Hi. I am a father infinitely frustrated with algebra, as it is taught in our schools. I just can't believe computers aren't used more, even at the level of Algebra I. I channeled my frustration and wrote a (free online) book about learning algebra by writing simple code. If anyone wants to take a look at it, please try a few lessons and let me know what you think. Here it is: http://www.codebymath.com/index.php/welcome/book Thanks, Tom

Hello Tom: I only read the first 2 chapters. I know well and respect your motivation. But one cent - Dont we fear that the young kids will only be able to differentiate a polynomial using a machine? I have been known to worry that todays young pilots can only fly the plane in auto-pilot mode (i.e. Buffalo incident some years back). Using a DSL* may not allow landing the plane safely in all conditions. one cent - You very quickly cover loops and conditionals. Dr. Wolfram specifically asserts that this is not the place to start. In my mind there is some tension between these approaches, because I think of `Cases[]` as a loop and conditional. But I am still learning what functional is. Anyways, thanks for trying to be part of the solution. DSL: domain-specific language

Thank you for your thoughtful response. On your first point about using machine derivatives. I get what you're saying and I hear you on the autopilot (I think that one has even crept into the Boeing vs. Airbus debate.) I'm just not sure what's better....rote derivatives by hand as "the lesson" or computer-based derivatives, with some other goal (graphing f vs f' perhaps?) as "the lesson." Long long term, the computer derivatives might be all they need. Again, I just don't know... I am familiar with Dr. Wolfram's position on this...I read his blog and quite like his book "An elementary intro to wolfram language," but conditionals and loop are MY FAVORITE thing to put in front of beginners. To me they're the first step into programming and getting kids to see what a machine can do: make decisions and do something over and over again. Yeah, and on your DSL comment: Lua is so vanilla, I think lessons learned in it are easily translated into other languages.

I like the style of the course. Why did you use python only and post it on the wolfram community or did I miss something?

Frustrated father writes computer-based algebra book