"Disguised" algebra

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I hate it when they change the monomes/binomes/whatever to defined letters to make formulas for example the area of a cylinder. I have to associate each part of the formula to what it means and it can take weeks for me to understand if I don't get it on the first time. Basic algebra becomes really hard for me when they disguise it. Why can't algebra just be x's and y's ?

Well X's and Y's are mostly for graphs. But maybe it would help you to associate X with whatever number you're looking for? I'd need further explanation and you telling me what topic you're on in algebra to help more

I think your problem is generalizing.
In algebra, it doesn't matter what the symbol is for the variable, whether x, y, r, h, or some symbol you make up yourself.

Why?
Here is Dr. Lockehart's (a research mathematician's) explanation:

And here is a link to the PDF with a full explanation.
http://www.maa.org/external_archive/devlin/devlin_03_08.html

Essentially, what you see in the curriculum is unnecessary formalism and with obsolete notations. There is absolutely no reason why they should do that to you, but they do it anyways - normally because they actually don't have any competency.

But they do often try to enforce it. I have often been penalized for changing the variable's symbol.