Mind Boggling Math

And I certainly do ask myself... Why in the world do we use algebraic formulae?  I think I have a good grasp of this as I vaguely remember the word algebra from high school math (and from doing a Master's level essay on the borrowing of Arabic words in the French language...)  Somehow that still doesn't help me attain a profound knowledge of the subject.

These fantastic fun and games exercises, as noted above,  are just a little pre-maths exercise module for some introductory accounting courses. Think about all the leaders of industry, the glamorous Christine Lagarde, and all small businessmen who as their bread and butter work manipulate maths and money to rule the world and squeeze profits out of everyone everywhere. This is what they must master!

Intimidating it is. I remember freshman high school maths classes, where sometimes I would get the right answer to the equation, but I wouldn't fully understand (or be able to write out) how. Of course that year, it didn't really matter to the teacher anyway, all he was thinking about was his impending retirement. I hope it is going to work a little better this time. I reckon math will have to be approached like a language, and whereas grammar is the rule structure that must balance the sentence, so numbers will be used to balance the equation and eek out the answer.  So where in French you have to add the extra -e for a girl when she says "Je suis allee" in maths you have to remember to divide or multiply both sides of the equation by the same number...

So all you brave people out there.  Go ahead and make up an imaginary bank loan, with an imaginary percent of interest and you figure out how much you will have after 3 years...

Technology and Modernity

Today I was just looking at an e-mail from my parents saying that they were downloading ring tones for their iPhones yesterday and having good fun doing it.  What!!! Do we mean people who are maybe 18, 22, or even 40? No, my parents.  This leads me to ponder technology and the role of it in people's lives.  While I have to absolutely applaud my technology friendly parents, I would like to admonish those who need to catch up with the modern world.  You see, in retirement, this hobby has opened up a fantastic world for them.  They have participated in creative writing, photography, genealogy research, and kept up with their relatives in different parts of the world!

Here in Ireland, I think the older generation is still slowly waking up to the changes in the world during the last 20 years, or even 10.  I have to sneakily say, that I know some people here, who have tried to avoid this new technology, and have a small fear of it even.  On the other hand, I know a few retired people who have really embraced it and its usefulness. Particularly now more than ever, in Ireland, where many family members have had to emigrate due to the job situation.

Although I get great enjoyment from e-mailing, Skype,  internet use, and dare I say even online games, this use of technology has become slightly divisive in my family.  The owners of above pictured iPods are constantly being asked to turn them off, stop e-mailing pictures that shouldn't be e-mailed (yes, I am sure some of you saw the "Mother in Salute the Sun" yoga video..., and not bring them to the dinner table or up to bed...My husband would like to totally limit their use to music... whereas techie friendly Grandma said "you have to live in the modern world"...

I believe these are wise words.  You cannot turn back time, so why not embrace it.