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• First_Thunder@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  The article on zero is just nuts hahaha

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• First_Thunder@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I mean, the algebra article itself doesn’t seem terrible, just somewhat wrong, but with what seems to be a somewhat ok explanation of how equations work

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  • TheTechnician27@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    This is what a competent encyclopedic treatment of algebra looks like by comparison. The other algebra article fucks up from the jump, because the goal of an encyclopedic treatment of algebra is not to teach someone the mechanics of solving a handful of elementary algebra problems (you can as a small aid, but making it nearly the entire article is failing the assignment completely).

    It’s to cover what algebra is, its various subfields, its history, its applications, its relationships to other parts of math, etc. Covering algebra encyclopedically by offering a mediocre Algebra I tutorial is like covering internal combustion engines encyclopedically by making the entire article a short guide on how to change the oil in your car; it’s asinine.

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    • First_Thunder@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Well yes, what I meant is that it has some redeeming value by having the 7 th grade algebra explaination

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      • TheTechnician27@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Yeah, it’s not horrific or offensive like most of their work. It’s moreso pretty sad. It’s like the antisocial asshole of the family who ran away from their loving home 10 years ago, and going to visit them now, you see they’re still a terrible person, but scant glimpses beneath all that awfulness into their core show a sad, frightened little child who has no idea what they’re doing.

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