Daily Prompt: Land of Confusion

Which subject in school did you find impossible to master? Did math give you hives? Did English make you scream? Do tell!

Well, I am sure I am not the only one who was confused by algebra………

I have 2 words……. Imaginary numbers!

What the heck is an imaginary number?  According to Wikipedia “An imaginary number is a number that can be written as a real number multiplied by the imaginary unit i, which is defined by its property i² = −1.^[1] The square of an imaginary number bi is –b². For example, 5i is an imaginary number, and its square is −25. Except for 0 (which is both real and imaginary^[2]), imaginary numbers produce negative real numbers when squared.”

Really? How are you supposed to understand algebra when they throw pretend numbers at you? If I were going to choose an imaginary number, it would be whatever the correct answer is!

I remember there was this one girl in my class who could look at a number and immediately figure out what the square root of a number is! How does one even learn this stuff? My theory was she was from another planet. I cannot even fathom how someone could figure that out? And I am not talking easy numbers like 49. I am talking ugly numbers like 537……….

Since taking algebra in school, I have not once needed to use it. I have never needed to know the square root of any number either. And the only imaginary number I have had to deal with is the money I want in my paycheck.

I will leave you with my favorite algebra joke.

Dear Algebra, Stop asking us to find your x. She is not coming back.

Have a wonderful day!

Sue