Why do we have to learn Algebra ?

Answer 1

Algebra is one of the most easiest methods of learning numbers...
It just so happens your teacher does not know how to make it interesting enough for you
Put yourself in a football field. from the fifty yard line, put a zero.
every counted yard to the right is a positive, and every counted yard to the left is a negative. That's one basic form of it...

Answer 2

The purpose of Algebra is to find out a certain quantity or number. Companies use it to find out how much of a profit the can make depending on which resources they use based on there cost. So for example let say a company is making boxes. Should they have 30 workers at 10 hour shifts each making $10 an hour, or 40 workers a 8 hour shifts making $9 and hour. With 30 worker you make 50 boxes in an hour and with 40 you make 65 in an hour. Each box cost 5 cents to make. A problem like this is to see which one will make you to most money, and it can get very complex. It sucks because I wasn't good at algebra, but dominated geometry.

Answer 3

I can honestly say in the 14 years since I left high school and the 10 years since I left college, I have never used algebra. Although I still feel it is imporatant to learn.
I think it is mostly to train your brain to think in abstract concepts and develop problem solving skills. The algebra I learned in school helped me in other areas such as Chemistry and Physics.
I've been a professional working with finance for 10 years, never having to use algebra, but still I feel it helped me.

Answer 4

I suppose we could stop teaching it, and let all of the other countries excel in math and become the next scientists and engineers. Actually, that's already been happening. Speaking as somebody who works in software, I sure as hell use algebra all the time. Though most of my professors in college and my current co-workers were from well outside of the U.S., because the U.S. public schools just aren't turning out enough smart math & science people these days.

If you want another reason: mathematics is the best way of teaching formal logic, reasoning and critical thinking skills. Those are very valuable skills that have allowed humankind to accomplish a LOT. Why throw it away?

Answer 5

Actually, you truly don't need it in life. If your grand plan is to work in a burger shop, a sweat shop, or Radio Shack ( pretending to know what you are selling) then you'll never need it.
However, if you plan to move beyond this to a decent job then you will require some basic knowledge of algebra, in the very least. If those concepts are too hard for you then those jobs are beyond your abilities and you should definitely settle for the eaiest job you can get. Maybe getting up at 3:00 in the morning to ride around on the back of a truck > > collecting trash - I sure you'll never need to worry about math in that job, and you'll get first pick.

Answer 6

Algebra is just a simple way of organising your thinking processes, think of it as an approach to logic. If you want to be able to think logically then you need algebra, if you don't care then forget algebra and take that job at Kentucky Fried Chicken that pays minimum wage.

Answer 7

Ok, so it may not be seen in your line of work, but what if you are an engineer? My guess is that engineers see algebra in their work. So it really depends on where you want to go to for work. A hairstylist may not need algebra, but an architect might.

Answer 8

I often wonder, all the math questions we had to learn in school, they don't do me any help, in my line of work who needs Algebra? I don't see any use for it.

Answer 9

There's no good reason. I finished school over 20 years ago and have never once needed to know it.

Answer 10

To get good grades.