post the seventy-ninth, 2013

sitting here in property law class with descartes, i am struck by ways in which the law is like algebra. both have word problems with variables. both have formulas that apply to certain problems. in both, you have to sort the words from the problem (i.e., discern what is important) and know which formula to apply in order to solve the problem.

so, what? well, i'll tell you what. algebra's not (only) about algebra. it's about training the brain to discern and apply. the basic principles of thought formulation that middle schoolers learn will later serve as tools for a variety of mental processes. kids say: "i'll never use this!" as an excuse to push away their algebra homework, but learning algebra isn't (only) a means to using algebra in later life.

why?

because you're not learning algebra as if it were a set of facts. you're learning TO DO algebra -- to apply principles against a problem with the goal of solving it. ergo, learning to do algebra becomes a means to solving many types of problems. to solve a problem in, say, the realm of poppycock, first you learn the principles which govern poppycock, and then you examine the problem and pull out the important pieces, then you apply the principles, and wah-lah - a poppycock solution.

so, the next time you hear a kid say, "i'll never use this algebra!" you can tell that child they will, indeed, use algebra every single day.