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In reply to the discussion: Trend-starting Texas drops algebra II mandate [View all]DrDan
(20,411 posts)45. I used it just a couple of days ago
needed to cut a shelf diagonally to fit into a corner of my garage. One side was 39 inches. I used the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the hypotenuse.
Fits perfectly.
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Hmm, carpenters use it all the time. Just sayin'. We use it more than we think.
SharonAnn
Jan 2014
#2
Algebra II is not "advanced math" more than reading "Of Mice and Men" is advanced
MillennialDem
Jan 2014
#36
Carpenters do use practical geometry, but they never have to spend hours writing proofs
OmahaBlueDog
Jan 2014
#9
Geometry proofs are easy as pie. And Algebra II has zero or rarely any proofs.
MillennialDem
Jan 2014
#38
I'm glad they were easy for you. For many others among us -- not so much. (nt)
OmahaBlueDog
Jan 2014
#40
I can see the point of greatly reducing or eliminating the proofs in Geometry, but I'm sick
MillennialDem
Jan 2014
#66
Everyone thinks they suck at math but excel at writing...it's usually the opposite
alcibiades_mystery
Jan 2014
#95
Trig is very practical, but it doesn't get taught in HS now until pre-calculus
OmahaBlueDog
Jan 2014
#11
I'm not doubting what you're saying. Maybe it's a state by state variance?
OmahaBlueDog
Jan 2014
#119
People lived for hundreds of thousands of years without electricity or indoor plumbing
struggle4progress
Jan 2014
#33
You use it all the time when you drive, park your car, manage furniture placement in
bluestate10
Jan 2014
#113
I don't know if my autistic son will be able to make it to algebra II or not but I like the idea
liberal_at_heart
Jan 2014
#6
"They" (ALEC, Koch Brothers, religious idiocy, etc.) are slowly but surely dumbing us down and
ChisolmTrailDem
Jan 2014
#7
You could say it in Old English or French and you still wouldn't need to use Algebra II. Algebra I
WinkyDink
Jan 2014
#82
Ok, I had up to and including Calculus. I became an English teacher. Alg II? Yeah, never used.
WinkyDink
Jan 2014
#22
The problem is that they teach math as isolated problems, that have little to do with each other.
RC
Jan 2014
#37
Now the student understands that objects flying into the wind go slower.
lumberjack_jeff
Jan 2014
#131
Excessive math requirements are just setting otherwise successful students up to fail
Sen. Walter Sobchak
Jan 2014
#41
People can bullshit English by using the words journey and struggle enough
Sen. Walter Sobchak
Jan 2014
#57
Literally minded people who are good at math and science often aren't very good bullshitters
Fumesucker
Jan 2014
#61
But what is excessive? I don't think its safe to assume the future will be dumb
bhikkhu
Jan 2014
#99
you know what would be more useful than algebra II? Personal finance.
liberal_at_heart
Jan 2014
#102
Every single subject has students who think it's either boring as hell or impossibly abstruse
Fumesucker
Jan 2014
#59
For you maybe. Reading novels are boring to me. Math and reading scientific and technical
MillennialDem
Jan 2014
#67
why does it have to forced on students is what I don't understand. Maybe instead of
liberal_at_heart
Jan 2014
#91
Most colleges and Uni's have to remediate students even with the requirement... it is not unusual
JCMach1
Jan 2014
#96
I wish I could unlock my son's brain. He is autistic and has a hard time with math at school.
liberal_at_heart
Jan 2014
#112
Lack of math skills furthers the one percent goal of preventing the working class
kairos12
Jan 2014
#97
the problem with this is that there is no alternative for students that learn
liberal_at_heart
Jan 2014
#118
Blue collar workers use higher level math in their jobs than white collar.
lumberjack_jeff
Jan 2014
#127
It is not as easy as just requiring them to pass as you have stated so well.
liberal_at_heart
Jan 2014
#139
Want an example of how our schools are failing our children? My son got a C- in science this
liberal_at_heart
Jan 2014
#141