"Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra. In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra. "
Fran Lebowitz

Seeing some of the homework @ has brought home has made me have flashbacks to my High School days of yore. His Algebra homework really made me cringe. Mathematics have never really been my strong point. In school, I got behind early, and stayed there. The jump from regular math to Algebra (Eighth to Ninth grade) completely exposed my math "skills".

Up until that point, I could usually not pay attention in class, daydream, then get home and kludge my way through the homework. Just enought to get by you know. Well, I thought I could do the same in Algebra. But a pivotal moment, the fourth day of class really highlighted how much trouble I was in.

The Algebra teacher was walking the class through a problem on the overhead machine. Step by step carrying out the problem, moving the x down the equation until finally he got to the end and stated, " so, class, x=what?" The entire class (minus Einstein here) stated in perfect unison, "thrity seven". I had already realized that I was behind, so I decided that I better show a little bit of interaction, and try to get back up to "just enough to get by speed". So I raised my hand and posed the fateful question. "Where did the X come from?" There was an immediate corous of laughs and guffaws from all around me. The teacher looked at me, and I swear, rolled his eyes and shook his head and without saying a word, went on to the next question. Six weeks later came my, first (and ONLY) F of my high school career, followed by a very patient tutor. And bless her soul, with hard work and perseverance, I achieved " just enough to get by" status once again.