss you off.
Math with letters:
A-D-D-I-T-I-O-N
S-U-B-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N
M-U-L-T-I-P-L-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-I-V-I-S-I-O-N
A-L-G-E-B-R-A...
;-)
UGH!!!!!!!!!! And we wonder why the MSM is so dumb. Algebra teaches us reasoning and deduction, and Geometry is *especially* important to forming reasoning skills. WTH is this moron going on about that you don't need Math, and that Writing is the only true form of Reason!??! There is only one thing that are facts in this world. Numbers. And that's only because *we* say so. :P
So we finally meet my arch nemesis...
SD
If the question was "what is 94% of 508?" you would. But in this case the question is "what number is 508 106% of?". Oh, was that a serious question, or are you just demonstrating why having a functioning calculator is not enough to reach the right answer? - you need to know the right question, to start with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.