I write code.

So yes, when I need to reference algorithms. They are represented in algebra.

halper86:

eracode:
Interesting question - but I’m more interested to know why you ask?

Just out of pure curiosity, i am still at school and have chosen a course with algebra as a main topic and just wanting to find out if it will be useful

Yes, if nothing else it will teach a way of doing things methodically and logically.

30 years ago my dad was asked why he did not have a computer to do his quoting and the books etc.

He said because he did not understand how the thing generated the numbers and had no idea if it was wrong.

By understanding algebra and maths you will get a greater appreciation for numbers, for calculating estimates in your head, this means if you make a typo eg decimal point in the wrong place, instead of just believing the calculator is always right and accepting it blindly you have a better chance of spotting the error before it gets lost in the rest of the process.

I'm struggling to think what I could actually use it for!

Must be hard for Romans X always equals 10

sqishy:

 

Must be hard for Romans X always equals 10

 

Haha, don't get me started on people who don't understand the most basic of the roman numerals!

I use algebra almost daily in my work when working out things like neutral current, voltage, resistance etc

Definitely glad I learnt it at high school, I feel like it applies to all range of practical life applications.

halper86:

afe66:

 

I think its useful as a way of thinking way of approaching problems, like most things we learn at school.

 

I just feel like some of the stuff we learn is useless, instead of having algebra as compulsory, make it that only the people that want to take it can take it like people that want to go to uni. I do agree that some of the stuff is useful though - like basic math and english, not sure about science however.

Trades will often make far more use of algebra (and pythagoras, trigonometry and other geometry) than many University-qualification-needed careers. I use far more maths DIY-ing in the garage and messing about on electronic hobbies than I do in my "real" job.

Yes, every day, building and simplifying algebraic models.  But I know I didn't do enough of it at school, even though I have A-level maths.  Absolutely critical.

halper86: Very interesting to see that an economist uses algebra.. I am wanting to head down that road of the economy and money. Might have to bite the bullet and pay more attention in class lol

Economics is pretty much based on maths - algebra and calculus. Econometrics is the study of economic data and relies heavily on statistical maths techniques. If you want to study economics in any depth you’re going to need a decent understanding of all these maths disciplines.

Same goes for the study of money, finance and investment - heavily reliant on maths.

halper86: Very interesting to see that an economist uses algebra.. I am wanting to head down that road of the economy and money. Might have to bite the bullet and pay more attention in class lol

As other responses have said - algebra is pretty important for economics.

First year economics at uni is pretty much a re-run of high school, but in second year and beyond you'll be expressing supply and demand curves as formulas and solving for the intersection. And the curves will be non-linear too. There's more to economics than supply and demand curves of course, but it's the easiest example to link high school economics to algebra in university economics. 

If you're really good at communication, you might end up with an economics career that doesn't involve algebra, but entry level jobs generally involve economic modelling (hence econometrics is important), so you've got to go through that first. 

Finance (I assume this is what you mean by money) would use algebra even more than economics

sqishy:

 

Must be hard for Romans X always equals 10

 

... and XI <> IX

For almost all STEM careers you'll need to have a good understanding of algebra. I did a engineering degree and you NEED to know algebra for it.

No I don't use it daily at work and I do use the occasional online calculator but only because it saves time. Sometimes you can't just trust the online calculator and need confirm by hand.