What pertinence does college algerbra have to my life?

Question

I just realized (too late to drop) that my college algebra class is too hard for me, and I'm struggling to keep up. I'm getting tutoring, so that's not really my problem. I'm just wondering how college algebra is going to help me in my daily life. Not including whatever career I choose, when am i going to be needing functions, roots, quadratics, and inverses in my day-to-day life?

Answer 1

It isn't the subject that you need, it is the method of thinking that is important. Different subjects require different approaches to problem solving, and to be successful, you need to painstakingly learn as many approaches as possible.

Just think of all the people who sailed through high school by memorizing everything, only to get to University and realize that they knew how toi memorize, but critical thinking and problem solving were beyond their grasp.

Being successful at most jobs requires a bit of analysis and critical thinking, as well as the ability to communicate the results. Your college algebra course may seem like an exercize in futility to you, but using the right approach will make you successful.

Answer 2

I'm not sure you'll ever 'need' it other than to satisfy a long-standing benchmark for higher education degrees. I've a doctorate and am stymied by some of my kids' homework--boy that college calculus-both semesters-doesn't really seem to apply. If the class is too hard and the tutoring doesn't have a tremendous impact, you are in a tight spot. I hope you can stick with it and move on to classes in your area of interest. Good luck!

Answer 3

I personally use algebra, geometry, and Calculus in my work. You may use it without ever knowing it. It helps yourmind find faster ways to solve analytical problems that you may see later in life. If someone gives you a number, and wants to know and eld result, there is an equation involved and algebra can help. If you are planning to do journalism/nature conservation or something away from the field.... Algebra is pointless.

Answer 4

Just look at it this way. You may not ever need this math again but if you manage to understand it, you'll at least feel really smart and proud of yourself! I thought the same as you about algebra and all mathematics for years. Now, i'm helping my kid with his Algebra homework so it really has come to use. : ) Also, since i've studied higher mathematics, i've come to the conclusion that I may never use them in my every day life but they do INFLUENCE how I perceive my life and I like how they make my mind bend. Weird, huh?

Answer 5

It will help you learn how to split a check in a restaurant, instead of troubling the server.

Remember:

if you need to watch your money to the penny and are afraid to do an estimate, then you don't have the money to eat out in the first place,

if you don't want to do it for fear that someone else may try to take advantage of the situation, you're eating with the wrong people,

AND if you're one of those who cops out with "it's just too hard/too much trouble", then you definitely need more math.

Answer 6

A lot of it depends on what you want to do with your life. I work in finance, and use algebra all the time. I also use Calculus in my work.

Anyone in engineering, medicine, pharmacology, information technology or almost any other field will use algebra frequently.

There are jobs wher eyou can avoid mathematics. Unforunately, most of them don't pay well. But if they do pay well -- wouldn't it be nice to be able to keep track of your finances?

Answer 7

probably not. but you probably need it for your degree and you might need that in your every day life. i found college algebra to be bass-ackwards from high school algebra. it was the same stuff, they just like to confuse the heck out of you by wording the questions all funny and having russians teach it. (at least that was my experience)

Answer 8

i've never found a use for anything beyond basic algebra.
it's not the algebra itself that matters though. high levels of math are pushed not because of the usefulness of the math itself, but rather because of how much math makes u think and forces you to use logical thought processes. that logic is neccessary throughout life.

Answer 9

college!!!:D LOL i understand maximum of them will tell college,yet i guess i change into very shy for the period of my college days and in worry-free words unfolded in the course of the perfect few years while college is continually rocking!!:D yet given a call,i'd like to stay at my college,i loved that position~:)

Answer 10

If you want a degree you will have to take and pass an algebra course.