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  • Y = MX + B

    Filed at 6:01 am under by dcobranchi

    P.Z Myers (no this isn’t an ID post) has an interesting post up in which he blasts Richard Cohen for being anti-algebra. I’m not sure that Myers or Cohen are entirely correct. Myers seems to have no sympathy for a girl who failed algebra six times trying to satisfy a HS diploma requirement, and Cohen seems to see no value whatsoever in algebra. It’s an interesting debate. If you’re going to follow the links, I suggest starting with Cohen’s WaPo column and then Myers’ response. And make sure you read the comments on Pharyngula.

    2 Responses to “Y = MX + B”


    Comment by
    Rikki
    February 17th, 2006
    at 11:39 am

    I have to seriously question the reasons she failed it after taking the same course *six* times. Perhaps it’s a complex math problem, but it sure doesn’t seem to add up to me. Too many missing variables in this story to jump up and start preaching.


    Comment by
    speedwell
    February 18th, 2006
    at 2:32 am

    I am going to be able to begin to go back to school soon to study engineering (I thought my art-student partner was NEVER going to get within sight of graduation, lol). But because I concentrated on music in high school and what little college I managed to take before, math was never stressed.

    I am hurting so badly in the math area, and my bad attitude toward factoring polynomials is no help (“Guess?” Guessing is not math!!)…

    Where can a gal who is objectively way above average in intelligence GO to learn the necessary new algebra and calculus tricks she missed before?

    Any engineers in the audience want to make a little extra money tutoring a 39-year-old engineering-groupie chick? I’m serious.