Porquee Estudiar Aljebra

Why Learn Algebra?
by Jason Gibson
"Why study algebra?" If you're a parent, it's a question that you will no doubt hear as your children study the subject. If you're a student, it is a verynatural question to ask, "What's the point of learning algebra in the first place?"
After all, all of the math leading up to algebra that we learned growing up such as addition, multiplication, decimals,fractions, and the like, seem to have a concrete meaning. These concepts all deal with numbers in some way or another and because of this we can wrap our brains more easily around the concepts. Afterall, I can pick up six pencils and give two to a friend and by using math I can figure out how many pencils I am left holding in my hand. We can all imagine situations where basic math serves us well- calculating your change in the grocery store for instance.
In short, basic math deals with numbers. Since we are all taught how to count at a young age the concepts of basic math, even thoughchallenging at first, seem to have a practical value - even to children.
Enter Algebra. Suddenly, we are asked to deal not only with our comfortable numbers but with letters. And it doesn't stop withthis. You start seeing parenthesis and exponents, and a whole potpourri of other symbols that seem to make no sense at all. This single fact more than any other turns many people off to learning algebra.At the very beginning you are asked to learn certain rules on how to calculate things in algebra. You must learn which steps are legal to do before others, and if you do them in the reverse order youget the wrong answer!
This leads to frustration. With frustration, despair follows in short order. And so the thoughts begin:
"Why do I need to learn this?"
"When would I ever use Algebra in reallife?"
What you have to remember, though, is that basic math is riddled with special rules and symbols as well. For example, the symbols "+" and "=" were at one time foreign to us all. In addition...