Monday's Musing 03-23-09

[Lis Garrett]

Thanks to Karen who offered this week's Monday's Musing!

What subject makes your brain ache?

[Dannie]

Math, always and forever. I can honestly say that I hated math in school, but for as much as I disliked the subject, I did really good at it. The funny thing is, is that math is what I do everyday. From sales, marketing, to research. I laugh all the time about it because I always told myself that I would never have a math-based job, and it is so math-based it is sickening.

[Susan Sosbe]

Economics. Take a look at my checkbook and/or bank account and you will see that I still haven't grasped it.

[Lisa Sanford]

I'd have to say any talk about designer purses or shoes - or pretty much designer anything. I can talk about physics (or at least try to understand it) or mathematics. But I just can't grasp why people get excited about a purse (yes, I have a purse that cost around $30) or a pair of shoes that you have to spend a few hundred dollars on. And they don't last any longer than the regular run-of-the-mill brands.
To me, it has all to do with a need for status and if that energy could be focused (and those left over dollars spent) on helping the poor, inspiring children or saving the environment, how much better off would the world be?
Just my two cents worth...
Lisa

[Terri Rawls]

Math! I had a difficult time with it in school and I STILL do!

[Kathleen W.]

Higher level math was my least favorite subject (calculus, trigonometry), probably because I had awful teachers for those classes in high school. I also never saw the point in learning that, unless you were really excited by it (which I wasn't). I can't say I ever used a logarithm in my daily life post-college.

[Lauren Loiacono]

Calculus, but not other branches of math. I loved algebra, geometry, trig, and statistics. But calculus was not my cup of tea. In fact, I didn't even have a major breakthrough in that class until AFTER the AP exam... too bad, too, because I could have gotten out of a college requirement had I done better on the test.

Other than calculus, reading in science textbooks could occasionally make my head spin.

[Debbie Yost]

Stop! You're making my head hurt! :-)

Lis Garrett said:

Debbie ~

Elementary school math has gotten a lot harder than what it used to be. Hannah is in the 4th grade and already working problems that require algebra skills. Nevermind the fact that she is still struggling to learn her multiplication and division facts! Gone are the days in which all they do is practice math facts. Hannah has taken a real hit to her self-esteem because she can't learn the lessons fast enough. Every night is a struggle.

PS - I worked a challenge "function" problem with Jacob the other night (he's in the 1st grade) where you had to determine the "rule". For example, if you start with one number, what's the rule you have to follow to get the answer? The answer, by the way, was "subtract 1/2n". If that isn't algebra, I don't know what is! It's certainly not the first-grade math I remember!

[Nicole John]

Economics and Politics. And my husband loves it... he can watch the news and really enjoy all that stuff. I would reather focus my energy on things close to home, my family and my church.