re: #440 LudwigVanQuixote

Well, it is grammar, no more or no less. Just like you may not care to learn the rules of writing, to do so eloquently, you need to know it.

As a step along the way of a larger problem such a thing could quickly come up, just like you need basic grammar to write a paragraph that makes sense.

As to where it is useful, tell me how you would figure out (as in calculate it on your own) an amortization table for instance without being able to solve basic algebraic expressions? How do you know a table is correct?

ah, an amortization table. I concur you need some elementary math to make one.

however, I’m interested in why you’d want to write one yourself instead of getting it with the loan/mortgage when taken out/updated (they send out yearly updates on long-term loans usually, right?)
when you have to replace a bulb, you do it yourself. when you have to redo half the wiring in the house, you hire skilled labor.
blocked sink? do it yourself. install a new toilet? I’d do it myself but most would seek skilled help, and rightly so.

that goes for may other things: the days when you did everything yourself, when you could be totally self-sufficient are long gone.
I remember my dad (high school chem teacher) telling me about a student who had calculated the amount of vitamin C in an orange.
his result was something in the range of 10^48 m. the kid had just no sense at all for dimensions and did not understand he should see that that’s an impossible figure. I understand he does quite well as a student of, I think, French language but I could be mistaken.
point is, some people should not be allowed anywhere near applied mathematics if there’s even the slightest risk they will actually apply it.

there’s no shame in knowing one’s weaknesses.
I for one would not want to see the result of that kid trying to write a decent amortization table and would much rather he’d use a ready made excel sheet for that.

sometimes it’s better to be able to apply other peoples intricate knowledge that to have a limited understanding of your own. (not to say it’s ever bad to have an understanding of anything, but you’ll get my point).

now I understand you are gifted with a mind for both the sciences and the arts and languages. that’s great, and it’s a lovely thing to have. just understand that other people can achieve great things with only one of those skills.

more important is to 1) be able to function on a basic level in everything and 2) know very, very well when to ask for another person’s help instead.

I do like the way you talk about teaching math, it sounds good (addresses many of the issues with math teachers I’ve encountered anyway :)