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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

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To: Melas

I agree. A rare find these days.


641 posted on 03/08/2006 3:51:35 PM PST by shelterguy (I can hear "Jimi".)
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To: ritewingwarrior

ritewingwarrior,

I am a health professional. I took tons of math in college ( and got A's) just to get into professional school. I don't use a bit of it. The most advanced math I use is for making change.

There is one thing though, if I become disabled, my options for a new profession are a lot broader than for someone without a math background.


642 posted on 03/08/2006 3:52:57 PM PST by wintertime (Good ideas win! Why? Because people are not stupid.)
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To: Thinkin' Gal

I really enjoyed your rant. What's funny to me is when I was young, I did enjoy math, it was relatively easy for me and I felt confident about it and excelled. Now, it seems much harder because they do seem to make it much harder than it is - it's like the liberals got hold of it!


643 posted on 03/08/2006 4:57:11 PM PST by Paved Paradise
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To: Indy Pendance

I was scrolling through here since I posted a couple of items and wanted to reply to your statement about "math being the universal language."

I believe this with my whole heart. I learned years ago that music is math. We know art and architecture are math. The human body (and I am studying anatomy at present)functions in a very mathematical way. It's cool. I wish I understood it more. I remember hearing once that if you really understand the highest levels of math that it has a true beauty to it.

I think someday when I go to heaven I will finally see clearly and that some of the wonders of our world and the universe will unfold as some form of math equation.


644 posted on 03/08/2006 5:06:11 PM PST by Paved Paradise
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To: Paved Paradise
It's funny you should mention this.

"I learned years ago that music is math. "

I was a cellist (pretty good, not good enough for large city symphonies, or at least not good enough to WANT to compete at that level), and I can really see it, it's not just the quarter notes and such, it permeates throughout your being. I firmly believe that's one reason I took to higher math later on.

645 posted on 03/08/2006 5:12:04 PM PST by Indy Pendance
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To: RBroadfoot

It might be useless, but in the '60s you couldn't get a NY Regents diploma without passing the class -- much to my chagrin. It was painful.


646 posted on 03/08/2006 5:15:37 PM PST by MayflowerMadam
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To: MayflowerMadam
The most fundamental thing an algebra class will do is discipline ones thinking skills.
The fact that Mr Cohen is so baffled by basic algebra speaks volumes as to why he is a liberal.
647 posted on 03/08/2006 5:30:51 PM PST by Reily
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To: Reily

He is a liberal. He doesn't need to think, only "feel".


648 posted on 03/08/2006 5:35:24 PM PST by shelterguy (I can hear "Jimi".)
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To: Melas

I spent a couple of days teaching a young (drop dead gorgeous) young lady how to count change. She was not at all stupid, just lacked self confidence. After hours and hours of making change she did fine in a no pressure environment she did fine. I wished the entire time I was not in my fifties and the boss. The girl was really something to look at, and she packed the bar too! LOL, wish I was 30 again.


649 posted on 03/08/2006 6:34:22 PM PST by jpsb
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To: Indy Pendance

I have read in many studies of intelligence, education and the like that it when children are taught music (to play a musical instrument), they will do much better in math, on average, than their non-musical counterparts. There is a connection and it's interesting that you noticed.


650 posted on 03/08/2006 6:35:36 PM PST by Paved Paradise
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To: jdm
if zot = kitty and kitty is less than tinfoil, but more than hugh, how much is series?

LOLOL

651 posted on 03/08/2006 6:36:06 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Spontaneous combustion occurs most often in Democrats)
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To: Indy Pendance

Not only are musicians well represented in math and science, but they take to Morse code very well.


652 posted on 03/08/2006 6:37:59 PM PST by RightWhale (pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
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To: RBroadfoot
What Is the Value of Algebra?

The value of Algebra for those really trying to learn it is simply another form of logical expression with complications that can train a brain to handle greater tasks in other areas.

It's a brain expander, even if you never use it again.

653 posted on 03/08/2006 6:38:02 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Paved Paradise
from 586 in this thread

Our maker reveals his hand in the absolute beauty of the mathicalical laws that describe our universe, but those lacking of even simple math skills will never be able to see or comprehend. It is really very sad.

654 posted on 03/08/2006 6:39:57 PM PST by jpsb
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To: RightWhale
LOL!

.. .----. ...- . / -. . ...- . .-. / -... . . -. / --. --- --- -.. / .- - / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .

655 posted on 03/08/2006 6:46:47 PM PST by Indy Pendance
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To: Indy Pendance

But, I know a lot of musicians while am not all that good at music myself, just play the stringbass now and then. Haven't even tried code since I got my radio license, since code is pretty much gone these days.


656 posted on 03/08/2006 6:59:04 PM PST by RightWhale (pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
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To: RightWhale

I cheated...

http://www.omnicron.com/~ford/java/NMorse.html

The internet has everything.


657 posted on 03/08/2006 7:08:02 PM PST by Indy Pendance
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To: jpsb
Has anyone seen the Blackadder episode where Lord Blackadder tries to teach Baldrick to add?
Its a classic !
658 posted on 03/08/2006 7:32:34 PM PST by Reily
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To: jpsb

Thanks for that! I've never been any mathspert by any means but I do see its wonderful qualities. Oh, and you ever notice how people hate math until it comes to counting up their money?


659 posted on 03/08/2006 8:01:05 PM PST by Paved Paradise
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To: Paved Paradise

Here's some algebra:

660 + X = Y

Y = total posts in this thread.
Anyone who understands this, understands algebra.


660 posted on 03/08/2006 9:12:06 PM PST by IYAAYAS (Live free or die trying)
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