Here is a little something that will hopefully give all you out there who hate math a little more appreciation of the subject. Below is the earliest solution of a quadratic equation. It dates around 2000 B.C. On a Babylonian Tablet you find:

    I have subtracted from the area the side of my square: 14.30. Take 1, the coefficient. Divide 1 into two parts: 30. Multiply 30 and 30: 15. You add to 14.30, and 14.30.15 has the root 29.30. You add to 29.30 the 30 which you have multiplied by itself: 30, and this is the side of the square.

    Of course this is in base 60 so 14.30 really equals 14*60+30=870. Converting this problem to modern day algebra, we get the simple equation, x^2 - x=870. Which any high school graduate should be able to, or should have at one time, solve this equation with the Quadratic Formula. The solution ends up being x= 30 or x= -29. It really is wonderful what a little plus and equals sign can do to a culture. Imagine doing 50 of these problems for homework…I don't think I would be a math major anymore!