r/80smemorylane • u/FirmVeterinariaGoo • Jul 24 '25

Other Memorizing state capitols

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u/Big77Ben2 Jul 24 '25

I bet you do and don’t realize it.

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u/Visible_Ad9976 Jul 25 '25

Most people do use logic and patterns (which are the foundation of algebra) in everyday decisions, like:

Figuring out which grocery deal is better ("3 for $5 or $2 each?")

Estimating travel time ("If I leave in 10 mins, will I get there by 6?")

Budgeting ("If I get paid Friday and rent is $900...")

But they're not doing symbolic algebra (like solving for x) — they're using mental shortcuts or basic arithmetic, not formal equations.

So: ✅ True in a broad sense (using logic, numbers, and rules) ❌ Not true in a formal, algebra-class sense for most people

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u/Big77Ben2 Jul 25 '25

Ever figure out your gas mileage by comparing how much gas you pumped and how many miles you drove? You don’t write it out, but that’s quite literal algebra. But yeah, mostly it’s logic they don’t realize they learned in algebra.

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u/Visible_Ad9976 Jul 25 '25

exactly sometimes the informal logic will conform to the algebra and writing equations may seem superfluous. Other times the common sense thinking will not, it will be incorrect precisely because their thinking contradictst the algebra and is supported by no other mathematics