I don't understand why they have to take simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; throw it together in a weird way and make you break it down in to steps to solve it.
What is the point of Algebra?
That is all very useful and correct, but tell me, when exactly do you use imaginary numbers? In case you are wondering, I am rather hung up on the whole imaginary number thing...Originally Posted by butzie
Algebra is something that we use in everyday life. I liked this link originally posted by Essayons89:
http://www.act.org/compass/sample/prealg.html
Algebra helps you figure out how much to tip in a restaurant. You can figure out the tax on an item. You use it if you want to half a recipe, to figure out the MPG your car gets, what is the average temperature etc.
I think that the link really shows how we use algebra.
it's supposed to teach you to think logically.Originally Posted by hurdyburdy
There must be a point to it all.. I'm not sure what it is
OK, you asked for it!Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN
That is all very useful and correct, but tell me, when exactly do you use imaginary numbers? In case you are wondering, I am rather hung up on the whole imaginary number thing...
Only when you're working on parallel universesOriginally Posted by WELDRWOMN
That is all very useful and correct, but tell me, when exactly do you use imaginary numbers? In case you are wondering, I am rather hung up on the whole imaginary number thing...
Because the second way is actually more confusing. You never use x to indicate a multiplier. Only a dot, or parenthesis.... the bottom part you showed - to me - mean 8-6x-2, or 6-6x, or 6(1-x) That is totally not the same thing as 8 minus negative 12.Originally Posted by luvmycat1
OK so -4(9)+5
_______
8-6(-2) This equation says -4 times 9 plus five divided by 6 minus 8 times -2 which is 45. Why does the equation have to be formulated like that. Why not -4x9+5/8-6x-2? It's the same thing only the first one can be confusing.
I remember in basic math though, 8x5 would mean 8 times 5. So why is the mutiplication symbol different in algebra.?Originally Posted by kluchetta
Because the second way is actually more confusing. You never use x to indicate a multiplier. Only a dot, or parenthesis.... the bottom part you showed - to me - mean 8-6x-2, or 6-6x, or 6(1-x) That is totally not the same thing as 8 minus negative 12.
Because Algebra is about finding the unknown. The unknown is x.Originally Posted by luvmycat1
I remember in basic math though, 8x5 would mean 8 times 5. So why is the mutiplication symbol different in algebra.?
So you don't confuse it with the variable that you are solving for. Algebra are equations like 8 + x(9) = 20y. So using x as a multiplier would confuse things. (8 + xx9=20y)Originally Posted by luvmycat1
I remember in basic math though, 8x5 would mean 8 times 5. So why is the mutiplication symbol different in algebra.?
Are you trying to confuse me?Originally Posted by luvmycat1
OK so -4(9)+5
_______
8-6(-2) This equation says -4 times 9 plus five divided by 6 minus 8 times -2 which is 45. Why does the equation have to be formulated like that. Why not -4x9+5/8-6x-2? It's the same thing only the first one can be confusing.
I'd rather x remain a mystery.Originally Posted by kluchetta
Because Algebra is about finding the unknown. The unknown is x.