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Friday, April 14, 2006

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Math in the Real World

Parabolas, word problems, the quadratic equation...Oh my. Carolyn Kellogg takes a trip to see the wizard: the student who knew all the answers in her high school algebra class. Sure, mastering algebra helps in real life? Sure squared.

Where are they now? In 1981 Paddy Spence (top left) did quite well in algebra class. He now runs Levlad, a major natural products company based in Los Angeles. Michael Eberstadt (top right) was an algebra star, but he doesn't think about it much now. He owns two pizza parlors and the restaurant Bayou in Harlem. After our algebra class, Jay Shepherd (bottom left) turned from math to liberal arts. He's the principal at Shepherd Law Group in Boston. As a freelance reporter, Carolyn Kellogg (bottom right) does not use much algebra. But she does know the quadratic equation. (Photos: Courtesy Carolyn Kellogg)

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Music From This Show

    MUSIC FROM THIS SHOW Purchase from the Public Radio MusicSource

    Don't Get Around Much Anymore
    Willie Nelson
    Citizen of the World
    Miguel Romero
    Since We Last Spoke
    RJD2
    The Golden Path
    The Chemical Brothers
    Barber's Scissors
    Dan Eyde
    Bank of Bad Habits
    Jimmy Buffet

Marketplace Confessional

"Instead of hyping the "Mad Men" premiere on Sunday, why doesn't Marketplace engage the criticism that this show glamorizes smoking? How can the media give a pass when, no less than big tobacco advertising over the decades, the show supports an addiction that kills nearly a half-million per year, with localities, states, and the federal government picking up the health cost tab long after this show is off the air? Where is the critical coverage that media ethics might suggest should accompany the fawning coverage?"

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