I started programming when I was 9, mostly taught myself to convert between hex, binary and decimal at about 13. I say mostly out of fairness: high school did spend a day or two on it one year. Needless to say I dropped out in 9th grade; I learned things that would be applicable in the real world better out of school than in. I was making 45K/yr, starting salary, by my mid twenties.
Despite that, I'm going to college currently for my degree. I just got an "A" in intermediate algebra, though it was an up hill battle the whole way. The struggle, aside from it being a 6 week summer class, was trying to convince myself that I wasn't wasting my time; that I would learn something applicable to life outside that or the next three requisite classes. Something, that is, besides helping my kids with their math homework.
I've come to the firm conclusion that college math exists purely to perpetuate itself, like a virus in our education system; The only job it prepares someone for is to teach the damn class!
I've found that it is nearly impossible for students to find any math useful until they really understand it. As a simple example, you don't need to know nor understand how to multiply. After all , you could just repeated addition and figure it out. However, there is no need for addition either; you can just count up for a while. point being, the more math you know, the more tools you have. you may never use the quadratic formula outside the classroom, but I use algebra all the time to make my life at both work and home easier. please excuse typing errors as I'm replying from my phone.
Despite that, I'm going to college currently for my degree. I just got an "A" in intermediate algebra, though it was an up hill battle the whole way. The struggle, aside from it being a 6 week summer class, was trying to convince myself that I wasn't wasting my time; that I would learn something applicable to life outside that or the next three requisite classes. Something, that is, besides helping my kids with their math homework.
I've come to the firm conclusion that college math exists purely to perpetuate itself, like a virus in our education system; The only job it prepares someone for is to teach the damn class!