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.

[george wythe]

x + 2 = 5

x + 2 - 2 = 5 - 2

x = 3

That's the kind of 'algebra' that students are required to learn. If a person cannot do that, then he should not graduate from high school. Perhaps trade school would be more appropriate.

As a matter of fact, it's quite possible to become a nail polish specialist or a lightbulb-changing engineer without knowing a thing about algebra.

Why should we turn the high school diploma into an elementary school certificate?

[smith288]

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

Google is my friend.

[RockinRight]

I was one of the few that actually liked and did well in Algebra...

[edpc]

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

I am going to take a guess and say beeber. Unfortunately, I cannot show all of my work.

[Netheron]

That's an undefined problem.

Everyone knows that if it is hugh, it must be an infinite series.

[Publius6961]

A train leaves N.Y. City heading East at 50 MPH. How long before someone drowns?

??????
Shouldn't that be a car? and Chappaquidick?

[baltodog]

I say if a kid doesn't want to do algebra, he or she shouldn't have to....






Just don't come bitching to me 20 years from now because some European or Asian has a good job, and you're still slinging hash somewhere.

[ChinaThreat]

I would see the opposite. I think trig is one of the most applicable mathematic areas available to man. Algebra (not including very basic algebra) is not very applicable. I believe standard mathematics and statistics and trig are by far the most useful of the mathematical studies. And calculus, i have to agree with you there.

[Flavius Josephus]

IT's hard out there fo Pimps.

[sweet_diane]

My name is sweet diane and I am an algebra imbecile.

All my math teachers sounded like that teach in Charlie Brown cartoons to me. I finally made it out of an Intro to Algebra class with a D. Our oldest daughter is a Mathlete.

[tigtog]

Algebra was a breeze, but chemistry a nightmare!!!

[Personal Responsibility]

Those who fail to study history algebra are condemned to repeat it?

[RightWhale]

m, for French monter, was introduced by Descartes, means slope or climb.

[ChinaThreat]

Is that a Zaphod Beeblebrox reference?

[yellowdoghunter]

I agree. I have never used it either and I am doing just fine. However, I can understand how those who do get it and love doing math think we are somehow less intelligent than them.

And I admit that I have known math wizards who could not tell you who their senator was or the verb in a sentence. I think we should grab the children who show a talent for math and lead them in that direction. Don't ruin the rest of the children's lives because they can't master algebra.

[Toby06]

I like pie! I prefer pie²

[poobear]

"If DeShawn sells 27 crack rocks at ten dollars each, and then takes the money and buys a new Saturday Night Special, how many pimps can he whack in the next two nights before the cops can trace the bullets?........."

Wiping my monitor ;D!

You're dangerous!

[Flavius Josephus]

Following is proof that writing is irrelevant:

Olny srmat poelpe can.

Cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

[somniferum]

"Ignorant but proud" bump.

Without algebra you can't even begin to understand the most basic concepts of statistics, economics, or finance. But apparantly you are qualifed to be nationally syndicated writer on the subject.

[skimask]

(AB)=C