Geometry is very important as well.
Yup. When I said math is important, I meant it to include geometry as well as algebra. There have been times when I hired contractors to do work for me, and I have had to correct them or their workers on several occasions. To be honest, some weren't that good at math but managed to get jobs done by trial and error - with the wasted materials that goes along with mistakes. Recently had to eat the extra costs in a bathroom remodel because the contractor made mistakes on calculating needed materials, which were my responsibility to choose design and buy; some were last in stock and non-returnable. I've got extra wall and floor tiles I won't be able to use elsewhere, and had to scrounge up other under-calculated items. Good thing he was one of the lowest bids on the job. Same for a crew that did a fence for me, mis-calculations on materials.
Why are young people so bad at math?!