[tkosan]

I am the main developer of the MathPiper computer algebra system. When students ask "when will I use algebra?" it is a symptom of a deeper problem, which is what they are being taught is not algebra. Almost no math teachers know how the "game" of algebra actually works, and therefore they are incapable of teaching others how to play it. What are they teaching that is being called algebra? That's a good question. What would the game be called that operated exactly like chess, except the rules for how the pieces are moved were never written down and never taught explicitly? Lets call it c_es_. One critical ability that is needed to be good at c_es_ that is not needed to be good at chess is figuring out how the pieces are moved by only observing how other people move them.

Most people don't like playing games they can't win because they have not been taught how to play. Most people would not like playing c_es_ for this reason, so they would only play it if they were forced to. They would also start asking questions like "why am I being forced to play this illogical game?". The way to help your son is not by providing him with reasons for why he is being forced to play a game he has not been properly taught how to play. The way to help him is to simply teach him how algebra actually works. I can show you how to do this (my contact information is in my profile).