Questions tagged [self-learning]

Questions about how someone learns on their his or her own, outside of traditional classroom environments.

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5 answers
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Should I really just "shut up and calculate"? On learning at a good pace without sacrificing rigour

This question is about getting realistic expectations for how a university student actually does and should learn maths. I'm becoming increasingly suspicious that my approach is detrimental, but I don'...
FShrike's user avatar
  • 458
2 votes
1 answer
180 views

Rediscovering euqation of line [closed]

I am studying (self learner) linear equations/equation of line and my idea is to discover the equations myself rather than try and understand ready-made equations available in text books. I am using X-...
Ashish Shukla's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
622 views

Is Morris Kline's 'Calculus: An Intuitive and Physical Approach' a Good Book to Learn Calculus From ?'

Would I have to read a standard textbook in addition -- i.e., Stewart, etc. -- or would this be sufficient ? My interest is in applications (dynamical systems theory and physics in general).The book ...
user2676187's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
215 views

Relearning math after long COVID using AoPS or developmental math textbooks?

This is a little bit of a niche topic. I've dealt with a pretty bad dose of long COVID that has caused some serious gaps in my mathematics (basically causing terrible arithmetic skills and a really ...
MichaelLink's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
119 views

On doing scientific research [closed]

What I want to ask is: can I use the results of others when doing scientific research, whether it is math, physics or other science, without trying to prove them myself or try to verify them? For ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
-1 votes
1 answer
236 views

Learning, exams, math degree

I have only passed the one fourth of my courses so far, which means like one year of the maths undergraduate studies. I live in a different place from where the university i study at is and try to ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
4 votes
1 answer
86 views

Research Into Self-Learning at Undergraduate Level and Above

My motivation for this question is personal. I'm a software engineer and I study mathematical logic as a hobby. Subjectively, it feels like I make the most progress after asking a question on the Math ...
Greg Nisbet's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
745 views

How can I internalize solutions/proofs to theorems and exercises?

In particular, my question is about abstract mathematics such as group theory, analysis, topology, etc. where most textbooks are filled with exercises which require proof, and how to go about ...
pyridoxal_trigeminus's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
295 views

How do you know when a textbook is too difficult for you?

Not sure if this is more appropriate for here or for Math.SE, but here goes: How does one who is self-studying mathematics determine if a textbook is too hard for you? Math is hard in general, but ...
pyridoxal_trigeminus's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
350 views

The Interleaving Effect: How widely is this used?

I came across the idea of mixed up practice in Benedict Carey's book, How We Learn, in a chapter on the benefits of interleaving, particularly for learning Maths. For instance, in "blocked ...
Stephen Clement's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
120 views

Problem solving and independent scientific research [closed]

Is analogy a way to solve problems when doing research in math and physics? Is it very important?How important is it? Could i do independent scientific research on some open problems perhaps having ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
11 votes
4 answers
440 views

For students who don't have instant recall with basic arithmetic, should I be stubborn about training them to have instant recall before moving on?

I'm a maths tutor, and my students/tutees are aged $11 - 18.$ Obviously I have limited time with students, usually one hour per week. Moreover, if parents don't see improvement over a year or two they ...
Adam Rubinson's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
842 views

Walter Warwick Sawyer: How has reading his works changed your learning or teaching? [closed]

I recently worked my way through Walter Warwick Sawyer's book, Mathematician's Delight, which has opened my eyes to Maths. I used to fear maths, feeling I was incapable. Sawyer (among other authors) ...
Stephen Clement's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
164 views

How to study for a mathematics undergraduate entrance examination?

TL;DR: Tell me which topics should i study the most, based on this three tests: Mathematics (A): 2020 2019 2018 This question may sound a bit weird, since the natural answer would be "study ...
Carlos's user avatar
  • 39
3 votes
2 answers
270 views

How to understand the book and the material to the deepest possible level?

I'm a first year mathematics major and I have a problem with my learning process. In my university, I only have books and questions that the university published, so I have to learn the most of the ...
newmathstudent123123's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
214 views

Abstract math, examples and understanding or visualising

After reading some papers about special kinds of algebras and rings like Gorenstein rings, Dickson algebras, Cayley-Dickson construction, i want to ask do examples of general abstract objects in math ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
0 votes
0 answers
92 views

Problem solving approach to learning and psychology

I try to have a problem solving approach to learning math. What i mean by this is if someone sets some questions or problems regarding the material i am reading how should i answer or what questions ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
4 votes
2 answers
220 views

How do you study subjects you're not that interested in

I'm an undergraduate who doesn't find analysis particularly interesting, but I'm taking a calculus on manifolds course next semester, so I'm reviewing measure and integration theory since my grasp on ...
Obamafish's user avatar
  • 141
1 vote
1 answer
204 views

Math outside of undergraduate studies and proofs

I read sometimes mathematical works of others outside my undergraduate studies. I think i can not follow the understanding of the proofs of theorems sometimes. What should i do? Should i read other ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
1 vote
1 answer
461 views

Best books for mathematical statistics self-study?

I'm hoping to start a masters in mathematics in the fall, and am hoping to find a good book on mathematical statistics to study so that I'll be able to take graduate level mathematical statistics once ...
blakedylanmusic's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
1k views

How long would it take someone to master the topics in the book "Book of Proof" by Hammack and similar?

If someone never had any experience with mathematical proofs and had only classes like Calc I-III (which he passed, without paying any attention to the proofs present in the textbooks), how long would ...
a a's user avatar
  • 153
5 votes
4 answers
480 views

Doctorate and examples of difficult solved problems

Okay. My questions are: How do some people do doctorates in mathematics and spend so much time like three to six years trying to answer one or two open problems? How do they have the patience, ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
2 votes
1 answer
369 views

Solving math problems and learning

Should i solve math problems by writing the answers to papers or notebooks with pencils or should i try solving them in my head at undergraduate studies at university? Also, sometimes after learning ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
2 votes
0 answers
96 views

How to make progress as an independent student?

In recent times, I have been studying mathematics (topics related to mathematical logic, more specifically) independently and I feel a great deal of passion about it. However, although I have made ...
ale64bit's user avatar
  • 121
12 votes
6 answers
5k views

Dealing with disagreeable students and not compromising

I act as a tutor sometimes for students who are self-studying undergraduate-level math. Most of the students have already earned an undergraduate degree in something and some of the students are PhDs ...
E2R0NS's user avatar
  • 303
-3 votes
1 answer
86 views

Abstract math and making proofs

What is abstract math about? I think we can not visualise probably what we read. Or can we? I am talking about the theorems, definitions and proofs in areas of math like Riemannian geometry, ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
1 vote
1 answer
126 views

Analysis of math and its elements

Can anything in math ultimately be analysed into symbols, equations, formulas, with as exeption perhaps the Euclidean geometry we know with triangles,straight lines etc? Can also proofs, definitions ...
plants's user avatar
  • 159
5 votes
5 answers
3k views

Is Calculus Made Easy by Silvanus P. Thompson a good book for first-time calculus learners?

Specifically the one updated by Martin Gardner. I'm not studying as part of a high school or college course (I, in the near future, will though) just as a personal project.
LostPositron's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
247 views

Highly intuitive yet comprehensive and easily readable (student friendly) book on linear algebra which do not focus much on applications, just basics

I came to know about Gilbert Strang's two books, "Introduction to Linear Algebra" and "Linear Algebra and its Applications". The first is the one used as the text in the 18.06 ...
Abhishek Ghosh's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
477 views

Study multiple subjects at the same time or deep dive into one?

I want to learn probability theory and discrete math. However, I also need to brush up on computational calculus and linear algebra. Would you recommend only studying one subject at a more intense ...
vmusegameon's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
202 views

An intuitive (non rigorous) text book on graph theory which is student friendly with vivid illustrations

Background Hello, I am an undergraduate in CS. I would like to study Graph Theory on my own (self-study) for a competitive examination (named GATE). It is an examination for undergraduates and as such,...
Abhishek Ghosh's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
368 views

Should I do all the proof practice problems in How to Prove It, an intro to proofs book?

Like the title says. I am self studying intro to proofs(How to prove it by velleman) so I can start an introduction to analysis. I am wondering if I should complete all the exercises in the textbook(...
vmusegameon's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
80 views

Is there any video lecture series on (UG level) graph theory (might not be specific on any books) but the video/content quality is like that of MIT?

Previously I had asked a question about something similar, but more constrained. But now I ask something more general. I just got hold of the Linear Algebra by Prof Gilbert of MIT and they are just ...
Abhishek Ghosh's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
301 views

Self study curriculum for a working professional who is enthusiastic about mathematics

I had some mathematics education during my high school and Electrical Engineering studies, but I never used any of them during my career as a software professional. Now I am again coming across Linear ...
senseiwu's user avatar
  • 151
5 votes
2 answers
388 views

How to reduce tilting when going over drills?

Tilt originated as a poker term for a state of mental or emotional confusion or frustration in which a player adopts a less than optimal strategy, usually resulting in the player becoming over-...
tryst with freedom's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
597 views

Is there any video lecture series on Graph Theory which uses "Introduction to Graph Theory" by Douglas West? as the text

I am interested in learning graph theory, and from many resources I came to know that Douglas West's Introduction to Graph Theory is a good textbook. But since I am doing self-study, it is at times ...
Abhishek Ghosh's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
156 views

Self-study: how much should we try to figure out material on our own before studying from a textbook?

We can spend a lot of time thinking of material which we have basics for without ever studying the original ideas from a textbook, for example, once one has finished regular derivatives, it is pretty ...
tryst with freedom's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
267 views

Mnemonics to correlate the definition of "asymmetric relation" and "antisymmetric relation" with the terms [closed]

The definitions from Kenneth Rosen textbook are as : A relation $R$ on a set $A$ such that for all $a,b ∈ A$ ,if $(a,b) ∈ R$ and $(b,a) ∈ R$,then $a=b$ is called antisymmetric. A relation $R$ on a ...
Abhishek Ghosh's user avatar
9 votes
6 answers
1k views

Statistics, for the mathematically rigorous

I don't know where I can find a rigorous statistics course or textbook. The closest thing I can think of is measure-theoretic probability theory, but I wouldn't really call that "statistics"....
John Clever's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
415 views

Looking for a rigorous middle school self-study math course

My son is in 5th grade (US) and since he is doing remote learning, we have been doing a lot of topics in pre-algebra just using worksheets. I'd like to start him on a formal middle school curriculum, ...
rbp's user avatar
  • 363
1 vote
1 answer
124 views

Questions relating to inclusion-exclusion principle [closed]

Today I came across the inclusion-exclusion principle for the first time. I believe I have understood it, however when I tried solving some questions on it, I got severely stuck. I couldn't solve any ...
Michael's user avatar
  • 113
2 votes
2 answers
193 views

What should be the bare minimum wrong answer threshold when self studying a math text?

I'm currently self studying a Linear Algebra text book due to the fact that I forgot the vast majority of it since I took the course 10 years ago. My general strategy is to take every single example, ...
Ruined's user avatar
  • 23
1 vote
2 answers
239 views

Where can I find a good course on tensor calculus not focused on applications and physics?

Where can I find a good course on tensor/ricci calculus not focused on applications and physics? I've been running into lots of tensor-theoretic stuff in differential geometry, so I don't know if ...
John Clever's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
230 views

Learning strategies for high volume/pace learning?

Background: I am a graduate student in a mid-tier U.S. university, and I am struggling. I feel like I during my undergrad, I haven't aquired the neccesary skills to keep up with the high volume/pace ...
Tobi's user avatar
  • 41
7 votes
3 answers
918 views

How to structure undergraduate level private lessons?

I'm on a semester break and thankfully I was recently provided with an opportunity to hire any private teacher I like to learn even more math while on break. However, I don't really know how to ...
average math enjoyer's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
213 views

Would the SMSG textbooks provide adequate extracurricular study?

Context: I'm a Grade 11 IBDP student and very fond of math. Assuming that I get the spare time to self-study material alongside the syllabus, I wish to spend it constructively (the only step I've ...
Soyuz42's user avatar
  • 111
9 votes
2 answers
611 views

Fear of notation and hazily-appeared writing in Mathematics

I am looking for literature related to fear of notation in mathematics. It is even heard that the font size and font type make a reader reluctant to study mathematical literature, often lecture notes,...
Consider Non-Trivial Cases's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
396 views

Introductory book or other resource on $p$-adic numbers/number theory/analysis

I am having problems understanding $p$-adic numbers/$p$-adic number theory/$p$-adic analysis. I have tried some notes on the internet, but these notes were not helpful. Can anyone suggest a book, ...
Consider Non-Trivial Cases's user avatar
21 votes
8 answers
7k views

How do I learn advanced mathematics without forgetting?

I am pursuing mathematics through distance education and I find that it takes me a long time to understand the concepts (e.g. sigma fields, measure theory, connected topological spaces, etc.). After I ...
user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
269 views

What are the resources to learn prerequisite knowledge to latter High school and undergrad prep textbooks?

I use textbook study and am planning on studying Spivak's Calculus, Mathematics It's Content, Methods, and Meaning, How to Prove it by Velleman, etc. However, I'm worried I lack the prerequisite ...
Dirac Academy of Self Study's user avatar