We launched this morning with a Sal Khan video on the beauty of Algebra, a first step in helping Eagles choose between Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry as their next math challenge.

The speed at which the group is mastering PreAlgebra is impressive.

So is Khan Academy’s ability to track each Eagle’s progress, including each question, each answer and the time to complete each problem.

As the math becomes more difficult and increasingly conceptual, the Khan videos will become even more important.

Later in the day, the Eagle run Journal Contest asked: What will you choose as your next math challenge?   Here’s what one Eagle wrote:

“No question; no doubt; no maybes:  Algebra.  Algebra is one of the most useful tools in the world because it covers so much.  Trig uses variables.  Geometry uses variables.  Algebra can write formulas to solve almost anything.

You saw the video this morning. You heard what Sal said.  Isn’t it incredible how two completely different real world problems can be solved using the same equation?

Algebra can help us span the gaps in our understanding of the universe.  Math is the universal language and Algebra is its sub language and best friend.  I look forward to getting to know it better myself.”

Learning new math skills is important. Knowing why learning a math skill matters to your life is more important; and knowing that math can be beautiful, matters even more.