Higher math: Who needs it?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by decimon, Sep 21, 2016.

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  1. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Stop requiring all students to learn advanced algebra, geometry and trigonometry, argues David Edwards, who teaches math at the University of Georgia.

    It’s a myth that the economy needs everyone to master higher math, he argues in the Foundation for Economic Education blog.

    Even “the vast majority of scientists, engineers and actuaries” use only Excel and eighth-grade math, defined as “arithmetic, and a little bit of algebra, statistics and programming,” writes Edwards.

    More... Higher math: Who needs it?

    1-2-3, oh, that's how elementary it's gonna be
     
  2. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Math is icky.
     
  3. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    Two you, maybe.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I can see replacing the usual sequence for statistics and symbolic logic, which ordinary people could actually use.
     
  5. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    I see what you did.
     
  6. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I've never taken algebra, so I can't speak to how my life is empty because of it, however I have to say that I've benefited greatly from the research, statistics, and probability course(s) I took in college/grad school. I also have to say my 12th grader is taking a consumer math course that is FANTASTIC, seriously, I'm going to require it for the rest of my children. I think most people realize you don't "need" higher math in most occupations, but what I found interesting about the article was that you might not need it for many STEM occupations- that I did NOT know!
     
  7. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    You aren't missing a thing.
     
  8. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    That many STEM graduates don't use the math needn't mean that the math is not necessary for understanding the courses taken.

    I'd like to see how many engineering graduates come to work in R&D or design. I'd guess that most find jobs as uber technicians.
     
  9. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Stop requiring higher math as a prerequisite to awarding a Bachelors degree? A lot of cognate courses could be eliminated, but wouldn't that dumb-down the degree granting process?
     
  10. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    That should depend on how dumb is the degree.
     
  11. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Cosmetology does not require college algebra. There are also many other career certifications that do not require higher math.
     
  12. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    I suspect most careers don't actually require algebra. Most nursing programs don't even require it. They do typically require a very specific course in nursing math, which makes sense. But algebra? Not necessary.
     
  13. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    if you disagree, you should quote the article, not my comment- my comments are pretty irrelevant.

    EDIT to add: forget it, no one else read the article either. LOL
     
  14. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    That wasn't meant to be a shot at you and I don't think I was disagreeing with what's in the article.

    He said that "the vast majority of scientists, engineers and actuaries” use only Excel and eighth-grade math." If that's true then I believe it's because most people find mundane jobs in their fields. Few get the high level jobs requiring the use of higher math.

    If no one else read the article then that's because they thought they needed a knowledge of higher math. ;-)
     
  15. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Never underestimate the power of fifteen beers - or Excel - or eighth-grade math. In the right hands, it's amazing how useful they can be! :smile:
    Higher math also has its uses. I learned about probability - I stopped playing the lottery.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 22, 2016
  16. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Maybe that's the very point.
     
  17. Life Long Learning

    Life Long Learning Active Member

    No! It might make the degree relevant?

     

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