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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really believe algebra is a waste of time...

212 replies

Feminine · 13/12/2011 23:33

unless you are intending to go in to a math/science driven career?

Not radical I know Wink but really, its a waste of time isn't it?

I think teens would be better off concentrating on math that actually helps when they leave school...I have a teen myself and teen siblings -I hear this opinion regularly.Many of the brightest students struggle with it, surely they could do something else? something more practical perhaps?

The jobs I have heard it is used in, is quite silly.

If I am ignorant, and we would would all be much better off if we were all better at it , then I (in advance) apologize. :)

OP posts:
reelingintheyears · 14/12/2011 00:36

Algebra is an anagram of grab ale...

Original poster
Feminine · 14/12/2011 00:37

I am quite happy to be told IABU ...I said as much in my first post.

Maybe they just do too much of it here? the whole 7th grade math book is dedicated to it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Feminine · 14/12/2011 00:39

Very good reeling

makachu I will try...

OP posts:
Spermysextowel · 14/12/2011 00:46

Reeling every time you use x or y it's most like you're using grab ale. Or that's what I'll be telling self in future.

MaMattoo · 14/12/2011 00:47

Oh Sad I used to hate maths in school. I was horribly under confident about my maths skills. And then I did algebra and 'got' it. Which made me love trigonometry.
But I went on to study history and design and became an academic who has nothing to do with maths!!!
But it taught me logic, rational thinking and problem solving skills.
Yabu - education brings employability. But good education brings the ability to think. And both are equally important.

reelingintheyears · 14/12/2011 00:51

Spermysextowel

What?

x or y?

Like a towel or a dressing gown or what?

NotADudeExactly · 14/12/2011 00:52

You definitely need algebra to get anywhere useful in software development. I should know because a) it's my field and b) I used to despise anything mathematical.

I'm not saying that you can't work a simple application that does some useful stuff without much math - that's certainly doable. However, the really useful kind of software is the sort that actually automates stuff you used to do yourself. Anyone can write e.g. an application that lets you type values into a grid - that doesn't make it Excel.

For that kind of thing you just can't get around understanding math and algebraic formulae. The thing I'm currently working on revolves around applying an algorithm to different sets of co-ordinates within a cartesian system to achieve a unform outcome. No math no can do.

Being "gifted" does not mean never struggling with anything; if anything finding something hard can actually be a valuable learning experience in itself.

Original poster
Feminine · 14/12/2011 01:01

notadude I only mentioned my son because what he does on the computer looks to me very similar...what do I know?

I didn't say he was gifted or anything ...just able to teach himself something, so obviously not daft IYSWIM?

We have computer engineers in our family, they have seen his work and they are keeping an eye on him Wink

I take your "struggling" point ,I agree :)

OP posts:
Spermysextowel · 14/12/2011 01:17

Reeling, I have little idea. I don't really think that a sentence with x or y counts, but I'm thinking if I go shopping with x amount of money, a towel costs y amount of money, then I can buy z amount of towels with my x amount.

I think this counts as grab ale (which is how I'll think of it from now on) but sure as eggs're eggs my hopes will be dashed.

NotADudeExactly · 14/12/2011 01:18

Sorry, I may have misunderstood that.

As for the struggling bit: I was always one of these kids who learned everything pretty much by just sitting and listening half-heartedly to the teacher. Except - you guessed it - algebra.

I think it's for this very reason that my mad algebraic skills are in fact one of my proudest achievements. I actually had to work to develop them.

Smile
youngermother1 · 14/12/2011 01:19

Algebra is very simple and used all the time. I am cooking a dinner and have a recipe for 8 people, I only have four for dinner. How do I work out the amount of pasta needed?

Way we all do it - 800g for 8 people, 400g for 4

Algebra:
x is amount of pasta per person

800g=8x
therefore 100g=x (divide both sides of the equation by 8 to get x on its own)
therefore 4x=400g (multiply both sides of the equation by 4 as 4 people)

This example is simple adjusted for more complicated equations, but the principle is the same and we cannot live without it.
As mentioned before, if you can't do it, you were taught wrongly.

Original poster
Feminine · 14/12/2011 01:23

youngermother I can understand that easily

Thanks :)

I wish I could show you what DS has to do ...mind numbing (to me) Wink

OP posts:
bruffin · 14/12/2011 01:24

Excel spreadsheets are algebra

Original poster
Feminine · 14/12/2011 01:25

notadude Grin

Well done!

OP posts:
marcopront · 14/12/2011 01:27

What parts of A'level maths can he do? and do you mean understanding the topics or answering questions?

Spermysextowel · 14/12/2011 01:28

Youngermother you have dashed my hopes. I'm clearly not doing unwitting algebra every day as I'd just cook half the amount.

Original poster
Feminine · 14/12/2011 01:32

marco we went on the A-Level bitesize site.

He worked with my DH as (as you might guess) he was the better option.

The math they do here (US) is very different.

Most of the GCSE bitesize was taught to him in 4th 5th grade...Confused

OP posts:
spiderslegs · 14/12/2011 01:42

DH uses complex algorhythims on a daily basis.

spiderslegs · 14/12/2011 01:43

As do I (In a domestic setting).

Spermysextowel · 14/12/2011 01:48

Spiders, tell me how?

SlobDylan · 14/12/2011 01:56

I can see both sides. I'm fascinated (as far as my rubbish knowledge of mathematics allows) by some of the programmes I've watched that explain why everything is made up of numbers - in the abstract that's quite beautiful. BUT I was crap at maths at school, relegated to the lowest 'set' etc - and the best, most inspirational teachers only taught the most mathematically able students (ie the 'top' sets). So I left school with a poor maths qualification and -worse- the assumption that it was beyond me.
Hmmm... I'm rambling!, but I guess my point is two-fold: 1. that the way maths is taught in schools tends to be taught in 'one' way, so if your brain works in a different way then you'll always struggle; and 2. as some other posters have alluded to - that maths can be taught in such an abstract way that it's not a practical life skill. ie - maybe maths taught/learned in terms of a direct application - book keeping/housekeeping/managing my finances way might be more useful and even better understood by younguns.... Apologies! I don't usually post, but this really struck a chord. I know I'm speaking in more general terms than algebra only.

NotADudeExactly · 14/12/2011 02:02

I frankly think some gender stereotyping definitely plays into it. "Boys are better at maths" is definitely something that most of my teachers readily accepted - with all the self fulfilling prophecy rat tail that inevitably follows.

I only actually learned math at high school. Before that I was just lost, until at one point I realized I had to sit down and not get up until I grasped at least the basics.

Original poster
Feminine · 14/12/2011 02:05

I am now wondering why he claims not to be able to do it, when (with the help of this thread) its obvious he can

We are coming back to the UK quite soon , I guess it will be crunch time then Grin

OP posts:
spiderslegs · 14/12/2011 02:13

Spermy

He writes complex code but is shit, shit at maths - we work it out.

Parietal · 14/12/2011 02:27

Yabu. Algebra is fundamental to maths.

If your dd & many kids you know find it hard, have they got a not-very-good teacher? Having a good maths teacher (not just someone who can do maths, but who can teach it) makes a big difference.