Often times in math class, you’ll hear a person complain about “when will we ever use this in real life?” You might even have thought that yourself. Now there’s a class offered that provides just that, math for real world use. Although it’s still in the early stages, Financial Algebra already shows great promise.Often times in math class, you’ll hear a person complain about “when will we ever use this in real life?” You might even have thought that yourself. Now there’s a class offered that provides just that, math for real world use. Although it’s still in the early stages, Financial Algebra already shows great promise.

Taught by Math Department Chair Andrew Walter, the Financial Algebra class is a non-traditional application-based approach that teaches students math based on real life situations. This is a two-year class that will cover both Algebra I and II. Los Angeles has already put the class into use and has done all the paperwork to make sure that it is a-g approved, making it easier for the Math Department to put into effect.

However, only one teacher will be teaching it this year in order as a sort of test to see if it’ll work out or not. If it’s successful, then other math teachers will also offer it starting next year.

This class gives students a reason for learning math and let’s them apply it in practices they might or will need in the future for jobs. Benefits of the class include providing many opportunities and being a practical class that can offer skills for students instead of classes that ask them to find the limit for some abstract function. Not to mention that in learning these skills, they’re also learning basic math that’s required by the school.

Many math-phobic students should be attracted to this class as well since this can help them with their fear because they’re able to solve basic algebra problems that would normally scare them, and in turn it allows them to do better. This means that students will be able to improve their math skills and grades without fearing it for the first time. It’s a great class for those who aren’t pursuing a career that requires advanced math and allows them to learn something useful for later on, or for those who are scared of math.

This class provides real world skills that are useful and necessary for students. Hopefully this year’s class will prove to be successful and allow for more classes to be made and create more math options for students, instead of the traditional Algebra I and II.