California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide

Re:California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th gra... by cik on Wednesday November 24, 2021 @03:46AM (#29328081)

This is the problem. It's also horrifically bad for the future economy. For comparison, the rest of the world - at least the parts that want to catch up aren't running this slowly. Also - I think the lack of basic Science + Math education is part of the reason we see things like vaccine hesitancy - but that's just a guess.

My daughter in grade 4 (Israel) is currently learning basic algebra tenets, notably associative, commutative, and distributive properties in basic equations, in addition to basic solve for variable questions. SIN, COSIGN, TANGENT and friends start in grade 6.

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Re:California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th gra... by dekhn on Wednesday November 24, 2021 @05:26AM (#29328607)

The associative property is not remotely a basic algebra tenet (it's widely used, but it's a much more basic form of symbolic math).

It's spelled "SINE, COSINE, and TANGENT".

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Re:California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th gra... by cik on Wednesday November 24, 2021 @05:36AM (#29328668)

Agreed - associative properties aren't solely basic algebra, but that is how they're (mostly) thought of in the early years. I'd argue a step further that commutative properties have a direct link to other subject, and aren't strictly algebra either. However, neither of these change the point I made.

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