ABSTRACT
Most people realize they need to know arithmetic, but far fewer understand why they should know algebra. Algebra is the language of the generalization of arithmetic. Algebra is the language that is used to solve certain types of arithmetic problems. Robert Moses, founder of the Algebra Project, and others contend that algebra is a gatekeeper course and that the right to take algebra is a civil rights issue. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book suggests some strategies for students who are struggling or who need a greater challenge. It provides fertile material for discussion within a mathematics department meeting or in professional learning communities.
