Homework #2 09/20

I had an assumption that a word problem that was not realistic in "real life" was an unhelpful word problem but looking at how they were used in the Babylonia era gave me an appreciation for problems that focus on 'pure' math. It shows that the people at that time had a concept of Mathematics as a "unified area of study" and were using abstracted word problems to implement the Mathematics they were practicing. Students want to have a reason for why they are learning a topic or solving a certain problem and I don't think the answer can always be that they will use it in real life. The idea of pure vs. applied mathematics does not rely on our familiarity with contemporary algebra because ancient civilizations were engaging with these two sides of Mathematics. I see the value in solving problems that focus on certain Mathematical skills and develop skills such as problem-solving, reasoning, logic or models.