My first step to trying to understand an unfamiliar equation or proof is, if I am to have any hope of figuring it out, always breaking it down by term and opera

My first step to trying to understand an unfamiliar equation or proof is, if I am to have any hope of figuring it out, always breaking it down by term and operation and figuring out WTF each one means in context. Usually on paper. In normal words. Typically I end up turning it into something more "algorithmic" (OK, what happens as the value "passes through" this operation, and then on to this next one...). I'm 1000% useless at understanding equationally- or identity-focused writing, and have to both painstakingly decipher every term and translate it to something more algorithm-like before I can do anything more than stare at the page and drool. So... yes, I do think it would help if at least some of that were already done for me. As it is it takes so damn long that I don't bother unless I have a good reason.