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Algebra

Why is Algebra so Important? It was not very long ago when good computation skill in arithmetic was the key to getting a job, a diploma, or managing a business. Even as late as the 1970's we expected that most students who finished high school would be able to calculate quickly and accurately. We taught algebra and geometry to our college bound, and just a very few of the math geeks took calculus.

Today the world has radically changed. Algebra has moved down to the 7th and 8th grades for many of our students and it is a requirement for high school graduation, for college graduation, and for most any job in America today. But is this right? Should we be demanding algebra as a rite of passage?

The answer is a resounding yes!

Algebra is not only the essential language of mathematics it is about two ideas that are critical to 21st century jobs and citizenship. The first idea is variable. Variables are symbols that can represent not only a number but a quantity that is changing. A variable can represent a ball being thrown or an automobile being driven or the Dow Jones Average. Algebra lets us manipulate variables like arithmetic lets us manipulate numbers.

The second fundamental idea, one that is often called the most important idea in mathematics, is the concept of function. A function is a well defined relationship between two variables so that as the value of one changes so does the value of the other. With variables and functions we can command spreadsheets, we can define the physical laws that govern our universe, and we can build patterns that enable us to "understand" how our world works.

So algebra is more than a set of rules and procedures for solving canned problems. It is a way of thinking. We built Enablemath to be algebraic. Even in the simplest assignments we have students think algebraically. Students can not only step through an example, they can change the values, treating numbers as variables. They can see how these values are related to each other in the dynamic visualizations that make our presentation of concepts understandable. The "What if" Wheel gives every student the power over variables, and the screens are populated with objects that have functions tied to these variables.

Our students not only learn the algebra that they need for school and for passing exams, they learn and intuitively understand algebra and use the understanding to apply it to any problem that they may find. We believe that no one else has done this in as rich and comprehensive a fashion. Yes, algebra is fundamental, but it also has to be learned in a new way. We have created Enablemath with that in mind. We believe that it will enable every student to learn algebra and to be able to use it as an essential 21st century tool.