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If you look for optimal you are going to spend more time looking for that textbook than learning. The optimal solution is to find a good enough textbook and st
by Frieren 2y ago
If you look for optimal you are going to spend more time looking for that textbook than learning.
The optimal solution is to find a good enough textbook and start as soon as possible to learn and tonstop procrastinating.
- magnio 2y agoYeah, this is it. A year ago if I tried to find the perfect textbook to learn Linear Algebra, I would still be looking. There are certainly good and bad textbooks, and a book good for many people might be unsuitable for your style, your goals, and your background. But there are plenty of good enough textbooks, trudging through any of them will yield far more benefits than getting that ideal book.
- blopker 2y agoIf you're still looking, Gilbert Strang makes the best introduction book I know of: https://math.mit.edu/~gs/linearalgebra/ila6/indexila6.html https://math.mit.edu/~gs/linearalgebra/ila6/indexila6.html
- plonk 2y agoI like that he leaves determinants to a later chapter and doesn't _start_ with them, I never understood why they were useful or made sense. His view, represented on the cover, is great for learning
- lupire 2y agoI don't understand the anti-determinant brigade. Many linear algebra books don't don't start with determinants.
- plonk 2y agoThey're fine where they are useful, I guess, but my undergrad put way too much emphasis on them when they're not intuitive, don't help (me) much with comprehension, and aren't useful in that many cases compared to the other techniques.
- zozbot234 2y ago> A year ago if I tried to find the perfect textbook to learn Linear Algebra, I would still be looking. You know, there is a textbook for Linear Algebra that's literally titled "Linear Algebra Done Right". It's pretty much what it says on the tin.
- apocadam 2y agoEqually there is also a text called "Linear Algebra Done Wrong"
- lupire 2y agoNot equally, better. It's intended as a book for learning the concepts of Linear Algebra intuitively and with some introductory rigor, before doing it "right" in a professional way.
- lupire 2y agoAnd it is strongly discouraged as a first book, by the author himself! https://linear.axler.net/ https://linear.axler.net/ > This best-selling textbook for a second course in linear algebra is aimed at undergraduate math majors and graduate students. > No prerequisites are assumed other than the usual demand for suitable mathematical maturity.
- ghostpepper 2y agoThis seems a false dichotomy to me. Surely the optimal solution would be to spend a few hours / days in the first week picking the textbook, then 51 weeks studying it, as opposed to literally picking the first one you see and studying it for 52 weeks.
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- mbivert 2y agoIt's a common issues with self-learners, mathematics or not: there is no perfect course out there, and switching from courses to courses can be wasteful. In my experience, focusing on a single, good-enough course (when in doubt, go for a famous/respected author/field contributor) and looking for other sources once in a while, has been the best approach.
- rochak 2y agoApplies the same to job search too. Find one that is good enough and then work from there for future prospects. Often, the definition of “good” changes over time as priorities in life change.
- ghostpepper 2y agoSort of related https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_problem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_problem
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- iamsaitam 2y agoAnd if you pick up the wrong one, you might just end up dropping the whole ordeal. It's not so black and white, it makes sense to spend a bit of time and figuring out a good resource. At the least you'll get a sense of the domain's main trunk of knowledge, get into the jargon, etc.
- lupire 2y agoIf you pick up one knowing you can try a different one, putting it down isn't dangerous.
- will1am 2y agoAn important principle in learning
- patrick451 2y agoWe do this with all demanding endeavours. Circling around the tactical perimeter is easier than knuckling down and getting it done. But it's close enough that we can fool ourselves into thinking we are being productive. Many examples: - It's easier to research the "best textbook for me" than it is to study and do problems. - It's easier to read about the optimal periodization cycle while sitting on the couch than it is to go sweat in gym. - It's easier to read about dieting (it must be the best diet for meee!) than it is to just stop ordering pizza. - It's easier to order business cards and redesign your logo than it is to find customers. - It's easier to fiddle with your vim config than it is sit down and write code. Unless you are already in top 10%, focusing on optimality is a distraction.