These are two of the many questions Erin is asking me as we are going through her algebra every day. I have to laugh, because I used to absolutely hate math. But I have had to take so many progressively difficult math classes in college that I actually now enjoy the challenge of working out a math problem.
But no, I did not tell her that she may never use algebra outside of school 🙂
It will all make sense at some point, I am just not sure yet what that point is for her.
parenthoodandotherhorrorstories 
I told my son: Doing algebra is like doing push-ups. You don’t use the push-ups; you use the strength they built.
Now that is great advice! I may have to borrow that !
I’ve found that the biggest thing I took away from math (all kinds) was problem solving and working towards a solution, not even the math itself. But this is coming from a Women and Gender Studies major who doesn’t really do math all that often. 🙂