DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Algebra

Solve this:

[2 x 5 (6-4) 5x (5+3)]

I understand how to do it and all..

But where in the world in the everyday workplace will you ever do this?

I use algebra constantly in computer science. Now Calculus ... there's a worthless math subject.

Is that a 'x' or a multiplication sign after the second 5?

Think about it.. Football is full of algebra. How do you find on length of the field goal kick? x (field position) +17.

I said the same thing when I was your age. "When will I ever use this garbage?"

You would NOT believe how often I have to resort back to formulas that I learned back in the day. These are all vitally important and you must commit them all to memory. It will serve you well in the future.























Or not.

It really is too bad the teachers can't lie and say, "You'll need to understand this formula or else you'll NEVER get laid. Yes, you need Algebra to have sex too."

I'm sure kids will be studying their.....brains out then.

Where will you use it? On almost every construction site... as an engineer or a construction manager.... and you also need to know it so you teach it to your kids in 20 years...

Post deleted by 123

You'll forget most of the rules if you don't use it, but you won't forget the concepts... it's like physics, I loved physics but don't use it much. I can't remember ANY of the formulas but I remember all of the concepts...

Anybody ever watch the movie Little Big League where the entire team is trying to help their kid manager solve a word problem? I have a feeling that is what this will be. As for my answer...

We're not solving for "x", there is no equation, and therefore no possible way to solve anything. As it is written
[2 x 5 (6-4) 5x (5+3)]
This would imply you would work within the parenthesis first. That would leave you with.
[2 x 5(2) 5x(8)]
[2 x 10 x 40x]
[20 x 40x]

Your answer would be 800x, but I haven't been in math class since freshman year of college, so take it with a grain of salt...

Silly... it will make you a better person! HAHA just kidding...algebra is fun...trust me, you'll learn that after you have to take geometry...calculus...stats...be glad you're taking algebra!!!!!!!!!

I didn't mean for you to actually solve it. It was a joke.

And if you were trying to solve for me to tell me how to do it....I know how.

that's a joke wait till u get trig. it's tough.

college trig in 11th grade not fair.

wait til calculus...it blows

Points...

I agree with you...depending on what you get into in later life, you may not use anything more than very basic "solve for x."

Whether it is actually math or not, learning the principles of problem solving will help you in pretty much anything you do.

The thought processes and ordering is just as important, or moreso, as the numbers themselves.

You can all say what you want about how bad math stinks; I never had that thought cross my mind, but I knew calc and trig were so hard that our potential valedictorians were getting F's in our senior year, so I dropped that course come second semester faster than you'd drop a 2-bagger. Also avoided calc in college, another GPA preserver,....managed to ace trig later though.

Anyway, my point was gonna be,....God created math before he created everything else. "Everything" else has a basis in math or an associated science thereof. Everything.

The original equation, as written, is bogus BTW. There is nothing to solve for, unless it's part of an additional scheme. That, or it's improperly written.

As in any math class, your grade reflects how much time you invest in your homework. Calculus is, indeed, is a very time consuming and complicated subject. I had to take Calc 1, 2, & 3 as well as differential equations in college. In high school, I got a D in algebra 2. In college, while working a fulltime job and being married with children, I got B's and C's in math classes.

By the way, people with math oriented degrees tend to make more money. Thankfully, most things are computerized these days, but you still need to know the basic concepts.

Ever watch "Numbers" on TV? Then you'd know how important algebra is.

As others have said, it's the concepts your learning more than the actual formulas. These concepts will help you in everyday problem solving, and you won't even realize it.

Everyday you do algebra.. Sitting in class that ends at 1:45 and the clock says 1:17, you are basically solving for "x" to know how much longer til the bell rings, but you do it almost automatically. Same thing with making change (something many fast food restaurant employees can't seem to do, they must have missed math class, hence why they work at a fast food joint.)

You will use this stuff all your life, but your career will determine how complex the equations you deal with will be.

I'm interested in what you use algebra for in comp sci.... I can't think of a time I've ever used it... I'm a dba/server admin though. Not much algebra there.

I can say that the problem solving aspect of working out an equation I use everyday. Thats where I think the big benefit is. You learn how to think...

I am taking Information Systems/E-Business right now and am taking Algebra for Technology so I feel your pain The bad thing for me is I haven't taken Algebra or Math since high school (1995) so I am struggling a lil bit. Worse yet is eventually I have to take Calculus and a Trig class I am doomed and if I get a friken D I am happy. History, English, the computer classes, I excel, Math, I suck horribly.

Algebra and Math in general are extremely important. I always did ok in Algebra, but I struggled mightily with Trig (didn't have a very good teacher of it to give me the basics).

I'm an attorney and I use algebra all the time to figure figures out. When I was a concrete laborer, I used trig and algebra all the time.

Believe us, learn the stuff well now. It will serve you very well in the future.

yeah i have a bachelor's in CS, and the classes sucked, lol, calculus III etc. But computer science i think is misleading. Most of the curriculum isn't really revolved around computers per se, but more computation of problems, cryptology and datalogy. I think its a base degree imo. Meaning you take degree and then expand it to a specialization. I took several routes until i found one i liked, I did the MSCE which don't require much math skill. Then I got my CCIE, which i used math extensively when converting binary to hex and vice versa, and then again when figuring out VLSM. And lately with my MCAD path, math and problem solving is prevelant again. So yeah i say if you want to do anything with computers, a strong background in math is imperative

Is this what you do? That was my question...

I have a CS degree and have a minor in math.

Math classes taken...

Algebra
Linear Algebra
Calc I
Discrete Math
Math of Finance
Stats 1 & 2
Trig

Linear and Discrete were both interesting and I think developed the most for my comp sci mind. Before being a dba I was a web/app developer. Had to make calcs for where a form/image was presented on the screen according to x/y/z and can safely say I never used anything more than I learned in high school alg 1 and geo 1.

These classes are taken to weed out the idiots in my opinion... get your C or B and get it done with. Even for game development now you don't use much of this stuff... you use the sdk and some math learned back in high school.

Someone's got to write the sdk.

I do a lot of application development and automation testing tools. I use a LOT of basic algebra and discrete type math for problem solving. I don't use a lot of advanced algebra, and I hardly ever use Trig. I haven't seen a calculus equation since college (thank goodness!!)

The kind of math the original poster is talking about you use all the time. Half the time you don't even think about it because your brain automatically plugs in all the variables, rearranges the "x" and makes it a basic equation.

You are correct... and that someone is not me. No Einstein here...

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Half the time you don't even think about it because your brain automatically plugs in all the variables, rearranges the "x" and makes it a basic equation.

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Understand what your saying but I just feel that I learned that stuff in high school. IMO college is an experience that gives you a base to go do something in the real world. I can count on my hands how many classes I actually had that gave me that base. Even though I took 45 classes in college. IMO ... Get your base... your piece of paper... and some memories that last a lifetime.

The stuff in the original post is basic high school algebra ... and you DO use that!

I totally agree with you about college though. I think I learned more in the first 3 months of my first job than I did in all of my college studies.

Quote:

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I think I learned more in the first 3 months of my first job than I did in all of my college studies

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Wow, and I apply at least one thing I learned in college on a daily basis. Of course I have a BS in Mathematics with a Comp Sci Minor so it could be because math is the basis for, well, everything.

Not to say that I'm not constantly learning new things, but the mathematics education that I received in high school and college has been invaluable to me. My title is "IT Network Supervisor" but I'm really a telecommunications engineer.

I can't Mensa hasn't chimed in ....He's got a PHD in Stats