question: what the heck does algebra help with?!

[GuidoHunter]

Squeek, in engineering you use higher level calculus so much that not knowing by rote would waste way too much time (in looking it up). Plus, not every problem with which you'd be confronted is googlable, so you need to know how to solve the problems yourself.

Also, it's incredibly fun to look at the world around you and just screw around with math and science.

Oh, and for the topic, algebra is the most important math to ever learn.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[The_Q]

Algebra teaches you how to think logically. It's magnificent.

Geometry teaches you how to think like an economist. It's even better.

Q

[Kilgamayan]

Partial derivatives are useful in economics for solving for Nash Equilibriums in Cournot and Bertrand duopoly models.

There's your advanced calculus.

[Kefit]

I have used calc techniques to design graphics for numerous computer science projects. Specifically, to find equations that approximated a desired curve that I wished to place on on the display.

And this is just low, low level stuff. I wonder what kind of stuff I will be able to pull off as I learn more techniques for displaying graphics.

Oh, and for a calc application to economics which some of you might actually understand, take a look at the equation for the present value of an item (that is, the price you would be willing to sell that item for right now) that acrues persistent interest (that is, it never stops acruing interest). This equation is the sum of a simple infinite series, which, surprise surprise, has a basis in calculus.

[GuidoHunter]

I swear this, that sometime before I die, if I am ever somewhere without a calculator, and I need to use pi (or e, or sine or cosine, for that matter), I will calculate it by hand using the infinite serieseses I learned in Cal II.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[Kefit]

I actually have done that with sin and cosine. Knowing that stuff is useful.

[Tank101]

The answer is simple, you need it to get through high school and college.
After that, you wouldn't need to know much unless you work at a job where it's practically required (engineering)

End of thread.

[alainbryden]

I liked the other answers better.

ie: fail.

[TheTypist]

Thinking algebra gets me into a "zone," where I feel like I can accomplish more. Maybe you take algebra to boost your self-confidence!

[gamefreak721]

algebra is fun............
when you understand it..........
if you dont it can pretty boring............
but altogether its good as long as u hav a teacher 2 teach it
for instance, in 6th grade i was all advanced honors and stuff and i passed this test which got me into pre algebra....it would hav been fine...if i had had a teacher....but it was sposed 2 b self taught by the book....
it really was not all that fun......

yah i no i like periods.......

[gamefreak721]

u kno it is fun 2 screw around with like all those theries by the old guys who invented the lightbulb.....who was that again?
lol j/k

[gamefreak721]

is any1 here any mor?

[gamefreak721]

k......bye.......

[Kilgamayan]

Probably not, considering the last post was OVER TWO WEEKS AGO.

Also, don't quadruple post.