I'm terrible at Algebra. When would I actually need to know this in real life?

Answer 1

That’s a really good question, and many people wonder the same thing. The truth is that algebra is much more than solving equations with letters and numbers. It is about learning how to think logically and solve problems step by step. In real life, you use algebraic thinking more often than you might realize. When you compare prices while shopping, plan a budget, calculate how long a trip will take, or figure out how to divide something evenly, you are already using the same reasoning skills that algebra teaches. It helps you understand relationships between quantities, such as how changing one thing can affect another. For example, if you are saving money each week, algebra can help you predict how much you will have after a few months. Many careers also use algebra every day. An architect uses algebra to calculate measurements and materials needed for a building. A nurse uses it to determine the right dosage of medication for a patient based on their weight. A computer programmer uses algebra to write formulas and algorithms that make programs run correctly. Even outside of work, algebra strengthens your ability to think critically and make logical choices, which are valuable skills in everyday life.

Answer 2

to get a better more skilled job, you need an academic degree

to get a degree you have to take algebra

or

you have to file taxes. the tax forms are more complicated math than algebra. If you can't do algebra, forget getting your tax returns right, and then they levy fines, fees, interest and you pay through the nose to the IRS

Answer 3

Algebra can be tricky, but we use it in a lot of places throughout our daily lives.

Such as, let's say budgeting. If you make 20$ an hour and you want the new PS5 for $550. How many hours will you need to work to be able to buy it?

you will take 550 = 20h

So the hours worked times the amount you make per hour.

Divide the amount you need by the amount you make per hour to find how many hours you need to work.

550 / 20 = 27.5 hours

This does not include tax or if you have other bills to pay for. Which would make the equation more complicated, but it would still be the same idea.

550 +10%(est tax) = (20h - 10%(est tax withholding) - b(bills)

You will also use it in a grocery store to find out which brand is the better buy, it's not just about the total price, but you must look at the cost per unit. if one brand gives you 24oz for 12$ that's 0.50$ per oz. The other brand gives you 30oz for 14$ that 0.467 per oz. In this case the bigger bottle is also the better buy based on the cost per oz and you get more.

This logic can also be applied to either buying two separate bottles or the two-pack. (Sometimes the two-pack is not actually the better buy)

If you have a 13inx8in area and you want to buy a table to put in that space, you will need to know that a table 12x9 will not fit, but a 7x11 will, so will a 7x8 (both way you can situate it).

Algebra is used a lot in daily life.

Answer 4

The specific scenarios in your homework questions might not come up very often in real life … but learning Algebra is more about honing your mathematical reasoning and logical problem-solving, which will be helpful in lots of different situations throughout your life!

For example, algebraic reasoning helps you learn how to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts and helps you learn how to evaluate information to inform decision-making.

It also comes up explicitly in everyday situations like baking, estimating, planning, and budgeting.

I hope that helps get you moving in the right direction! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions beyond that :)

Answer 5

You are not the first to wonder why it is necessary to know how many chocolate bars Tzatziki has left after eating 3 times as many as Jessanova if she ate 12 of the original 102. Besides the crazy names and unrealistic numbers, the purpose of math in general is to sharpen your skills in logical problem solving, which I can confirm is necessary for real life.

How about this example a teen or young adult may face one day: Jaya tutors at a school that charges her 5% of what she makes hourly to use their space. She needs to make $5,000 over the course of a 42-week school year, working 3 hours every school day, to pay back her dad for the car they agreed to buy together. How much should she charge per hour given the school's fee and her necessary salary?

This is a very real problem (though not using real numbers) that can be solved with algebra, and there are many more involving budgeting, income, taxes, etc. Feeling totally confused and maybe more than a little panicked? It's okay! we don't need to focus on that craziness right now. Let's just stick with chocolate bars for the time being and learn what the basics have to teach us so we can be ready to face the more complicated ones later.

Just for kicks, here is the solution:

Years to hours is quite a jump, so let's break years down into manageable chunks. First, let's divide 5,000 by 42 to know how much she will need to make per week. Now let's take 119.05 and divide by 5 because there are 5 school days. Jaya needs to make about $23.81 every day. Now let's divide this number by how much she works (3 hours). So far, Jaya will need to charge about $7.94. But how is this Algebra? Well, we haven't factored in the deductions. The school charges .05 of her hourly income. So let's backtrack. Jaya needs to make $23.81 every day to reach her goal of $5,000 in 42 weeks. What equals 23.81?

23.81=rate times hours minus charge (how much she makes times how long she works and subtracting how much the school charges her to use their space)

23.81 = 3r - c; now c=.05r because the school charges 5% of how much she makes

23.81=3r - .05r; combine like terms and now 23.81 = 2.95r

Now we divide to get about 8.07. Jaya will need to charge about $8.07. Ta da! Now she can reach her goal of $5000 in her time frame and pay the school at the same time! Everybody wins.

Answer 6