Questions about the process of learning mathematics, both inside and outside a formal environment, including learning strategies, recommendations for learning particular subjects, and studying habits.
1
vote
1answer
34 views
How can I prepare effectively for this test?
I live in Australia and I will be doing my final high school mathematics test in 5 months from today. The test is about the following topics:
Differentiation and Integration and their applications ...
2
votes
2answers
67 views
learning/teaching approach to rigorous math with the goal of improving
I will state this now: yes, this is a subjective question. But I feel the answers people give may benefit students.
I want to get better at doing non trivial proofs. Real analysis is standard ...
1
vote
2answers
85 views
The maths required for an economics degree
I have a degree in computer science and I wanted to do another degree in economics.
However, my maths have been weak since high school always scoring slightly above passing rate. During my course of ...
2
votes
1answer
128 views
Looking for a math study/project-mate
I'm a math major and was wondering what to do over this summer, since I'm not going for any internships/have any fixated family agenda. I was thinking of working out a book, like Spivak, or work on a ...
4
votes
2answers
130 views
In what order should mathematical fields be learned? [closed]
This could be considered a broader version of this question, with all fields.
I know that when high-level maths are reached, the fields being to split quickly (i.e. specializing in this type of ...
3
votes
3answers
88 views
What math will I need in order to learn Microsoft's UProve?
I'm studying Microsoft's UProve (independent studies at 35 years old) and forget most of the Math I learned in college.
I intend to proceed and learn the contents of this chapter of this book but can ...
-2
votes
1answer
118 views
What branch of mathematics improves logical thinking? [closed]
So, that's the question. I dare to generalize it even wider: what branch of mathematics improves the general thinking ability, intilligence, the way the person thinks, and makes it more logical? I'm ...
6
votes
1answer
168 views
Is it better to learn math before physics?
It seems that a persons ability to understand physics at a high level is limited primarily by their understanding of math.
It also seems to be more efficient to learn the underlying math for a ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
How does one study with many textbooks?
Suppose you wanted a good understanding of a subject, and so you start reading a recommended textbook. But it turns out that the textbook you have has a different perspective/omits certain topics, ...
5
votes
2answers
228 views
How can I make sure I never forget.
I am currently refreshing my Elementary Algebra using Schaum's Outlines. I find them useful as they are choc full of exercises (Which I now realize is the only way to master algebra). I am worried ...
4
votes
2answers
134 views
Rigour vs intuition
Researcher David Tall has written in chapter one of Advanced Mathematical Thinking that
...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
Infinite series help
Are there any hard and fast rules for finding the sum of an infinite series? What suggestions would you have for someone new to learning them? Memorize identities? Also, what are the best resources ...
7
votes
0answers
75 views
Learning Aid for Basic Theorems of Topological Vector Spaces in Functional Analysis
I am self-teaching myself the basics of functional analysis (e.g. topological vector spaces), and frankly I am starting to get a migraine sorting out/organizing in my head all of the ...
15
votes
2answers
239 views
Do free online collaborative solution manuals exist?
I'm not a mathematician by training and a rarely come in contact with mathematicians. For this reason I find solution manuals to be incredibly useful - reading them allows me to see how experienced ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
From (almost) zero to knowledgeable in statistics
I work in (server) operations and it is not very uncommon for me to parse logs and try to make sense of some kind of metric. For some odd reason I have grown quite fond of it.
Assume that I have ...
5
votes
1answer
175 views
Philosophy of learning mathematics (combinatorics)
How does one learn mathematics in depth and well? I think I may be studying mathematics incorrectly, or I could be doing it a lot more efficiently/effectively. Sometimes I feel like I need every ...
2
votes
3answers
124 views
Where to pick up learning math again?
In high school, I absolutely loved math classes. I took Calc in 11th grade, and then since have done just about nothing with math.
Is there somewhere I go to see what math knowledge I still ...
5
votes
1answer
124 views
How to most efficently remedy mathematical deficencies
My spouse and I are currently both pursuing our undergraduate degrees. I'm major/minoring in Computer Science/Mathematical Sciences and my spouse is majoring in both Economics and Finance. I have ...
32
votes
6answers
863 views
Studying for the Putnam Exam
This is a question about studying for the Putnam examination (and, secondarily, other high-difficulty proof-based math competitions like the IMO). It is not about the history of the competition, the ...
60
votes
6answers
1k views
Best Sets of Lecture Notes and Articles
Let me start by apologizing if there is another thread on math.se that subsumes this.
I was updating my answer to the question here during which I made the claim that "I spend a lot of time sifting ...
4
votes
2answers
236 views
start mathematics from scratch
I'm sorry if this question goes against the site. I have completed my engineering in computer science; we were taught to get degrees only in our university :(.
I love mathematics but time passed ...
5
votes
1answer
209 views
What should I be doing in a grad level math course?
I have an undergrad degree in an engineering field and switched to applied math for a PhD. In engineering, I have had my share of good and bad professors but I knew what I had to be doing during a ...
1
vote
2answers
116 views
Math resources for electrical engineering?
I am considering electrical engineering as my field of study.
However, my math knowledge might not be as good as it should be.
What math books/resources would you recommend me to read?
2
votes
1answer
99 views
Study advice: The meaning of 'doing mathematics'
I am a former computer engineering student that switched to mathematics this semester. The only math I have is basic calculus and linear algebra, both thought in a "engineering way". Now I really want ...
5
votes
4answers
278 views
How do you rebuild your Math skills after college?
I minored in Math in college (B.S. Software Engineering), and went through advanced Calc, Differential Equations, etc. But about 6 months after I graduated I had lost all my formulas. Now, about 5 ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Flexible distance learning Mathematics programme
I am looking for a flexible Mathematics degree programme from a reputable institution.
By flexible here I mean:
Able to take the programme at one's own pace
The option to complete the programme at ...
8
votes
4answers
438 views
How can I explain topology to my grandmother?
I was recently look at a post on tex.stackexchange about explaining $\LaTeX$ to the OP's grandmother. I was wondering, could the same thing be done for topology? Except in this case the "grandmother" ...
2
votes
5answers
186 views
How to learn differentiation?
I am having a confusion in learning differentiation. Can you please point me to some video tutorials which explains differentiation basics clearly for beginners?
5
votes
2answers
167 views
How does one best balance learning from a “problem based book” with supplementary material?
We all know that when learning math, one has to do more than just simply read - one must try to solve problems and work actively with the material.
Many books try to force the reader to participate ...
1
vote
0answers
117 views
khan academy and learning
I want to finish all the exercises in the map from addition to differential calculus, I'd say I'm about half way done.
is there anything I should be aware of? What is khan academy missing?
say if i ...
1
vote
2answers
191 views
Studying Schedule [closed]
Currently I am studying, on my own, multivariate calculus, math statistical analysis, and physics. My question is, when you personally study multiple math and physics subjects, do you study a little ...
8
votes
3answers
122 views
Links to Online Videos of Good-Quality Lectures by Mathematicians
I am not trying to do anything new here, but I would like to start an activity that has been going on at Math Overflow. Hopefully, people here at the Math StackExchange can also enjoy the good stuff.
...
6
votes
1answer
151 views
Empirical distribution vs. the true one: How fast $KL( \hat{P}_n || Q)$ converges to $KL( P || Q)$?
Let $X_1,X_2,\dots$ be i.i.d. samples drawn from a discrete space $\mathcal{X}$ according to probability distribution $P$, and denote the resulting empirical distribution based on n samples by ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Exercise #26 from “Abel's Theorem in Problems and Solutions” by Alekseev
Exercise:
Prove, that for every element $a$ of the group:
$(a^m)^{-1}=(a^{-1})^m$, where $m$ is natural.
On the #23 was proven that
$$(a_1 \centerdot \ldots \centerdot a_n)^{-1} = a_n^{-1} ...
6
votes
2answers
166 views
How to 'analyze' problems in analysis; Computing $\int_0^{2\pi}\frac{1}{(a+b\cos(\theta))^2}d\theta$
If $a, b \in \mathbb{R}$ with $a > b > 0$, compute this ungodly thing;
$$\int_0^{2\pi}\frac{1}{(a+b\cos(\theta))^2}d\theta$$
I'm really not a fan of complex analysis... I can't visualize ...
5
votes
2answers
361 views
Intuition on the Orbit-Stabilizer Theorem
The Orbit-Stabilizer says that, given a group $G$ which acts on a set $X$, then there exists a bijection between the orbit of an element $x\in X$ and the set of left cosets of the stabilizer group of ...
23
votes
8answers
2k views
Math every mathematician should know [closed]
Sorry in advance if this question doesn't belong here. I know it walks the line of what kinds of questions should be asked, but I'm really interested in what the community here has to say on it. ...
34
votes
9answers
2k views
Is memory unimportant in doing mathematics?
The title says it all.
I often heard people say something like memory is unimportant in doing mathematics. However, when I tried to solve mathematical problems, I often used known theorems whose ...
117
votes
27answers
7k views
Too old to start math
I'm sorry if this question goes against the meta for posting questions - I attached all the "beware, this is a soft-question" tags I could.
This is a question I've been asking myself now for some ...
1
vote
0answers
52 views
How can I use the GAP (Groups, Algorithms, and Programming) [closed]
I have downloaded the win.zip(320MB) file from Here. I want to compute the cells in (affine) Weyl groups. According to the mannual, I should use the CHEVIE program. But I can't find any file nammed ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
Numeric synaesthesia: uses of and advice for learning math.
It turns out that my adolescent son might have numeric synaesthesia-- numbers have specific colors and possibly other distinguishing characteristics for him. He has shown that he can commit long ...
11
votes
4answers
592 views
How to Improve Mathematical Thinking and General Problem Solving Skills?
I'm a sophomore in university and seriously feel that I'm bad at solving mathematical and algorithmic problems (be it discrete math, calculus or just puzzles). I noticed that I'm only good at solving ...
1
vote
4answers
131 views
Which books /tutorials will be good for these topics for AI computer science student
I have found from the internet that I need to know these topics for understanding Artificial Intelligence:
Matrix algebra: most machine learning models are represented as matrices and vectors. ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
the nature of numbers?
I am currently relearning basic math - including; fractions, decimals and percentages. I am learning from various different sources, and what gets me is that they only teach math in forms of methods. ...
6
votes
5answers
356 views
Steps to Re-Learn Mathematic the right way
I was always branded weak mathematics back at school though i loved it. The reason was that I was not having many basics in maths. Due to this problem I stopped learning Maths after my 10th grade. But ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Noise sensitivity of Boolean functions
Is there any Boolean function from $\{-1,1\}^n$ to $\{-1,1\}$ such that whose noise sensitivity is greater than delta, where Delta is the probability of each bit is flipped in n-tupple.
20
votes
4answers
1k views
What are the dangers of visual exposition of mathematics?
I've heard several times (such as this one) that it's dangerous to learn/prove/teach mathematics through images. I've also read somewhere that showing mathematics through images helps one's intuition ...
62
votes
7answers
5k views
Tablet for reading textbooks and writing math by hand?
I am a math student. I'd like to find out if tablets (iPads, Galaxy Note 10.1) are worth the cost.
How good are tablets for the purposes of reading textbooks as PDF and writing mathematics with a ...
10
votes
4answers
595 views
Mathematics base for data mining and artificial intelligence algorithms. [closed]
Could you give me some clarification about data mining and artificial intelligence algorithms? What mathematics base they used for? Could you give me starting point, in mathematics, to understand ...
1
vote
0answers
314 views
Solution Manual Help or Hinder? [closed]
I am currently studying mathematics and I am getting conflicting opinions on whether referencing a solution manual when working on problems is a good thing or a bad thing. For examples in many problem ...
