My experience going back 25 years has been that you ALWAYS teach algebra in
first quarter calculus (and maybe second). My preference is the same as
yours. Teach algebra as needed in calculus - with a week on the intro
chapter. This may be the first time many students learn algebra. IMHO for
many students it is the first time the have seen a need or use for algebra.
I would suspect the masses think that if they see no need for
mathematics/algebra, why learn it? This thinking may not be true for those
of us teaching mathematics, but I wonder about most everyone else.
Do most of the current algebra texts show a need for algebra? Do word
problems at the end of the exercise set show a need for algebra? Do most
teachers assign the word problems or avoid talking about them? ...
Ed
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