The math looks pretty high level to me reminds me of a line I heard on the Beverly Hillbillies from Jethro: “Gosh Uncle Jed, that might require some of that Algae-bra to figure out” and you have to remember that he was the genius of the family. He made it all the way to the 6th grade and had his graduation in one episode. Jethro was also the top of his class at Oxford (not sure of the state but those at Ole Miss did not like the dig ;) )
Oh yeah! Good old (1/6x minus 3y squared) times (1/6x plus 3y squared). Gosh I use it all the time in the adult work a day world. So glad the school taught me that! Where would I be without learning that?
I was doing it all in y head until that final step. I think it’s right but not sure. I did get a BS in Math in college and wound up taking 49 hours of credit. Looking back that was kinda over doing it.
Actually, the elementary math curricula now teaches pre-pre-algebra, geometry, and data analysis; the kids are also given high-stakes, developmentally-inappropriate, poorly-written quasi-standardized state tests to measure their progress. Teaching & playing with the math concepts was fine with me; pretty sure I’m not being subtle about my opinion of wasting months of school in test-prep for the test-prep for the tests instead of (gasp!) learning.
“Well, Mr. Snelgrove, I happen to know that in the future I will not have the slightest use for algebra, and I speak from experience.” Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
Serious Question: What career or profession would need to know and use this kind of math? I’m sure it must be needed and useful. It got us to the moon for pete’s sake (Hidden Figures). But for the average high school kid – who needs it? I’m more along the line of teaching how to make correct change at the register.
Sad to think that back in high school I actually understood that kind of math. Today I can’t make heads nor tails of it.
My last semester of high school, just to prove the teacher wrong, I managed to get a perfect score of 100 for then entire term doing that kind of math. She said it couldn’t be done. Though she was a fantastic teacher and I give her all the credit for it!
When our kids were in middle school, the school offered refresher math courses in the evenings so that their parents could help them with their homework.
JD'Huntsville'AL about 3 years ago
That math looks a little advance for someone Sally’s age (whatever that is.)
su43dipta about 3 years ago
Good grief indeed!
charlenelin1201 about 3 years ago
Is that correct? Anyone knows better?
orinoco womble about 3 years ago
No wonder Sally hates school. She’s what, six? and they’re giving her equations.
Templo S.U.D. about 3 years ago
I’ve been out of (elementary) school since 1997. I don’t think I learned that kind of arithmetic then.
Macushlalondra about 3 years ago
Algebra is vile! Torture. I thoroughly hated it.
oldthang about 3 years ago
I didn’t know that a brickhead could be so smart.
yoey1957 about 3 years ago
Math and I haven’t been on speaking terms since the 2nd grade.
TampaFanatic1 about 3 years ago
The math looks pretty high level to me reminds me of a line I heard on the Beverly Hillbillies from Jethro: “Gosh Uncle Jed, that might require some of that Algae-bra to figure out” and you have to remember that he was the genius of the family. He made it all the way to the 6th grade and had his graduation in one episode. Jethro was also the top of his class at Oxford (not sure of the state but those at Ole Miss did not like the dig ;) )
TheRealGasterBlaster about 3 years ago
The school is smart, very impressive. :D
dcdete. about 3 years ago
Oh yeah! Good old (1/6x minus 3y squared) times (1/6x plus 3y squared). Gosh I use it all the time in the adult work a day world. So glad the school taught me that! Where would I be without learning that?
Count Olaf Premium Member about 3 years ago
He’s right. Old School comes through again.
Decepticomic about 3 years ago
Math? You betrayed me, School Building… You betrayed me…
jagedlo about 3 years ago
Vicious guy, this Al Gebra! And his cousin, Cal Culus!
Purple People Eater about 3 years ago
What grade is Sally in?
Troglodyte about 3 years ago
And who was it who said, “Thick as a brick”?
VegaAlopex about 3 years ago
I don’t remember any such factoring in algebra. It was a half century ago, long before Excel.
Darryl Heine about 3 years ago
Thanks a lot, algebra!
Dennis Nichols about 3 years ago
The wall got it right.
David in Webb Premium Member about 3 years ago
I was doing it all in y head until that final step. I think it’s right but not sure. I did get a BS in Math in college and wound up taking 49 hours of credit. Looking back that was kinda over doing it.
William Bednar Premium Member about 3 years ago
That is top notch factoring!
Gandalf about 3 years ago
Now even high school graduates couldn’t begin to do this…
Ellis97 about 3 years ago
What are they teaching her at this school?
uniquename about 3 years ago
Of course the school did well. It’s algebrick!
verticallychallenged Premium Member about 3 years ago
Actually, the elementary math curricula now teaches pre-pre-algebra, geometry, and data analysis; the kids are also given high-stakes, developmentally-inappropriate, poorly-written quasi-standardized state tests to measure their progress. Teaching & playing with the math concepts was fine with me; pretty sure I’m not being subtle about my opinion of wasting months of school in test-prep for the test-prep for the tests instead of (gasp!) learning.
geese28 about 3 years ago
Yet here I am still haven’t used any of that equation
PuppyPapa about 3 years ago
More than I ever did, I guess!
Robert Wilson Premium Member about 3 years ago
“Well, Mr. Snelgrove, I happen to know that in the future I will not have the slightest use for algebra, and I speak from experience.” Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
txmystic about 3 years ago
To factor out the difference of squares seems backwards to me…this looks like a better FOIL problem…
KEA about 3 years ago
had to give this strip a “love” for being accurate
mindjob about 3 years ago
I remember doing those but never saw a practical use for it
dv1093 about 3 years ago
Serious Question: What career or profession would need to know and use this kind of math? I’m sure it must be needed and useful. It got us to the moon for pete’s sake (Hidden Figures). But for the average high school kid – who needs it? I’m more along the line of teaching how to make correct change at the register.
Scott S about 3 years ago
How much have we put those kinds of math into practical use since we finished school?
ChrisTrey about 3 years ago
Sad to think that back in high school I actually understood that kind of math. Today I can’t make heads nor tails of it.
My last semester of high school, just to prove the teacher wrong, I managed to get a perfect score of 100 for then entire term doing that kind of math. She said it couldn’t be done. Though she was a fantastic teacher and I give her all the credit for it!
snoopyw about 3 years ago
Isn’t Sally in primary school?
KenDHoward1 about 3 years ago
<< sigh >> … If these walls could talk ~ Dena Twinem …
poimen about 3 years ago
I loved that kind of math especially geometry
19JRL44 about 3 years ago
So factor means to repeat but in a more long winded way; right?
Robert Wilson Premium Member about 3 years ago
When our kids were in middle school, the school offered refresher math courses in the evenings so that their parents could help them with their homework.
xsintricks about 3 years ago
The best way to teach most of the math, algebra, trigonometry, and geometry you’ll ever need: Build a gazebo.