LOLSparty: Algebra no longer required at MSU
In a move that should shock none of us, MSU has done away with requiring algebra to graduate. They claim that algebra is just too hard for their students, so they are implementing new "quantitative literacy" classes. And it's not like MSU's algebra course is rocket science. From one class's syllabus:
The topics of MTH 103 include linear & quadratic equations & inequalities, complex numbers, equations with radicals, absolute value, graphing linear and quadratic equations, transformations of graphs, polynomials, functions, polynomial and rational functions, exponentials, logarithms, and, most importantly, applications of these topics to solving problems outside of mathematics.
I do realize that math isn't for everyone (UM's calculus courses were the WORST), but come on. If you have a college degree, you're expected to able to perform simple algebra calculations. Luckily, one of MSU's leaders agrees with me:
But students aren’t likely to succeed in the new classes or in post-college life without some algebra fundamentals, said William Schmidt, director of the MSU College of Education's Center for the Study of Curriculum. “Students who come to college with real weaknesses on the formal math side may not benefit fully from the quantitative lessons,” he said. While every job doesn’t require a well-honed knowledge of advanced math, Schmidt said, learning the fundamentals is essential to problem-solving. “The logic of thinking algebraically builds ways of thinking about problems, allowing us to engage in the practical aspects of mathematics,” he said. “It’s pretty tough (to do so) without it.”
So maybe there is a small chance that eventually those quantitative literacy classes will end up resembling actual algebra. But until then, we just have to be content with "Go to school at MSU, learn to count to te-en!" being all too real.
You plant four rows of corn and three rows of soy beans. If corn needs a gallon of pesticide per row and soy beans need two, how much pesticide will you need to spray on your land?
"If a McDouble takes one piece of cheese and a double cheeseburger takes 2 pieces of cheese, how many pieces of cheese do you need if a customer orders 3 McDoubles?"
Make sure you eat your Raisin Bran when you eat handfuls of cheese ;)
Is that seriously algebra? What in the actual fuck. Why couldn't they just explained it like that in high school?
you just didn't get it at the time. Now you do so you take it for granted that you're even using algebra.
Sooo... U of M doesn't require Algebra to graduate either. Maybe this isn't quite as funny then as the OP thought?
Nor did I. But that might have been before algebra was invented.
Prolly because UM required it on your HS transcript and Staee didn't. They'll accept you for who you are, not how smart you are.
/s on the last part obviously.
fog glass.
Can't downvote this enough. Who gives a damn?
Had to take a zillion math and finance courses in college. I use 0 of that knowledge to date.
You ever look at your old books or notebooks? I still have mine in a box in the basement. Thumbed through one of the old calculus notebooks a few years ago and that stuff looked like sanskrit. And yet, it all made sense at one point in time.
I bought one of those algebra refresher books, and it just went right over my head. I'm so far removed from the nitty of the gritty when it comes to math.
That's why the "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" show works. It's stuff we learn when we are younger, and really don't apply in adulthood. The things I learned from those classes were not the actual content, but how I worked with my classmates.
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A good majority of careers out there will never require you to know anything more about math other than adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.
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Is Algebra really that important for much of the student population? Trig is more useful in daily life anyway, and unless your major requires math, what is the point of putting someone who is going for a non STEM major through a class with few real world applications.
I'm sure their engineers still need to take the requisite classes, its just the general population that doesn't.
Funny headline nonetheless!
You can provide that argument for every subject area taught in school. Yet, for some reason, it's always applied to math like math is the only subject whose specific skills taught aren't usued in everyone's everyday life, regardless of career path.
Crap, boss asked again today when the war of 1812 took place.
I think the more math the better. I know there's tons of people who say they don't use the math they learned in high school or college, but I feel like I use some of the skills I learned without thinking about it. But I'm the type were math came really easy so maybe that's just me.
*where Spelling is important too.
I didn't take algebra. I don't really see what the big deal is.
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It's because Algebra is out dated. Same reason you don't have to learn Latin anymore, or cursive hand writing, or English, History, Art, Spelling, Phonics, and Reading. All out dated
Sorry but there's no way in hell English, History, or Reading are outdated.
Sarcasm meter....check it...
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Who cares? Like 90% of people who take algebra never use it again. Its about as useful of a requirement as learning Italian or Portuguese something like that.
What career do you have where you never use algebra?
You have to use it in most business and technical careers - not being a dick but other than a medical, law, teaching or writing related job - what jobs never use algebra?Unless, obviously, you write on the math beat.
Medical uses algebra daily.....
Sorry, OP, but I'm not getting the hilarity here. I'm a big fan of STEM studies, and wish more people took math more seriously, but I saw many innumerate folks get through Michigan. Unless one of my kids is going there (unlikely), I don't care much about their core requirements.
MSU is a good school, with some great programs. What makes MSU fun to mock isn't the academics. It's their incurable inferiority complex, their "bro" fans, their penchant for Axe, their intense hatred of sofas, their be-chipped shoulders, etc.
I don't need to dig through their core curriculum to find things to laugh at them about.
Does anyone have suggestions of a decent book or online resource to relearn/refresh ones' Calculus? Haven't used it since M (went sales instead of engineering) but am just enough of a geek to want to relearn it a bit. (as long as it doesn't cut into my MGo time...)
Absolutely LOVED math until I had to take Dif EQ...
Sometimes there are errors in his videos, but for the most part it's a great learning tool. I use it all the time to refresh myself on some physics, chemistry, and calculus.
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This is on my bookshelf at home:
https://books.google.com/books/about/Forgotten_Calculus.html?id=mfkXAQA…
As to why you are at like negative a million points?