Originally Posted by kane

There are two reasons that they teach kids algebra even though most of them will never use it in their adult lives. First, teaching kids how to do something difficult is a good thing. Not only do they learn how to solve the problem, but they learn how to overcome big obstacles and it helps them learn how to learn which is a skill they will use in their lives. Second, many kids will use it. They will go on to go to college and learn technical skills that require math, but they may not realize that in an early grade when they are learning algebra. Here they teach algebra and in grade school and it gives kids a math foundation they can build on. Those who decide 3-4 years later that they want to pursue a technical career already have the foundation in place.