<p>I loved algebra 1! I guess it just depends on people’s perspectives, some are “algebra people” and some are “geometry people” (obviously this doesn’t apply to everyone, most most people I know are one or the other). I am in geometry this year and hate it. Im not horrible at it, but I struggle with “proving” things and stuff. I can’t wait until algebra 2 next year, I hope I’ll like it as much as algebra 1</p>
<p>^Same. Although geometry was fun at times, I’m an algebra person.</p>
<p>I just wanted to pop back in and say something regarding many of the recent posts…</p>
<p>There is a danger in dismissing students who don’t “get” algebra as not trying hard enough, or spending the time on it, or just not being an “algebra person.” While there is some truth in it, there are also students who spend hours on it and still never quite get it. When I took Algebra 1 in 7th grade, I spent essentially no time on it, and still did well. There are students I know who spent way, way more effort than I did, and still struggled. </p>
<p>Yet I still maintain that it is possible for the majority of people in the world to learn algebra, especially algebra 1. With the exception of people with certain learning disorders, algebra is just a continuation of concepts we use in everyday life. Dual enrollment at a community college, and spending time in their math learning center, has let me watch students struggle, and succeed, in learning all levels of math. </p>
<p>Some people will just “get it,” regardless of the speed, their teacher, and the time they spend on it. Others need it to be explained out in a certain way, and the wrong teacher can ruin the entire experience. Some just don’t care, and again, need a great teacher to help them change their view. </p>
<p>I once read of a math teacher in a poor neighborhood, where most students dropped out of high school. I don’t remember the exact details, but his class had the second highest percentage of students taking AP Calculus in that grade level in US public schools, only behind a NY math/science magnet school. He truly made a difference in those student’s lives, and proved that it is possible for almost anyone to do well in math, with good teachers.</p>
<p>But algebra is very important, and should continue to be taught in high school. It should be just as important to graduation as English. And it needs to be understood that some people take longer to learn it, and need other resources to help them. By dismissing them the problem will just keep growing. </p>
<p>@Andr01d, I completely agree with you. I also think that the ability to learn algebra is based off of maturity and the readiness to learn it. If you don’t want to learn algebra then you probably won’t learn algebra. I didn’t like algebra until I took Algebra I and I thought it was very easy until quadratic equations, but after a little practice it clicked. Now I think algebra is pretty easy. Lol. I remember when I thought Function notation was hard. :’) Lol. I was so funny.</p>
<p>Algebra is so beautiful :’)</p>
<p>The only part of algebra I found difficult was memorizing the quadratic formula. Everything else just makes sense to me. Didn’t study ever and got an A- in Algebra 2. The only hard part is not making any stupid mistakes </p>
<p>I find algebra difficult in calculus sometimes when it gets messy. Its honestly not that hard after you get past the idea of using variables but being able to instinctively apply rules to quickly get a function into an easier state to work with can be challenging every now and then. </p>
<p>@SheepLover, I agree with you. Logarithmic and natural logarithmic derivatives can get messy. </p>
<p>
Did your teacher ever show how to derive it?</p>
<p>y dey puts letters in my maths</p>
<p>Haha. @halcyonheather, my teacher didn’t. She told us the formula, and tried to make us solve questions with it.</p>
<p>@halcyonheather sadly, most math teachers don’t go that far, because a lot of kids can’t reason abstractly, so they teach math in a more algorithmic way. But, my pre-calc teacher just showed that last week and everybody understood it. </p>
<p>Do you guys have common core in your states? Because I’m pretty sure that only 4 states don’t have common core. </p>
<p>@tacoperson123 Common Core is being slowly implemented in Ohio I think. High school classes haven’t gotten new names yet, but Algebra and Geometry students have to take the common core exams, and I’m hearing a bunch of stuff about it from people who have siblings in Elementary school. Everyone in the area hates it. </p>
<p>I know Texas, Virginia, and Alaska haven’t adopted it. I think there were others. </p>
<p>I live in North Carolina, and they went full blown into Common Core. They changed the names of our Geometry and Algebra classes to Math I, Math II, and Math III. </p>
<p>@livelaugh7 wait, the quadratic formula’s not too difficult to derive. Just complete the square…</p>
<p>@boardingprep1213 ah yes, the “infamous” basic geometry proofs. What bugs me is that a lot of times, proofs are restricted to only geometry proofs, and only two-column proofs, which virtually no one in the mathematics uses.</p>
<p>Also, I thought most US states have already adopted Common Core…</p>
<p>@MITer94 I learned the quadratic formula in 7th grade, and in 7th grade I didn’t know anything. LOL. I know how to do it 
I’m in Honors Pre-Calc as a sophomore.</p>
<p>I wish we did algebra proofs; everyone would understand math so much more.</p>
<p>When you have to do partial fractions with denominators with 5+ roots, some of them complex. Yah, algebra is a pain in the asymptote. Oh and when they put the variable “s” and a bunch of 5’s in there.</p>
<p>Although for those situations it’s better to give up and use a computer to solve it. Or if you have to find the determinant of an arbitrary 4x4 matrix.</p>
<p>Do you mean 1 or 2 cust that makes a difference. I got a C in one the second time around. But I am nearly failure 2 now</p>