Why to learn Algebra II

[Ana]

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

 

[Stanislaw Flatto]

Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

As I found it in "science+electronics+_basic_", maybe you should start

from the VERY basic - "Why to learn _at all_".

Good luck

Stanislaw.

PS. A Hassidic proverb "We always learn."

 

[John Larkin]

On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:08:57 -0700, Ana <amant1@lausd.net> wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

Sad fact is, most people won't use it.

John

 

[gearhead]

On Oct 6, 2:08 pm, Ana <ama...@lausd.net> wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

What country do you live in? Your use of the infinitive is not very
idiomatic, which indicates either that English is not your first
language, or else you just don't type very carefully.
But I suppose you want someone to address the students in English,
because you posted in English.
You might try the sci.math newsgroup...
I like solving quirky math problems, like how to weigh a two foot
piece of thin string when all you have is a U.S. quarter dollar, which
weighs one fifth of an ounce. You can do it by tying the quarter to
the end of the string, hanging that end of the string over a waxed
nail and measuring the vertical deflection (droop) of the horizontal
section of the string. Using basic algebra and geometry, you can
calculate the weight of the string to a certain degree of accuracy
just by measuring the droop.
I think students will relate to something concrete if you leave out
moral lecturing and advice about the future, because kids don't live
in the future.
Don't listen to the naysayers. This is a very worthwhile project, and
you may even find that you do indeed get through to the students on
some level, if you have the right approach.

 

[Ninja]

"gearhead" <nospam@billburg.com> wrote in message
news:1191771883.558782.315950@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

On Oct 6, 2:08 pm, Ana <ama...@lausd.net> wrote:
I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

What country do you live in? . . .

Ana's email address suggest that she works for the Los Angeles Unified
School District.

 

[Rich Grise]

On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:08:57 -0700, Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra II
class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in life?"

Because learning _anything_ is a Good Thing. It trains your brain to think,
and algebra, especially, is broadly applicable in all manner of
problem-solving.

If they plan on getting any kind of technical job at all, knowing
algebra could make the difference in whether or not they get the job,
which will pay more than a job where you don't have to know anything.

Not to mention the sheer fun of learning stuff.

Once, on "are you smarter than a 5th grader", there was a map question,
something like, "If the scale on the map says 1 inch = 5 miles, then
how many miles is it between two cities that are 5 inches apart on the
map?"

Jeff Foxworty, even though he'd said he didn't know any algebra, stood
there and did the algebra in his head, and showed his work by doing it
out loud.

Cheers
Rich

 

[Joel Kolstad]

"Rich Grise" <rich@example.net> wrote in message
newsan.2007.10.08.20.56.22.20358@example.net...

Once, on "are you smarter than a 5th grader", there was a map question,
something like, "If the scale on the map says 1 inch = 5 miles, then
how many miles is it between two cities that are 5 inches apart on the
map?"

Jeff Foxworty, even though he'd said he didn't know any algebra, stood
there and did the algebra in his head, and showed his work by doing it
out loud.

I'd suggest there's really more arithmetic than algebra. I mean, OK, yes, you
can make an algebraic equation out of it, but I'm pretty sure most kids
could've come up with the answer before having taken their first algebra
class!

I was always surprised that "story problems" were so dreaded in school -- for
me they were the most fun, because they showed you what sort of applications
you could put all this math too (even if many of them were a bit contrived).

 

[Stephen J. Rush]

On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:08:29 -0700, Joel Kolstad wrote:

I was always surprised that "story problems" were so dreaded in school -- for
me they were the most fun, because they showed you what sort of applications
you could put all this math too (even if many of them were a bit contrived).

The story problems were dreaded because you had to think a little to
identify the operands and -Horrors!- decide which operation to perform.
At that age, arithmetic is mostly a pointless ritual one performs to gain
the approval of adults, so anything that delays the production of a quick,
correct answer is a threat.

 

[Lord Garth]

"Rich Grise" <rich@example.net> wrote in message
newsan.2007.10.08.20.56.22.20358@example.net...

On Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:08:57 -0700, Ana wrote:

Once, on "are you smarter than a 5th grader", there was a map question,
something like, "If the scale on the map says 1 inch = 5 miles, then
how many miles is it between two cities that are 5 inches apart on the
map?"

Jeff Foxworty, even though he'd said he didn't know any algebra, stood
there and did the algebra in his head, and showed his work by doing it
out loud.

Cheers
Rich

Let's not confuse Algebra with Arithmetic...

 

[Eeyore]

Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

I'ts been puzzling me.

What's the significance of the "II" in Algebra II ?

Graham

 

[eromlignod]

On Oct 6, 4:08 pm, Ana <ama...@lausd.net> wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

If you plan to work in a factory or cook hamburgers as a career, then
no, it isn't very useful.

If, on the other hand, you plan to study virtually any science or
economic major in college, then it is a good idea to take it in high
school. A beginning freshman in engineering is expected to have
already taken algebra and trigonometry and to be ready to start off
with calculus I. Algebra and trigonometry are considered remedial
classes in engineering.

Since science programs rely on the building of prerequisites, having
to learn algebra in college could set you back a semester.

Don
Kansas City

 

[Rich Grise]

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:16:01 +0100, Eeyore wrote:

Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in life?"

I'ts been puzzling me.

What's the significance of the "II" in Algebra II ?

Probably when they get to exponents, logs, quadratics, and things like
"linear algebra".

I wonder if OP is following the thread?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Eeyore wrote:

Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

I'ts been puzzling me.

What's the significance of the "II" in Algebra II ?

What do you THINK it means? It is a second year of the subject, like
all other 'II' courses.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Eeyore]

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote:

Eeyore wrote:
Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

I'ts been puzzling me.

What's the significance of the "II" in Algebra II ?

What do you THINK it means? It is a second year of the subject, like
all other 'II' courses.

That style of nomenclature nor 'electronics 101' and the like isn't used in the
UK but thanks for the explanation.

So how many years Algebra is typically taught in 'high school' as you call it in
the USA ?

Graham

 

[Don Bowey]

On 10/11/07 8:29 AM, in article 470E4151.CC3BE417@hotmail.com, "Eeyore"
<rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote:

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote:

Eeyore wrote:
Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

I'ts been puzzling me.

What's the significance of the "II" in Algebra II ?

What do you THINK it means? It is a second year of the subject, like
all other 'II' courses.

That style of nomenclature nor 'electronics 101' and the like isn't used in
the
UK but thanks for the explanation.

So how many years Algebra is typically taught in 'high school' as you call it
in
the USA ?

Graham

In the 50's there was one algebra class in my HS, but we were allowed to
take courses at the U of Oregon and were given both HS and college credit
for them.

 

[Rich Grise]

On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:29:21 +0100, Eeyore wrote:

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote:
Eeyore wrote:
Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

I'ts been puzzling me.

What's the significance of the "II" in Algebra II ?

What do you THINK it means? It is a second year of the subject, like
all other 'II' courses.

That style of nomenclature nor 'electronics 101' and the like isn't used in the
UK but thanks for the explanation.

So how many years Algebra is typically taught in 'high school' as you call it in
the USA ?

In the HS I went to, a year; the following year we started getting
into differential calculus. But college is generally measured in
"terms" or "quarters" or "semesters" - I can't imagine spending a
whole year on Alg. I.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Eeyore]

Don Bowey wrote:

"Eeyore" wrote:
"Michael A. Terrell" wrote:
Eeyore wrote:
Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

I'ts been puzzling me.

What's the significance of the "II" in Algebra II ?

What do you THINK it means? It is a second year of the subject, like
all other 'II' courses.

That style of nomenclature nor 'electronics 101' and the like isn't used in
the UK but thanks for the explanation.

So how many years Algebra is typically taught in 'high school' as you call it
in the USA ?

In the 50's there was one algebra class in my HS, but we were allowed to
take courses at the U of Oregon and were given both HS and college credit
for them.

So, to return to my original question .... how many years did you study Algebra at
'high school' ?

I'm doing my best to recall my own education in detail for comparison. I know we
did Geometry at 'Prep School' - ie. age up to 11. Maybe just in the last year -
from age 10 to 11. I'm not quite sure if we covered basic Algebra at that time.

I think Algebra was a standard component of the Mathematics we studied from age 11
- 18.

In the later years of that we were of course covering Calculus (differential
equations, integration etc) and the like.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

Rich Grise wrote:

Eeyore wrote:
"Michael A. Terrell" wrote:
Eeyore wrote:
Ana wrote:

I am looking for a person to talk via video conferencing to my Algebra
II class "Why to learn Algebra II? When will I really use this in
life?"

I'ts been puzzling me.

What's the significance of the "II" in Algebra II ?

What do you THINK it means? It is a second year of the subject, like
all other 'II' courses.

That style of nomenclature nor 'electronics 101' and the like isn't used in the
UK but thanks for the explanation.

So how many years Algebra is typically taught in 'high school' as you call it in
the USA ?

In the HS I went to, a year; the following year we started getting
into differential calculus. But college is generally measured in
"terms" or "quarters" or "semesters" - I can't imagine spending a
whole year on Alg. I.

Geometry, Algebra and Calculus were simply components of the Mathematics we were
taught over the years with increasing emphasis on the hard stuff as you got older !

At the 'O Level' examinations (taken age 16 normally) ..........
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Certificate_of_Education
I took 2 exams in Mathematics. Maths and 'Addtional Maths'. The 'additional' bit
basically being to prove that you were a 'clever clogs' with the difficult bits like
calculus.

At 'A level' I took the 'Pure and Applied Mathematics' exam. This is the one designed
for 'scientists'. It's tough ! I decided not to take the additional 'S level' exam in
Maths (way too esoteric) although I was in the relevant 'stream' to do so, choosing
only to take (and pass of curse ) the ultra-hard 'S level' Physics.

Anyone who passed an 'S level' was 'mentioned in despatches' so to speak at the
soonest possible school assembly. We were considered 'heroes' of a sort.

Graham

 

[redbelly]

On Oct 11, 2:15 pm, Eeyore <rabbitsfriendsandrelati...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

So, to return to my original question .... how many years did you study Algebra at
'high school' ?

To answer your question, it's standard in the U.S. to take 2 years of
algebra in high school. Alg. 1 in 9th grade, Alg. 2 in 11th grade,
with a year of Geometry in between. Trigonometry (or "Pre-Calculus")
is taken in 12th grade.

That being said, many kids take an "advanced track" in math, where
everything is shifter 1 year earlier. In that case, calculus is taken
in 12th grade.

Mark

I'm doing my best to recall my own education in detail for comparison. I know we
did Geometry at 'Prep School' - ie. age up to 11. Maybe just in the last year -
from age 10 to 11. I'm not quite sure if we covered basic Algebra at that time.

I think Algebra was a standard component of the Mathematics we studied from age 11
- 18.

In the later years of that we were of course covering Calculus (differential
equations, integration etc) and the like.

Graham

 

[Lord Garth]

"redbelly" <redbelly98@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192152482.816863.199770@v29g2000prd.googlegroups.com...

On Oct 11, 2:15 pm, Eeyore <rabbitsfriendsandrelati...@hotmail.com
wrote:

So, to return to my original question .... how many years did you study
Algebra at
'high school' ?

To answer your question, it's standard in the U.S. to take 2 years of
algebra in high school. Alg. 1 in 9th grade, Alg. 2 in 11th grade,
with a year of Geometry in between. Trigonometry (or "Pre-Calculus")
is taken in 12th grade.

That being said, many kids take an "advanced track" in math, where
everything is shifter 1 year earlier. In that case, calculus is taken
in 12th grade.

My math education sequence was Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry,
and lastly Trig / Analysis.

I changed high schools in 10th grade due to the math teacher for
algebra II not actually teaching algebra. The idiot had us performing
arithmetic calculations. This caused me to take summer courses to
catch up as it were. I was back on track after that incident.

I believe his name was Mr. Carpenter but I am not at all certain
as my middle age brain has flushed that jerk from memory.