[ A very good intro to math and the basic rules… funny that he starts off exactly like my solving_equations. Good read for the beginner. ]
http://www.jerf.org/working/learningMathematics.html

[ Cool article that makes many good points about why mathematics is important. ]
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ericlippert/archive/2004/08/11/math-is-everywhere.aspx

 quote:
 Mathematics, particularly statistics, is everywhere in our 
 technological world. To deny the practicality of mathematics
 is to say " I choose to be powerless in a world where a
 technological/political/scientific aristocracy understands and 
 controls the systems upon which my life depends. I choose to be 
 unable to understand those systems and unable to communicate 
 effectively with the people who create them. I choose to be 
 a person who cannot make a difference. " 

[ Math = power tools, says the following article in thee NY Times]
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/power-tools/?hp