Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Is Algebra Necessary?

Do we really consider this high school algebra? My DD8 could figure this out now. It's a far cry from what I remember covering in high school algebra.

Actually, DD is learning basic algebraic concepts in 4th grade math right now. (If vase #1 has 4 flowers, and vase #2 has 8, and vase #3 has 12, construct an expression that represents the number of flowers in any vase...something like that).

I am a nonmathy person. I would classify myself as mildly mathphobic, in fact, although I am mature enough to recognize that my competency is okay, just not by any means stellar, and I don't think there is an actual LD. I have never held a job that required more than extremely rudimentary math (most of my jobs have been in the writing and editing fields). For the sake of comparison, my math SAT score was in the mid-600s.

So, on that list...here is my assessment of what I use.

Found this list of topics taught in Algebra I:
•Representing numbers with variables--Yes, I do this
•Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of real numbers--Of course
•Probability and odds--Yes
•Rates, ratios, and percents--Yes
•Exponents and powers--I don't feel like this comes up a lot but it's pretty simple
•Order of operations--Yes
•Functions--Hell to the no
•The distributive property--Yes
•Linear equations--I only vaguely remember what this is
•Formulas and functions--No
•Quadratic equations and functions--No
•Polynomials and factoring--No
•Rational equations and functions---No
•Pythagorean Theorem--I may have used it very rarely, but generally no

FWIW, I handle the family budget.

I do.

You can use simple arithmetic to figure out the first-year cost, but that's not the best question, because what if the first-year cost is greater for one option, but you plan to move out in six months? For optimum financial planning, you want to figure out how long you'd have to commit to the satellite service before it becomes the cheaper option.

So, in this specific example, 40m + 30 = 15m + 200, solve for m. That looks like Algebra I to me.


I think teaching the language of algebra at an early age is a good thing, because many kids who fail algebra do so because they can't make the conceptual shift of using letters to stand in for unknown or varying values. But let's not confuse language with understanding and applying the rules and concepts to solve problems.

42% is the answer.

Based on my single-malt unreliable pseudo-scientific survey of Algebraic topics used sometimes with n=1.

Well, it said "for a year."


What DD is doing is more complex than 9 + x = 10, which is introduced in grade 1 these days. (Although at that point, they don't teach them to solve it in the "algebraic" way.) FI, the answer to that question was not x + 4.

This is early pre-algebra in our school district.

polarbear

I am not sure where you got this list, but these topics are covered in Pre-Algebra. DS completed the ALEKS pre-algebra course this past summer so the topcis are fresh in my mind. He is also doing our District's Pre-Algebra course, which covers all these topics, but in more depth than ALKES.

Actually, the alegebraic modeling would be covered in a Pre-Algebra course. However, that's the type of basic problem that could be figured with just arithmatic. As the problem is stated, I would solve it in my head using arithmatic rather than algebraic modeling, not because I don't know algebra, but because it's quicker to do it in my head that way.

From a textbook site:
Houghton Mifflin - Algebra I Topics

Right-- thanks to spiraling in curricula, those same topics could also be said to be covered in Algebra II, by the way.

It's the level of detail and complexity involved that make them "pre" versus "algebra" versus "I/II" in the end.

That list is Houghton-Mifflin's, but Pearson's algebra offerings have a very similar scope and sequence at that top level of detail.