At the community college I attended and the state university I graduated from most students were only required to take one 100 level or higher math class. This usually meant they took College Algebra. The most challenging thing for students in college algebra I would say is the quadratic formula although this is only my opinion.
Why is this? There are much more useful things to learn in mathematics that don't have to do with the quadratic formula at all. Things such as geometry, trig, probability, comby, vectors or even the ability solve many different kinds of problems in my opinion are more useful than the quadratic formula.
Granted the the road that leads to the quadratic formula may help develop a students analytical abilities. And they don't ONLY learn the quadratic formula. But even so in general just solving equations is really boring and really uninteresting to teach.
I don't understand why being able to solve a polynomial of degree 2 is the pinnacle of mathematics for non-science and non-engineering college students. What do you think?
Please comment with any input you might have.
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2 comments:
Mathematics teaches us to think...often beyond ourselves and the field. To understand anything well, we need to look past the obvious and explore the unknown. If we're just memorizing a formula, then we've wasted our time. If we work to know why the formula works and its applications, then we're on the write track. If we find new ways to utilize the formula, then we've achieved something. In short, the true study of mathematics is a reflection on the study of life. Otherwise, all we're doing is going through life checking boxes. That's my two cents.
Very interesting. Never had that much experience learning math. Conclusions at left seem truly profound. What is comby?
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