Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048005)

I think you under estimate just how much you use things like algebra, most of us will use it on a regular basis.
A quick example -
You are in the pub, you have £20 to spend on drinks, drinks cost £4 each, how many drinks can you afford.

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048005)

You are in the pub, you have £20 to spend on drinks, drinks cost £4 each, how many drinks can you afford.

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707 (Post 1048014)

I would have said that is basic division-I may be mistaking what algebra actually is?

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth (Post 1048015)

None in that pub! Let's go somewhere else, unless you're paying.
Didn't take algebra to work that out.

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707 (Post 1048014)

I would have said that is basic division-I may be mistaking what algebra actually is?

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048018)

a=b X c
a=the £20 you have
b=£4 cost of drink
c=how many drinks can you have.

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048019)

OK, i`ve already explained i may have the price wrong, lets change it to the cost of a round, how many rounds can you afford.

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth (Post 1048025)

But c= a divided by b. So you're both right.

20 divided by 4= 5 is arithmetic.
a divided by b =c, values known and unknown, is algebra.

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048029)

a=b X c
a is known, b is known, you want to know c.
So you divide both sides by c.
a/c=b X c / c
The X c/c cancel each other out and you get
a/c=b

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048031)

Sorry, didn`t mean to turn this thread into a maths lesson, just wanted to show most of us use things like algebra more than you think.

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth (Post 1048033)

How can I divide a by c when I don't know what c is?
The known on the left hand side, the unknown on the right hand side.
A/b=c



No problem, it's called thread wandering, you do it for fun. Sometimes it's surprising where you end up.

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048035)

:cheers:

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048029)

a=b X c
a is known, b is known, you want to know c.
So you divide both sides by c.
a/c=b X c / c
The X c/c cancel each other out and you get
a/c=b

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048038)

Sorry, should have been divide both sides by b.
a/b=b X c / b
Multiplying by b then dividing by b cancel each other out.
a/b=c

Originally Posted by gpick24 (Post 1048041)

:thepint: