[helene_t]

At elementary school, algebra was a few rules like (a+B)(a-B)=aa+bb sorry I mean aa-bb, tx Ken
At secondary school, it was about some concepts like groups and isomorphics. Our math teacher was very exited by the fact that you could define a logarithm as a an isomorphic mapping of (R+,*) on (R,+).
At university it started with set theory and then we went on to talk about structured sets like the groups we knew from secondary school, and a lot of other structures. We also learned to prove a lot of very general theorems about such structured sets.
Most people I know who ever use the word "algebra" say algebra when they mean linear algebra. They will have learned a little applied math on a technical school or business school, and there the word "algebra" only comes up in the context of linear algebra..

I have forgotten many of the details of what I learned but IMO the training you get in logical thinking is unmissable for anyone who works with mathematical modeling, which means most scientists and many teachers, and probably also many financial and technical consultants.

[kenberg]

I hope not exactly that rule Helene.

You may have see the book "Behold! The Circle Squared!". The author explains that he is correcting an error in mathematics. Mathematicians had been insisting that
(a+b )^2=a^2+2ab+b^2. He corrected this to (a+b )^2=a^2+2ab. After this improvement, you get some very neat results.

[onoway]

Common sense still alive in Scotland?


A London lawyer visiting Scotland runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a Glasgow policeman.

He thinks that he is smarter than the cop because he is a lawyer from LONDON and is certain that he has a better education then any Jock cop. He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the Glasgow cops expense.

Glasgow cop says, ' Licence and registration, please.'

London Lawyer says, 'What for?'

Glasgow cop says, 'Ye didnae come to a complete stop at the stop sign.'

London Lawyer says, 'I slowed down, and no one was coming.'

Glasgow cop says, 'Ye still didnae come to a complete stop. Licence and registration, please.'

London Lawyer says, 'What's the difference?'

Glasgow cop says, 'The difference is, ye have to come to complete stop, that's the law, Licence and registration, please!'

London Lawyer says, 'If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my licence and registration; and you give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket.'

Glasgow cop says, 'Sounds fair. If you would just get out of your vehicle, sir.'



The London Lawyer exits his vehicle.

The Glasgow cop takes out his baton and starts beating the heck out of the lawyer and says, 'Do ye want me to stop, or just slow down?'