excellent point. I remember hating cancelling variables, waaaaay
   back in Pre-Algebra. I didn't mind cancelling numbers out but
   when it came to variables, I was already teaching myself BASIC
   on my Tandy Color Computer 2, and I wanted to track the
   variables value as I went along.

   In my head, I had to translate the algebra into BASIC so it made
   sense to me. I still do it when I have to, but generally I just
   whip up Excel.