question: what the heck does algebra help with?!

[kinipela]

i absolutly HATE algebra, and i just dont see the point of it. fill me in on what it is ACCUALLY good 4.

[jazzmosis]

It's typically used for contstruction. And pretty much anything scientific (on a practical level).

[waffydude]

You'll need it if you want to continue to Calculus and get into any math-related field, such as engineering, computer science, or physics.

Plus you can apply it to lots of real world problems and it can make your life much, much easier if you can express things algebraically to save time.

Just give it time, you may see what I mean later.

[The_Q]

Economics.

Q

[tnyhwk900]

It amazes me how people my age can be so stupid. I'm currently taking algebra, and not only is it incredibly easy, it's also interesting and fun to work with.

[Verruckter]

It amazes me how people my age can be so stupid. I'm currently taking algebra, and not only is it incredibly easy, it's also interesting and fun to work with.

That's what I thought. Until I met this year's math teacher. Oh God, someone kill HIM (or at least make him lose his job). He made us all hate algebra.

But to get back to the topic, algebra can be useful in lots of situations. Unconsciously, you use it probably everyday but you don't realize it.

[gardyloo]

if 20 people can ask 143214 stupid questions in 352.2 hours, how many people would it take at the same rate to get guh-

[Squeek]

Want to know something important?

All maths through Algebra II are relevant. Meaning your arithmetic through 8th grade, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II are all necessary. Algebra II is where it starts breaking down, then Trig and Calc are where the information is just irrelevant.

Seriously, I even ask programmers that graduated college and they tell me that all the math they learned was useless or Googleable.

(Whoa, Googleable... That's totally my word now. I'm putting a copyright on it)

~Squeek

[QreepyBORIS]

Calc has serious applications to physics, and by proxy, programming with physics.

[Squeek]

Yes, but Physics is useless as well.

Don't you see the connection? There is absolutely no need to know the inverse trig functions' derivatives or how to implicitly differentiate an equation with respect to theta or any crap like that.

And the best part is, should you find a purpose for it in the future, you won't be tested on it. Instead, you'll be using a computer likely to be connected to this thing known as the intarwebs that can tell you the answers to every one of your questions.

Higher-level math = fail.

~Squeek

[QreepyBORIS]

Fail, unless you work at Valve or any other awesome company.

[The_Q]

Again, advanced calc is necessary for certain parts of economics.

I need math.

Q

[Squeek]

Q, could you elaborate?

I really want to find a legitimate purpose for Calculus.

~Squeek

[The_Q]

Ask Stephen E. Landsburgh. He says that advanced calc is necessary for some of the more complex models.

Q

[vashthestampede0987]

Lol I'm planning to take math only to the Calculus level through out highschool. I love math but this year my teacher has made me lose interest in it...Actually all of my teachers have done that so I have been slowly slippin further from academic performance and drifiting closer to the hitting on of girls during class and it actually working. I love math and I think its fun with the right teacher. Oh and if you don't plan on taking courses in life like engineering and physics and what-not(too lazy to be elaborate) then math really isn't needed past the calculus level unless you want to further your education upon it.

[GuidoHunter]

Squeek, in engineering you use higher level calculus so much that not knowing by rote would waste way too much time (in looking it up). Plus, not every problem with which you'd be confronted is googlable, so you need to know how to solve the problems yourself.

Also, it's incredibly fun to look at the world around you and just screw around with math and science.

Oh, and for the topic, algebra is the most important math to ever learn.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[The_Q]

Algebra teaches you how to think logically. It's magnificent.

Geometry teaches you how to think like an economist. It's even better.

Q

[Kilgamayan]

Partial derivatives are useful in economics for solving for Nash Equilibriums in Cournot and Bertrand duopoly models.

There's your advanced calculus.

[Kefit]

I have used calc techniques to design graphics for numerous computer science projects. Specifically, to find equations that approximated a desired curve that I wished to place on on the display.

And this is just low, low level stuff. I wonder what kind of stuff I will be able to pull off as I learn more techniques for displaying graphics.

Oh, and for a calc application to economics which some of you might actually understand, take a look at the equation for the present value of an item (that is, the price you would be willing to sell that item for right now) that acrues persistent interest (that is, it never stops acruing interest). This equation is the sum of a simple infinite series, which, surprise surprise, has a basis in calculus.

[GuidoHunter]

I swear this, that sometime before I die, if I am ever somewhere without a calculator, and I need to use pi (or e, or sine or cosine, for that matter), I will calculate it by hand using the infinite serieseses I learned in Cal II.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[Kefit]

I actually have done that with sin and cosine. Knowing that stuff is useful.

[Tank101]

The answer is simple, you need it to get through high school and college.
After that, you wouldn't need to know much unless you work at a job where it's practically required (engineering)

End of thread.

[alainbryden]

I liked the other answers better.

ie: fail.

[TheTypist]

Thinking algebra gets me into a "zone," where I feel like I can accomplish more. Maybe you take algebra to boost your self-confidence!

[gamefreak721]

algebra is fun............
when you understand it..........
if you dont it can pretty boring............
but altogether its good as long as u hav a teacher 2 teach it
for instance, in 6th grade i was all advanced honors and stuff and i passed this test which got me into pre algebra....it would hav been fine...if i had had a teacher....but it was sposed 2 b self taught by the book....
it really was not all that fun......

yah i no i like periods....... :)

[gamefreak721]

u kno it is fun 2 screw around with like all those theries by the old guys who invented the lightbulb.....who was that again?
lol j/k

[gamefreak721]

is any1 here any mor?

[gamefreak721]

k......bye.......

[Kilgamayan]

Probably not, considering the last post was OVER TWO WEEKS AGO.

Also, don't quadruple post.