Algebrainstorming

Finding the roots of quadratic functions using factoring

"Why study algebra?"  If you're a student, it is a very common question to ask, "What's the point of learning algebra in the first place?"

After all, every concept that leads to learning algebra such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,  decimals, fractions, and the like, seem to have an essential application in our real lives. These basic concepts all deal with numbers in some way or another and because of this, we can wrap our brains more easily around the concepts. After all, I can earn ten thousand pesos and spend two thousand in buying stuffs and by using math (which does not involve algebra), I can figure out how much money is still left with me.. We can all imagine  specific situations where basic math serves us well.

In short, basic math or let us say literacy deals with numbers. Since we are all taught how to count at a young age the concepts of basic math, even though challenging at first, seem to have a practical value - even to children.

Enter Algebra. Suddenly, we are asked to deal not only with our comfortable numbers but with letters. And it doesn't stop with this. You start seeing parenthesis and exponents, and a whole lot of other symbols that seem to make no sense at all. This single fact more than any other turns many people off to learning algebra. At the very beginning you are asked to learn certain rules on how to calculate things in algebra. You must learn which steps are legal to do before others, and if you do them in the reverse order you get the wrong answer!

This leads to frustration. With frustration, despair follows in short order. And so the thoughts begin: "Why do I need to learn this?" "When would I ever use Algebra in real life?"