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I would love to get back and really learn math. I was really interested back in High School with Geometry and Algebra. But my interested totally burned out wi

by jdlyga 6y ago

I would love to get back and really learn math. I was really interested back in High School with Geometry and Algebra. But my interested totally burned out with poorly taught and punishing Calculus classes in College.

SkyMarshal 6y ago
“Calculus Made Easy” might help you get back into it. Lots of discussion over the years on it: https://hn.algolia.com/?q=calculus+made+easy https://hn.algolia.com/?q=calculus+made+easy
ipnon 6y ago
It's a long journey with many paths. The best you can do is set aside time everyday. I do an hour and it adds up quickly.
dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
That's a shame, Calculus is a fascinating subject and a basis for many interesting applications. Basically, there are two ways to approach it: to pass your exams (and there are just a couple of rules to learn, it's not that complicated), and to really understand what it's about. If you choose the second approach, you don't even need to memorize any formulas, because you will be able to reconstruct all of them as you need them. Moreover, you won't be conceptually limited to the geometric interpretation (which is invaluavle in giving some intuition in the early phases but might get in your way later).
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
no_wizard 6y ago
What would anyone recommend to someone who really only had high school math[0] to get up to speed on enough math to handle more advanced computer science concepts? I’m really interested but all the material I can find is either for kids (which just isn’t sufficiently stimulating for an adult) or aimed at college kids with a decent background in math that is fresh [0]: not even calculus just what they called technical math which is like all practical example based curriculum. One of my life regrets here to be honest
- flir 6y ago
  I'm working my way through this: https://pimbook.org/ https://pimbook.org/ I'm not very far in so I can't exactly recommend it, but I am enjoying it. In places where I'm rusty, I'm falling back on Khan Academy.
- dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
  In theory, any introduction to discrete mathematics would do. In practice, there are many differences in depth and breath of the material. You probably will do well if you choose Rosen, but there are several great alternatives, such as Levin[0] that you can start right away with. http://discrete.openmathbooks.org/dmoi3.html http://discrete.openmathbooks.org/dmoi3.html
  - mindcrime 6y ago
    I highly recommend the Susanna Epp book[1][2] for Discrete Math. I found her book to be much better written, and more understandable, than Rosen. [1]: https://www.alibris.com/Discrete-Mathematics-with-Applications-Susanne-Epp/book/1748023?matches=4 https://www.alibris.com/Discrete-Mathematics-with-Applicatio... [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPr5-X9nZc4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPr5-X9nZc4
- ivan_ah 6y ago
  I have two books that might be a good fit for you since they are specially written for adult learners in mind. (disclaimer: I wrote these books and I have a financial interest in promoting them) The No Bullshit Guide to Math & Physics [1] is a condensed review of high school math, followed by mechanics (PHYS 101) and calculus (CALC I and II). It's not as rigorous as other more proof-oriented textbooks, but it still covers all the material. The No Bullshit Guide to Linear Algebra [2] is all about linear algebra and also includes three chapters on applications, so you'll learn the fundamental ideas but also what they are used for IRL. Both books come with exercises and problem sets with answers, which is essential for learning. In fact one could say all math learning happens when you try to solve problems on your own, not just reading. [1] https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/noBSmathphys_v5_preview.pdf https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/noBSmathphys_v5_pr... [2] https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/noBSLA_v2_preview.pdf https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/noBSLA_v2_preview.... See the reviews on amazon for what people say.
benrbray 6y ago
For abstract algebra self-study, I highly recommend "A Book of Abstract Algebra" by Charles Pinter. Each chapter starts with a few definitions and examples, and the rest of the chapter is a series of exercises meant to help you discover algebraic concepts for yourself.
- dorchadas 6y ago
  This is what I started with, then I moved on to Dummit and Foote. It really did help as a build up.

by jdlyga 6y ago

SkyMarshal 6y ago

“Calculus Made Easy” might help you get back into it. Lots of discussion over the years on it: https://hn.algolia.com/?q=calculus+made+easy https://hn.algolia.com/?q=calculus+made+easy

ipnon 6y ago

It's a long journey with many paths. The best you can do is set aside time everyday. I do an hour and it adds up quickly.

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago

That's a shame, Calculus is a fascinating subject and a basis for many interesting applications. Basically, there are two ways to approach it: to pass your exams (and there are just a couple of rules to learn, it's not that complicated), and to really understand what it's about. If you choose the second approach, you don't even need to memorize any formulas, because you will be able to reconstruct all of them as you need them. Moreover, you won't be conceptually limited to the geometric interpretation (which is invaluavle in giving some intuition in the early phases but might get in your way later).

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

no_wizard 6y ago

What would anyone recommend to someone who really only had high school math[0] to get up to speed on enough math to handle more advanced computer science concepts? I’m really interested but all the material I can find is either for kids (which just isn’t sufficiently stimulating for an adult) or aimed at college kids with a decent background in math that is fresh [0]: not even calculus just what they called technical math which is like all practical example based curriculum. One of my life regrets here to be honest

flir 6y ago
I'm working my way through this: https://pimbook.org/ https://pimbook.org/ I'm not very far in so I can't exactly recommend it, but I am enjoying it. In places where I'm rusty, I'm falling back on Khan Academy.
dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
In theory, any introduction to discrete mathematics would do. In practice, there are many differences in depth and breath of the material. You probably will do well if you choose Rosen, but there are several great alternatives, such as Levin[0] that you can start right away with. http://discrete.openmathbooks.org/dmoi3.html http://discrete.openmathbooks.org/dmoi3.html
- mindcrime 6y ago
  I highly recommend the Susanna Epp book[1][2] for Discrete Math. I found her book to be much better written, and more understandable, than Rosen. [1]: https://www.alibris.com/Discrete-Mathematics-with-Applications-Susanne-Epp/book/1748023?matches=4 https://www.alibris.com/Discrete-Mathematics-with-Applicatio... [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPr5-X9nZc4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPr5-X9nZc4
ivan_ah 6y ago
I have two books that might be a good fit for you since they are specially written for adult learners in mind. (disclaimer: I wrote these books and I have a financial interest in promoting them) The No Bullshit Guide to Math & Physics [1] is a condensed review of high school math, followed by mechanics (PHYS 101) and calculus (CALC I and II). It's not as rigorous as other more proof-oriented textbooks, but it still covers all the material. The No Bullshit Guide to Linear Algebra [2] is all about linear algebra and also includes three chapters on applications, so you'll learn the fundamental ideas but also what they are used for IRL. Both books come with exercises and problem sets with answers, which is essential for learning. In fact one could say all math learning happens when you try to solve problems on your own, not just reading. [1] https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/noBSmathphys_v5_preview.pdf https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/noBSmathphys_v5_pr... [2] https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/noBSLA_v2_preview.pdf https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/noBSLA_v2_preview.... See the reviews on amazon for what people say.

benrbray 6y ago

For abstract algebra self-study, I highly recommend "A Book of Abstract Algebra" by Charles Pinter. Each chapter starts with a few definitions and examples, and the rest of the chapter is a series of exercises meant to help you discover algebraic concepts for yourself.

dorchadas 6y ago
This is what I started with, then I moved on to Dummit and Foote. It really did help as a build up.