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Learning mathematics outside of a mathematics curriculum at a university is difficult, largely due to the fact that in higher level math classes, the professors
by Bahamut 12y ago
Learning mathematics outside of a mathematics curriculum at a university is difficult, largely due to the fact that in higher level math classes, the professors become more like mentors - their aim is to guide you to approach problem solving with the right intuitions, and to prevent the all too easy rabbit hole of getting caught up in one approach to oblivion.
No text can provide you with this sort of benefit.
I came into software engineering after leaving research level mathematics. What I have found is that there are no shortcuts around investing a massive amount of time reading textbooks and trying to solve problems/figure out proofs. The time investment itself is what bakes the knowledge into your head.
This probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but at least do weigh these thoughts in.
- trcollinson 12y agoActually that's a brilliant answer! I absolutely believe that in order to really succeed in mathematics one must pay their dues in time. You put it exceptionally well. My thoughts of the day is, would it be possible to mentor people through this process online. I quite often tutor my university age son, his friends, my neighborhood kids, and colleagues in single variable calculus level math. I was looking around and couldn't find a lot of resources online to really teach math. Sure there is text and simple explanation, even some courses like MIT opencourseware and such. But nothing that really replicates the experience of learning math, if that makes sense. And now, in fact, it does make sense. Because it lacks the mentorship of a university professor. Now the question is, does: is a good University classroom the only way to get that level of mentorship?