The purpose (or lack thereof) of Algebra

[Ifreann]

Nah, this does the maths for you.

Good point, except when you are the coustomer and want to check if the minimum wage junkie behind the cash register riped you of

Minimum wage junkie?

[Dyakovo]

Good point, except when you are the coustomer and want to check if the minimum wage junkie behind the cash register riped you of

Minimum wage junkie?

Some people get high on minimum wage.
*nods*

[Finland SSR]

Am I the only person who actually thinks Algebra is the easiest and most interesting part of mathematics.
It was so fun back in the 7-9th grade.

[Javaking]

Good point, except when you are the coustomer and want to check if the minimum wage junkie behind the cash register riped you of

Minimum wage junkie?

a junkie who works for minimum wage and looks like this

[Old Tyrannia]

Imagine if we could quantify knowledge and understanding. Let the ignorance of the OP be a and the quantity of time on the OP's hands be b. If the OP's awareness of his own lack of understanding is c, and the inanity of the thread is x, then x = (a × b) ÷ c.

In other words, algebra is pretty damn fundamental to a vast number of fields (specifically the STEM fields, which are of immense importance to the economy and, in the UK at least, fairly secure industries with excellent employment prospects), and it would not be good to remove something so valuable from the curriculum. Not to mention that as much as I hate maths in general it teaches valuable skills such as logical thinking which employers will look for in job applicants. A good grade in maths and an understanding of algebra are great advantages in life.

[Herargon]

It's a basic requirement to understand maths and maths is important if you want to be in a financially good state. Therefore, the purpose of algebra is to ensure one's welfare.

[Ifreann]

Minimum wage junkie?

a junkie who works for minimum wage and looks like this

I'm not confused about what minimum wage junkies are. I'm confused as to why you choose to describe those who operate cash registers as such.

[Immoren]

Nah, this does the maths for you.

Good point, except when you are the coustomer and want to check if the minimum wage junkie behind the cash register riped you of

But that's not minimum wage work.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

Am I the only person who actually thinks Algebra is the easiest and most interesting part of mathematics.
It was so fun back in the 7-9th grade.

There you go using that word.

"Fun"

How is math "Fun"

[Ifreann]

Am I the only person who actually thinks Algebra is the easiest and most interesting part of mathematics.
It was so fun back in the 7-9th grade.

There you go using that word.

"Fun"

How is math "Fun"

I sometimes derived a certain satisfaction from successfully solving maths problems.

[Conscentia]

Am I the only person who actually thinks Algebra is the easiest and most interesting part of mathematics.
It was so fun back in the 7-9th grade.

There you go using that word.
"Fun"
How is math "Fun"

Many people enjoy puzzle games.

[Galloism]

Am I the only person who actually thinks Algebra is the easiest and most interesting part of mathematics.
It was so fun back in the 7-9th grade.

There you go using that word.

"Fun"

How is math "Fun"

I find taxes fun - finding the best legal tax advantage uses logic not dissimilar to algebra. All the income generally has to be reported, but where, when, and how can be structured with proper planning.

It means that you can basically restate the equation in several ways, provided it always balances the other side.

It's a logic puzzle, which logic is a skill learned and practiced in math class.

[Lost heros]

Am I the only person who actually thinks Algebra is the easiest and most interesting part of mathematics.
It was so fun back in the 7-9th grade.

There you go using that word.

"Fun"

How is math "Fun"

It really depends on the kind of problem. If you can break the problem in to a puzzle, I typically find it enjoyable. For example, yesterday I did a geometric proof of the Pythagorean theorem, which was pretty fun.

[Javaking]

a junkie who works for minimum wage and looks like this

I'm not confused about what minimum wage junkies are. I'm confused as to why you choose to describe those who operate cash registers as such.

Well, there you have to arrest your own stereotypical views, not mine. I said a minimum wage junkie. Not that people who operate cahs registers are minimum wage junkies.

Same as a slob can work at shop, that does not mean everyone who works in a shop is a slob
I worked retail for near 10 years myself..

[Ifreann]

There you go using that word.

"Fun"

How is math "Fun"

I find taxes fun - finding the best legal tax advantage uses logic not dissimilar to algebra. All the income generally has to be reported, but where, when, and how can be structured with proper planning.

It means that you can basically restate the equation in several ways, provided it always balances the other side.

It's a logic puzzle, which logic is a skill learned and practiced in math class.

One of my favourite classes in college was Algorithmic Problem Solving. It was almost entirely logic puzzles. Plus the lecturer would occasionally distribute chocolate.

[Hurdegaryp]

I find taxes fun - finding the best legal tax advantage uses logic not dissimilar to algebra. All the income generally has to be reported, but where, when, and how can be structured with proper planning.

It means that you can basically restate the equation in several ways, provided it always balances the other side.

It's a logic puzzle, which logic is a skill learned and practiced in math class.

One of my favourite classes in college was Algorithmic Problem Solving. It was almost entirely logic puzzles. Plus the lecturer would occasionally distribute chocolate.

Everything is better with chocolate, as long as dogs are not involved.

[Ifreann]

One of my favourite classes in college was Algorithmic Problem Solving. It was almost entirely logic puzzles. Plus the lecturer would occasionally distribute chocolate.

Everything is better with chocolate, as long as dogs are not involved.

I didn't notice any dogs in the class, but they may have been in disguise.

[Javaking]

Everything is better with chocolate, as long as dogs are not involved.

I didn't notice any dogs in the class, but they may have been in disguise.

well probably there were some bitches

[Galloism]

Everything is better with chocolate, as long as dogs are not involved.

I didn't notice any dogs in the class, but they may have been in disguise.

They were probably wearing suits. The fiends.

[Hurdegaryp]

Everything is better with chocolate, as long as dogs are not involved.

I didn't notice any dogs in the class, but they may have been in disguise.

If so, they're all dead now. And Javaking's sense of humor may result in him not lasting very long on this forum, but that's a whole different story.

[Lordieth]

If you consider programming to be analogous to algebra, then yes, I use it. However, I think there's a misconception about programming in that it's very heavily focused on mathematics. While there is a lot of basic math involved, it doesn't really creep into "hard math" territory until you're creating more complex programs. Games, for example, require a higher degree of math, from trigonometry to some basic physics equations. Depending on the game type. A lot of games require no complex math whatsoever. One of the great benefits of programming, however, is that all modern-day languages used to make software are modular, so if someone else has figured out the formula to say, calculate the bounce velocity of an object dropped from x height when it weighs y amount, then you can simply insert that function into your code and simply adhere to the input variable and work with the resulting output.

I enjoyed Algebra in school. It was interesting, and esoteric. Although now I wish I paid just a little more attention in trigonometry.

[Javaking]

I didn't notice any dogs in the class, but they may have been in disguise.

If so, they're all dead now. And Javaking's sense of humor may result in him not lasting very long on this forum, but that's a whole different story.

you dont find wordplays humorus ? what a sad world you must live in

[Salandriagado]

The stuff you do in schools is mind-numbingly awful. Actual maths is fun.

That's a highly subjective thing. I know this first hand because as a computer programer I have a love for the kind of logical analytical design work used in mathematics but at the same time I hate doing it in a mathematical context. I personally love solving problems this way. But once you give me a problem that's abstract and has an unlimited number of possible variables and other pure math stuff it's just crap to me. It's just a pointless pain. Where as I know fellow programers who always hate having to "localize" the problem and prefer to think in the form of a abstract pure math approach. It's really just a thing of personal preference.

You have an extremely odd definition of what mathematics is.

Am I the only person who actually thinks Algebra is the easiest and most interesting part of mathematics.
It was so fun back in the 7-9th grade.

There you go using that word.

"Fun"

How is math "Fun"

I spent two hours yesterday playing with geomag trying to think my way around something. How is that not fun?

[The Fascist American Empire]

Am I the only person who actually thinks Algebra is the easiest and most interesting part of mathematics.
It was so fun back in the 7-9th grade.

Yes. Yes you are. Nowhere near as hard as geometry though.