honestly when you grow up do you ever need to use algebra?

Question

unless you're a mathematician

Answer 1

Nope and dont let anyone tell you otherwise honey!

Answer 2

You prob wouldn't need calculus, but you sure as hell need some algebra. I rem a guy woking in a salaries area in my Department. This was a really low-graded job, but you still had to be able to slot figures into an equation. Like:

Days accrued - Totaldays - (daysoff - days recredited) / penalty days X (leave entitlement - (excessdays + daysoff)

Etc, etc. He couldn't do it. Never seen a bracket with a letter in it before. Thought it was what rocket scientists did. Couldn't work there. You need algebra to do basic programming.

Apart from algebra, I'll tell you what I found the most useful in maths (I don't meaning counting and the times tables and baby stuff like that). It's ratios. Stuff like if you have 5/8 of something due to you, and you get 300 of something, then what was the total amount?

Yep, algebra is im-ortant in ordinary life. I don't know how people who can't do any of it get by planning a savings account or buying a home.

Answer 3

Absolutely. It comes in quite handy during day-to-day life, even for someone who is not a mathematician. Even ignoring work situations for non-mathematicians (I, as a mechanical engineer, use algebra frequently in the workplace), it is useful in one's private life.

For example, A one-way commuter train ticket from Baltimore (where I live) to BWI airport (where I work) is $4. A monthly pass for the same trip is $100. How many times do I need to ride the train for it to be worth it to buy the monthly pass? 4x = 100 ==> x = 25. I ride 40 times in a typical month, so I buy the pass.

I get a pair of season tickets to my local community theatre, entitling me to view every show of the season with one guest, by making a $300 contribution. I also can buy additional tickets for $10 each, while the face value of tickets is usually $15. If I always bring two guests (myself free, one free guest, one $10 guest), how many shows do I need to see before I've saved an amount equal to the $300 donation? I save two full-price admissions, 2*$15 = $30, and I get an additional $5 dollar discount, so I save $35 for every show. 35x = 300 ==> x = 8.57. Of course, I can't see half a show, so I earn my donation back after the ninth show I see with two guests.

These are both completely real examples taken from my life.

Answer 4

Yes!
Using algebra, you can avoid being taken in by fraud of various sorts. The state lottery is said to be a tax on people who don't understand math, and that's true. Subprime mortgages, gold and silver bullion coins sold at twice the spot (or more) price due to deceptive sales practices, and pyramid schemes are a few more examples that come to mind.
Also, learning math teaches generalised mental skills which are necessary in today's soceity. For more info see...
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/why_math.htm

Answer 5

People cannot use what they do not know.

If you know algebra well, chances are good you will find yourself using it several times a week, if not every day. In my job I find myself using algebra almost daily. I use trigonometry several times a month. I don't use calculus very often, though it would be fun if I could.

Answer 6

Accountants use a lot of algebra as to computer people. If you ever want to set up a spreadsheet, you will need algebra for all of your math formulas.

Answer 7

I am a magazine editor, studied journalism, work at a Marketing Dept., all social science specialties... and now I wish I had paid more attention to Algebra and Math classes!!!

Answer 8

I am designing a carport. There is a lot of mathematics, including algebra, involved; I don't want it to fall down on the car.

Answer 9

yes yes yes. Actually it's quite funny how you came up with this question. i was talking about this in my advanced algebra class and that really cracks me up. But the anser to your question is that you do use it in day to day life because when you need it to find out grocery shopping and other things that i actulally find usless but nevertheless you do use it.

Answer 10

it depends on what you do for a living of course. Me? I have never used it. some basic math every day sure. Algebra? NO

Answer 11

algebra teach you the way you think to solve the problem. forget the x,y,z, algebra step by step problem solving way of thinking is what we use in real world.