An article published last Fall titled "Is Algebra Necessary?" sparked a lively debate on the blogs. One of my favorite "yes" responses, "Make Us Do...

Those who know while in high school how the rest of their lives will develop are possibly fortunate. There may be some comfort in knowing exactly what one will be doing ten or twenty years down the road. For most of us however, we are not so gifted with certainty with regard to our futures. We enroll in colleges and universities with the expectation and the hope of being inspired by some academic discipline. Then we will be able to begin to shape our future accordingly. And if we do not know what the future holds, then we do not know what types of knowledge we will or will not require during the course of the next 50 years. 

The question asked routinely among high school students -- why do I have to take algebra -- has been around for many decades, if not longer. There are two main reasons why it is important for students to study algebra. The first is the uncertainty regarding our future. Many students who attend college do not know what they want to study during their freshman and their sophomore years. Once they commit to a certain direction, they begin to realize that subjects they found dull or unnecessary in high school, or even earlier in college, are suddenly essential for advancement in their chosen field. Many, myself included, find that a stronger foundation in mathematics would have made their lives a lot easier -- a realization that could continue to haunt them for the rest of their lives.

The second major reason why studying algebra is important is the practical use it provides in everyday life. Unless one plans to be dependent upon professional accountants and upon the honesty of those with whom one comes into contact in financial contexts on a daily basis, it seriously helps to know math, including algebra. Knowledge of algebra is key to understanding many financial matters, including calculating the costs of using credit cards -- a situation in which most people find themselves but in which few are capable of making informed decisions. There are many more practical applications of algebra in our daily lives, including apportioning elements for maximum effect in a project (e.g., determining the quantity of ingredients needed for a volume greater or less than that called-for in a published cook book). Suffice to say, algebraic equations are used by most individuals more often then they realize. The more one understands algebra, then, the more comfortable one will be navigating everyday life.