Article Summary: When you have limited money and want to go some where with your friends, you have to budget your money to make sure that you have enough for the whole day. Mental algebra is used to determine costs of things, options for purchasing gifts, and of course having money to eat. We use algebra everyday? That is the million dollar question. It is usually preceded with, "Why do I have to learn this stuff, I am never going to use it?
Algebra is used everyday, all the time. It is used in problem solving situations when you are trying to determine how long it will take you to get from your home to your friends house. Let's look at an example: You live five miles from your friend's home.
Your parents need to drive you, so how long does it take them to get ready? Usually begins in the ninth grade, although several students are starting to take it in the eighth grade. Some students say that I can not do algebra because I do not understand it. The problem with this statement is that you have been working on algebra problems every since kindergarten. The word algebra is not used, but the ideas are used.
You have used elements of algebra when solving problems and when you solve word problems. Here is an example: in grades three through five you investigate the properties of whole numbers.
You learn to multiply 18 times 14 mentally. First you multiply 18 times 10 and then multiply 18 times 4, and then you add the two products. This is called the distributive property of multiplication over addition.
This is algebra and algebraic reasoning. You purchased 10 items from a shopping plaza, and now you need plastic bags to carry them home.
If each bag can hold only 3 items, how many plastic bags you will need to accommodate 10 items? Explanation :. Calculating grocery expense. How much money you will need to take to the grocery store? Filling up the gas tank. Find three consecutive numbers whose sum is A group of 5 boys goes to the theatre for an evening show. What is the cost per person? What is the dimension of the rectangle? The length is 6 cm and the width is 12 cm Explanation :.
Become a member today! Are you a member? However, the reason I teach Algebra and stress to kids the importance of it is simply this. That means to be a dental hygenist or a cop in some districts , you will need to pass that Math class. Many of their peers find out years later the roadblock that math becomes.
It can either open doors or close doors. Why that is is a bigger question but that is a fact. And how many people become mathematicians? Not many. Yet still calculus and algebra are being taught to everyone! Fascinating right? Key word is some. This is the form I am being taught. And going back to one of my main arguments, when will I need to know statistics and calculus or calculate the population growth of rabbits?
Dear Aidan, Thank you so much for you thorough response. I am a mother of two exceptional students both who have dyslexia and one with ADHD and physical special needs. I am currently searching the internet for ways of trying to break through the current learning block especially for my youngest child who is struggling the greatest with Algebra and seeking a real life need.
He is Yes the school system is broken. I am sorry for that. I feel my generation has failed yours in so many ways but would like to again thank you for your addition to my search and the sharing of your thoughts and feelings on this topic. They are relevant, well written and should be a wake up call to the school system and how one size does not fit all and how your time could have been used wiser pursuing other forms of education to a greater advantage.
Nice article. Not good in school why, the technical school had two options, career and advanced. Career was all the shop things cars, plumbing, machine shop, woodshop, electronics, electricity. These would produce 4 years of apprentices or technical colleges. I did advanced, University or College bound. The only problem was the Teachers in the Music department thought it would be a good idea to hijack the student time in the band by having them come in 2 hours early and stay 2 hours late.
That makes for a long day and for what! I would have otherwise been doing my homework. Landed a. I go to college while working and take the non-math course…turn down other jobs that are tech-driven, and end up doing upgrades for high school courses to keep my brain active. I was doing math all the time and never knew I was making up for lost time and misdirection you can always change direction.
I take one book and fly through it a month and then the next repeating it all year long. I am 34 years old and I work as a part-time tutor and full time 5th grade teacher.
Maths is naturally a cold, soulless pursuit. Sorry to disagree. I know the basics of math without Algebra. In my life I have done many jobs. I was a Corpsman in the Navy. That is the only job I had to use algebra and really it was just plug in numbers to calculate drip rate for an IV.
Only one formula and easy to use without having to know Algebra beyond that one formula. I have worked in the Broadcast Industry where I created video production. Writing script, shooting and editing video. No Algebra there. I have worked in sales. Basic math but again, no Algebra. I was rather excellent in sales. I have worked as a school teacher for 3rd and 4th grades. No Algebra with that job. And I currently work in psychology as a therapist.
Thanks to Algebra, I have had a client or two who needed help with anxiety and depression caused by their college Algebra. But no real use of Algebra for this job. I have traveled the world, done my budgeting, and done many things outside of work.
Not once have I ever had to use Algebra. I obviously learned it to get my BA, but it has been useless for my life. Again, just my opinion. But an opinion based on a lifetime of not using or needing Algebra. I was really bad at mathdoes matter fact I did not like it math teacher said we would never use algebra or calculus and now after reading this I understand a whole lot more than I ever have thank you.
I did eventually pass the algebra class required in order to acquire a degree. So many of us were so completely lost. I actually wound up tutoring my fellow students. But it was only in how to jump the hurdles. Ask an instructor what is the purpose or application for algebra-and you get much of what I have seen here. Nobody seems to know. I see no need to re-represent a number with a letter-do the math and go buy the required amount of fencing. Still do not understand the need for inserting variables.
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