Comment: stop teaching algebra ???

Even when shopping at the grocery store you need it! Sometimes the larger container is the better buy, sometimes multiples of the smallest size is the better buy. Without algebra you wouldn't be able to figure out the per ounce prices for each size or know which toilet paper package gives you more sq. ft. for your money. Of course that also explains why you so often see people choosing the more expensive version of a product.

Case in point, one of the stores in my area stocked a new brand of toilet paper that was made using the older equipment and thus was the old, larger, size. It appeared to be more expensive than the common brands (charmin, cottonelle, etc.), but it had more squares per roll and they were the old, larger squares. So, it was actually cheaper per sq. ft. The store quite carrying it because it didn't sell well. People couldn't do the math (or couldn't be bothered to?) and couldn't see that it was a bargain.