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Algebra? If you can't understand algebra there is something dreadfully wrong with you mind, your attitude, or your instruction - Questions should be raised and

Algebra? If you can't understand algebra there is something dreadfully wrong with you mind, your attitude, or your instruction - Questions should be raised and no degree should be awarded. Ok - I guess it depends on what they include in an algebra course. Here is an intermediate algebra course outline (pdf warning): https://www.ccsf.edu/dam/Organizational_Assets/Department/Mathematics/MATH-60-Intermediate-Algebra.pdf https://www.ccsf.edu/dam/Organizational_Assets/Department/Ma... It goes beyond the basics but certainly should be passable by any ordinary person who works at it. This is one of the major things that a degree (any degree) should indicate : this person can work through learning new things. Removing this makes the degree less valuable.

kermittd 9y ago
Hmm I disagree that something is wrong if you can't understand algebra. Something is wrong with a system that make you "learn" information irrelevant to your own life.
- throwawayjava 9y ago
  You don't perform "addition, multiplication, addition, and subtraction of rational expressions" in your every-day life? You don't "Identify key features of and sketch graphs" when e.g. planning an expensive purchase or reading the news? No business owner is going to survive if they don't understand how to solve a system of equations (aka figure out feasible pricing before losing all their money). Although we are on a tech VC's news site, so I stand corrected ;-) Being an informed citizen capable of taking care of yourself does require most of the things taught in middle/high school algebra. (Which are the same exact things taught in CC algebra.) A surprising amount of financial suffering is self-imposed by people who can't or won't do very basic math.
  - jshevek 9y ago
    Indeed! Requiring _less_ math is a frightening idea to me, in a system of government in which nearly everyone has the right to vote. Properly understanding even the most basic information that informs policy decisions often requires a more advanced understanding than algebra.

kermittd 9y ago

Hmm I disagree that something is wrong if you can't understand algebra. Something is wrong with a system that make you "learn" information irrelevant to your own life.

throwawayjava 9y ago
You don't perform "addition, multiplication, addition, and subtraction of rational expressions" in your every-day life? You don't "Identify key features of and sketch graphs" when e.g. planning an expensive purchase or reading the news? No business owner is going to survive if they don't understand how to solve a system of equations (aka figure out feasible pricing before losing all their money). Although we are on a tech VC's news site, so I stand corrected ;-) Being an informed citizen capable of taking care of yourself does require most of the things taught in middle/high school algebra. (Which are the same exact things taught in CC algebra.) A surprising amount of financial suffering is self-imposed by people who can't or won't do very basic math.
- jshevek 9y ago
  Indeed! Requiring _less_ math is a frightening idea to me, in a system of government in which nearly everyone has the right to vote. Properly understanding even the most basic information that informs policy decisions often requires a more advanced understanding than algebra.