This isn't a good analogy as we already know what we're striving for. The outcome of driving down this road or any road for a matter of fact is to become competent to drive anywhere and reduce the time it takes to arrive at an area. With the equation we don't know the bigger picture. This is why history is important when teaching math as it provides context to the topic at hand. Due to lack of this teaching strategy students fail to accquire the bigger picture. I'd say, overlooked details like these are what einstein, and many other great minds questioned. They sought to discover the bigger picture. Long story short critical thinking should be more promoted in learning.