i never figured it out .. how does algebra really help us in life?
2007-06-30 01:53:33 · 7 answers · asked by Jason M 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Actually, I think we use algebra far more than we think we do. The abstract thought process of juggling variables and constants is a part of our daily life. For example, you're at the grocery store and you've got a 5 dollar bill. You have three apples worth a dollar a piece in your shopping basket, and you want to buy as many bananas as you can with the remaining money. You know bananas are 50 cents a pound. So how many pounds can you buy?
That's algebra, and we do it all the time. We use similar thought processes to manage time, money, and even people.
Few people enjoy doing algebra in school. I didn't care for it either. But training in that kind of thinking is useful, and in retrospect I'm glad I had to learn it.
2007-06-30 02:09:30 · answer #1 · answered by ahiddentableau 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It will come up again, but you might not even recognize it as algebra... simple algebra is when you're substituting a number for a letter. It's when you're dealing with an unknown variable. So, whenever you don't know all of the numbers, that's when you put an x or n into its place. You can use it even in the grocery store. If you're going into any field that is scientifically or mathematically related, you'll be using algebra a lot. My husband is a computer programmer and he uses algebra ALL the time.
2007-06-30 08:58:24 · answer #2 · answered by April W 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Algebra is very useful even if you don't end up doing anything mathematical for a living. It trains your brain in how to analyze and solve problems of all kinds - even ones that seemingly have nothing whatsoever to do with math.
An athletically fit person can quickly become good at all kinds of sports. Similarly, a mathematically "fit" person can easily break down problems into their component parts & come up with solutions. Indeed, the problems may seem so simple that they don't even look like problems to you anymore: the answers are totally obvious because your mind has been trained to see them right away.
2007-06-30 09:17:36 · answer #3 · answered by Bramblyspam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you mean does it help you drive your car to work, find a mate, write a biography... No. But if you do anything that involves mathematics, like engineering or science for a living, then you use algebra all the time when you are determining expressions for problems that you are solving.
2007-06-30 08:57:50 · answer #4 · answered by William D 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A lot of basics that you would never think about are algebra. You will find yourself doing something and realize, "Whoa, we studied that in Algebra. I wish I had paid attention."
2007-06-30 09:04:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, when you are sitting in vector analysis and you hear your prof say something like, "All inverse square vector fields are conservative" you begin to think things like, "aw man, I wish I had studied my algebra better!" but other than that, its mostly useless.
2007-06-30 09:26:12 · answer #6 · answered by Runa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i do not know
2014-10-31 06:45:10 · answer #7 · answered by Salah 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋