That would be me.
From Wikipedia:
“Elementary algebra differs from arithmetic in the use of abstractions, such as using letters to stand for numbers that are either unknown or allowed to take on many values. For example, in x+2=5 the letter x is unknown, but the law of inverses can be used to discover its value: x=3. In E = mc2, the letters E and m are variables, and the letter c is a constant, the speed of light in a vacuum. Algebra gives methods for solving equations and expressing formulas that are much easier (for those who know how to use them) than the older method of writing everything out in words.”
I get the example of x+2=5, x being 3. Pretty basic.
After that, when the formulas and equations get complicated, I am forever lost. This is why I am not a scientist, math teacher or engineer and barely passed algebra in high school.
The study and practice of English, grammar, spelling, and creating sentences from words for a blog post are my cup of tea. I can do that all day long.
But algebra?
I’d rather sit all day with a fork in my head than have to figure out why x+y=z.
This
post came to mind from a few back-and-forth math comments with my good blogging buddy Dan Antion at No Facilities and a Facebook meme. It’s also being brought to you by Linda G. Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday. Click HERE to see additional one-liners in the comment section. Feel free to play along by posting your own one-liner and linking your post to Linda’s.
Mary J Melange 
The logic of basic algebra appeals to me – I enjoy solving the EASY equations. As you, the basic stuff.
But anything more advanced than that? Forget it about it. Did you know they even have imaginary numbers?
Happy Hump Day!
Imaginary numbers? Like imaginary friends? I wonder if my algebra teacher would have accepted imaginary answers…hmmm.
LOL – yeah, an imaginary number is what you get when you try to solve the square root of a negative number.
I have a post in my drafts folder about imaginary numbers, Maggie. Maybe I’ll drag that out one of these days 🙂
Looking forward to that!
100 bonus points for adding an equation to your post, and you can have 100 of mine for mentioning me !!! So, Xe + Xd = B
Believe it or not, when I was in 5th grade, our school embraced, along with New Math (which I loved) a concept known as New English. New English was a mathematical approach to grammar. Instead of nouns and verbs, we had Type-1 words and Type-2 words, and instead of diagramming sentences, we were told we would be able to describe sentences with simple equations.
New English was abandoned and when we hit 6th grade, it was like it never happened. I blame my ongoing struggle with grammar on that experiment. Of course, I’m abusing that excuse, but…
Dan, I think we have to be content in living with our own strengths. I’ll continue to type flowery words and sentences and you’ll continue to type equations and engage your editor.
Thanks for 200 bonus points! (See? I can add.) I am going to assume your equation is a good thing and whistle my way to work. Happy Wednesday!
I really did enjoy the little poster you started with. I could say something similar about English and punctuation.
I’ve always liked the idea of algebra better than doing algebra. In theory it’s a mystery and I like mysteries, but in reality it’s one whacked subject that seems arbitrary to me, a wordy girl.
I totally agree with the adjective “whacked.” I’m sure I had a similar thought in high school.
New Math–how I remember that. That was the beginning of the end for me as far as numbers were concerned.
I squeaked through before new math…or my school wasn’t on board yet. Good thing, I might have been traumatized!
Do you remember this song? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6OaYPVueW4
Cute, but nope.
Word.
It took me four years, a trip to summer school, and a tutor to get through Algebra 1-4. I swear, I was working as hard as I could, but rarely earned anything higher than a C.
Bubba and Moo have fabulous math brains, astounding to the likes of me. Workin equations in their brains and whatnot. Sometimes when he helps her, talks her through, I get really excited if I get the answer right! LOL She’s 13 in Algebra 1, putting her a year ahead of where I was 30 years ago, and I still can’t do her math!
Thankfully, I only had to suffer through one year of algebra in high school and I barely made it through with a C-. Like you, I felt as thought I was really trying hard and hated that it came so easily to others. It griped me further because I was otherwise an A or B student. I hated having what I considered a black mark in my grades.
Bubba and Moo are fortunate to have math brains. Good scientific and analytical minds!
I hated it that aspect, too.
Poor us, let’s not do algebra.
Haha! I’m with you, Mary!
Good to know!
Sorry. I loved algebra. I still love algebra.
Can we still be friends?
LOL! Of course Joanne! ☺
I was actually pretty good at complicated permutations and combinations back as a student. That though was a good two decades ago… now, I am back to being a simple x+y=z boy 😀
http://www.godyears.net/2017/04/alex-ruiz-is-shining-example-of.html
You go! Do the math! 😀