40% of College Students get this question wrong. AND IT MAKES ME ANGRY!

[deus-ex-machina]

I study Pharmacy, a Masters course at university. I did an A-level catch up module in the first year and I passed with a high A and I was fully capable of doing equations much harder than that. I'm currently in my final year and you know what?

I couldn't answer that until I saw the answer and I knew how to get it straight away. But the fact is... that sort of problem has no relevance in the normal person's everyday life. In three years, I haven't needed to expand brackets. It has no relevance to what I need in life or what I need in my job as a pharmacist.

So what if 40% of college students (apparently) can't solve it? I am far from ashamed that I couldn't. The thing is, I knew how the answer was reached a few seconds after seeing the solution.

After 3 and a half years of uni, I would now consider myself an expert in cellular biology, pharmacology, chemistry, the relevant laws and ethics and business of retail and Pharmacy in the UK, physiology, pathology and microbiology. And I would still rate my math abilities higher than most peoples.

I really don't care if you're angry because I don't know how to 'FOIL'. Sorry. Hope maturity makes you feel better.

 

[Cosmic Naginata]

I've never heard of "foil" before, expand and solve yes but not foil.
OT: I solved it but then I am studying physics so there's no excuse.

 

[Robert0288]

@ OP, simply explained 40% of students don't care because it's irrelevant. I don't care because it's irrelevant.

I'm going back to writing my essay on the dangers of using PMCs, their growing power in the international community, and their role in quelling insurgent movements and their push for leading roles in future chapter 7 interventions.

I'm pretty sure 40% of college students have no idea what PMC stands for, nor what chapter 7 refers to unless googled, because its irrelevant to them.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Ah... That's GCSE level that is, I remember that.

Jesus, I'm getting nostalgic over algebra.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I have a wide respect for all the other sciences and jobs, but isn't math the basis of any science?.... etc etc

No, Philosophy is the basis of all science.

You ask yourself an pertinent question, factor the premises, utilise logic, create a hypothetical based squarely on the law of noncontradiction, come up with a pertinant answer.

I *HATE* how nobody gives a crap about philosophy ....

 

[lay-lanie]

FOIL does prove to be rather useless later on. granted in school I loved math, I only really liked the parts I know i can use.

matrices ftw!

 

[Pinguin]

If this really makes you angry, perhaps you have stress problems.

I don't think algebraic expansion is widely accepted as a key life skill.

 

[Lukeje]

Those of us who:

a) have a clue
b) don't have any use for advanced maths in our occupations

simply refer to any of the THOUSANDS of applications, websites, and calculators that exist to solve these problems, in the rare case that they come up. Faster than you.

My answer? http://twitpic.com/1brqqr

BS. Took me five seconds in my head.

Yes, because you *already know* what the answer is. As did the vast majority of us. Try an equation you haven't already stored the answer for.

Here, let me help you.

Expand:

(2/3)ix + 4x^2

But then I do computer science so this stuff is occasionally necessary.

Erm. Your `solution' fails for x=1.

Edit: I see what you've done. I think it's meant to be to the power of (2x), not just multiplied by 2x.
...and RvLeshrac, if you wrote that in LaTeX, you realise you need to use \left and \right to get the brackets the right size?

 

[lleulogyll]

Sweet! I can't believe I got it right! I've been out of school for 8 years.

 

[VanityGirl]

Erm... Actually, I'm in the medical field and math is my worst subject. I did however, know the answer to that question.

I don't normally "FOIL" in my day-to-day and I also do not take math classes, I don't blame someone if they can't remember (some) math questions.

Have you ever seen Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? They have people with doctorates who can't answer some of the 5th grade math questions.

 

[yoyo13rom]

I have a wide respect for all the other sciences and jobs, but isn't math the basis of any science?.... etc etc

No, Philosophy is the basis of all science.

You ask yourself an pertinent question, factor the premises, utilise logic, create a hypothetical based squarely on the law of noncontradiction, come up with a pertinant answer.

I *HATE* how nobody gives a crap about philosophy ....

Yeah,go carried away back there...*scratches head*
Mathematics derived from philosophy(it was the way some abstract concepts got a less abstract form). But the way most people "do" philosophy in the present just disgust me(they just say nay to every argument of the opponent, and just go:"No! I'm right, because I have science/magic on my side!", without adding anything to the discussion)
I'm not saying the mathematics is the ultimate science(actually it isn't any more important than any science that uses it), but I felt like giving some tribute to the tool that made some things possible.(just like giving some respect to the console that enables us to play magnificent games, that's all)

 

[Soxafloppin]

Just looks like numbers and letters to me.

Ahh, The joys of fittness instructing.

 

[Klarinette]

Weee, foil method! I, too, only learned this is tenth grade, but that was almost eight years ago.
(x+3)^2
= (x+3)(x+3)
= x^2+6x+9
Math and I got along once...

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Why should I be able to solve it? I'm an English literature student who hasn't done maths since he was sixteen.

I think 40% is a small number, it should be much higher for any student who doesn't like/do maths, and it shouldn't make you angry. It should only make you angry if maths students can't do it.

 

[khaimera]

I've got a bachelor degree and I don't even understand the question!

Mind you, I'm qualified in a profession that doesn't need this type of calculation.

Holy hell. You are 35 and on this site! I'm glad you shared that because now I dont feel as bad about being 28 and still on here. Check out my adults anonymnous group if you're interested.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Adults-Anonymous

OT; I could have done it but I stopped doing useless math a long time ago.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I have a wide respect for all the other sciences and jobs, but isn't math the basis of any science?.... etc etc

No, Philosophy is the basis of all science.

You ask yourself an pertinent question, factor the premises, utilise logic, create a hypothetical based squarely on the law of noncontradiction, come up with a pertinant answer.

I *HATE* how nobody gives a crap about philosophy ....

Yeah,go carried away back there...*scratches head*
Mathematics derived from philosophy(it was the way some abstract concepts got a less abstract form). But the way most people "do" philosophy in the present just disgust me(they just say nay to every argument of the opponent, and just go:"No! I'm right, because I have science/magic on my side!", without adding anything to the discussion)
I'm not saying the mathematics is the ultimate science(actually it isn't any more important than any science that uses it), but I felt like giving some tribute to the tool that made some things possible.(just like giving some respect to the console that enables us to play magnificent games, that's all)

Unfortunately I never got to meet him except when I was a newborn, but my father was familiar with a guy called Charles Hamblin (of which EVERY computer geek, EVERY philosopher, EVERY mathematician should know right off the bat).

People don't give enough credit to the way that philosophy and it's many, many branches of thought have accelerated human understanding and the cognitive processes behind ALL sciences.

Philosophy = Humanities, Humanities > science >:] Charles Hamblin would agree and that's enough for me. And he practically invented computers and the way to categorize connectives of propositional logic into an algorithm all computers can understand.

That being said, according to dad he was a complete basket case.

They should introduce epistemology (or atleast deontology and utilitarianism) in High School ...

Philosophy in my personal opinion is far more useful than maths. Because no matter what the problem is, you need only apply philosophical logic to suitably ascertain truth and falacy ... whether by propositional metaphysics, apriori exploration of the psyche, or dialectics.

Biggest problem is that maths doesn't need to be taught. People can count. Philosophy and philosophical thought requires years and years and years of research, study and self exploration before any of it's many fields start to really make any sense to any degree.

 

[Zudarkness]

I did FOIL in Junior High myself.

Not everyone in college will take Math if there trying become a Jounalist, cheft . Tourist guide and tourisum, phyical education teacher, Forensic science etc. ((Though 4 of those profeccions would benifited from applied math ))

 

[Aenir]

...I learned this in Middle School...and COLLEGE KIDS COULDN'T DO IT!?

What the fuck? I don't see how you can forget something used so often (in math) so fast. I don't care if they're doing something like journalism or whatever, its only a few years!