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Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

neilwithdata.com

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Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#81

Post by cammikebrown »

thorn wrote: post #76

I am always astonished to learn that there are such self-learners in the world. I wonder how it is even possible to have a family and spend whole day building a startup - I cannot imagine that startup work is less than 8 hours a day - and then at evening they learn math or other complicated branch of science. What time and more especially how much energy they have for the family? Are these guys superhumans? I never w…

Not everyone is at a startup. I’m a bartender with a physics degree who’s learning more math in my spare time for fun, and to eventually switch to some sort of data science career if I tire of bartending.

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#82

Post by strls »

injb wrote: post #30
gavinray wrote: post #6

I know this is going to be the case for likely nobody, but I have browsed most of the self-study math threads that pop up here as a forever-on-my-todo-list thing and I have a remark to make: I have yet to find a guide that does not start with the assumption that you graduated highschool. That is a very reasonable assumption to make. We are in a community of technology and engineering, it would be a bit ridiculous to…

I won't repeat the good suggestions already made, but I'll add this: find a set of the Open University MST124 text books. The OU publishes their own maths books, which are specially written for self-study (since that's your only option with the OU) and their courses generally assume very little or no previous knowledge. There's an even more basic course (MST123 I think) if that one is too advanced. These are serious…

I'm studying for a Math BSc with the OU and I think their books are great. They are designed for 100% self-study and are polished over the years. The range of topics in level 1 math courses such as MST124 or MST125 is huge, while keeping the appropriate level of difficulty.

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#83

Post by FranzFerdiNaN »

thorn wrote: post #76

I am always astonished to learn that there are such self-learners in the world. I wonder how it is even possible to have a family and spend whole day building a startup - I cannot imagine that startup work is less than 8 hours a day - and then at evening they learn math or other complicated branch of science. What time and more especially how much energy they have for the family? Are these guys superhumans? I never w…

I have my doubts that the people who write these kinds of posts truly did everything they say. As you say, it just does not seem possible to thoroughly work through all those math books + raising multiple kids + maintain friendships + working out daily (as he claimed he did) + work full time + things like cleaning and shopping and other chores.

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#84

Post by elric »

OJFord wrote: post #66
gavinray wrote: post #6

I know this is going to be the case for likely nobody, but I have browsed most of the self-study math threads that pop up here as a forever-on-my-todo-list thing and I have a remark to make: I have yet to find a guide that does not start with the assumption that you graduated highschool. That is a very reasonable assumption to make. We are in a community of technology and engineering, it would be a bit ridiculous to…

> (Also, curse the Greeks for not using more idiomatic variables. ∑ would never pass code review, what an entirely unreadable identifier) S for Sum, T for Total, N for Number, I for Index, etc. might though.

Not everyone speaks English. It's nice to keep that in mind when naming things in the universal language that is maths. S, T, N might make sense in some languages but not others. More greek would at least level the playing field or something.

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#85

Post by polyphonicist »

strls wrote: post #82
injb wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I won't repeat the good suggestions already made, but I'll add this: find a set of the Open University MST124 text books. The OU publishes their own maths books, which are specially written for self-study (since that's your only option with the OU) and their courses generally assume very little or no previous knowledge. There's an even more basic course (MST123 I think) if that one is too advanced. These are serious…

I'm studying for a Math BSc with the OU and I think their books are great. They are designed for 100% self-study and are polished over the years. The range of topics in level 1 math courses such as MST124 or MST125 is huge, while keeping the appropriate level of difficulty.

Which university, if you don't mind me asking?

Can you share the names of the textbooks?

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#86

Post by chrischattin »

I love stuff like this. I graduated with an MS and never understood Calc II+. It was always memorization and repeating various theorems etc on the test. But, I didn't truly grok the fundamentals. I was just a good test taker and it bothers me to this day. So, learning math has been a continuing project of mine and things like this are beautiful.

So grateful. The world is wide open to the self learner in this day and age.

We are very lucky.

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#87

Post by EliRivers »

polyphonicist wrote: post #85
strls wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm studying for a Math BSc with the OU and I think their books are great. They are designed for 100% self-study and are polished over the years. The range of topics in level 1 math courses such as MST124 or MST125 is huge, while keeping the appropriate level of difficulty.

Which university, if you don't mind me asking? Can you share the names of the textbooks?

The OU; the Open University. It's a British university founded sixty or so years ago with the intent of widening access to higher education. Their campus is centred in Milton Keynes, a bit north of London.

I took a Masters in Maths with them and it was brutal. Serious exams are a youngster's game. I got a glimpse into why so many Cambridge wranglers were also serious atheletes.

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#88

Post by gfxgirl »

mnyary wrote: post #41
injb wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I won't repeat the good suggestions already made, but I'll add this: find a set of the Open University MST124 text books. The OU publishes their own maths books, which are specially written for self-study (since that's your only option with the OU) and their courses generally assume very little or no previous knowledge. There's an even more basic course (MST123 I think) if that one is too advanced. These are serious…

It seems that the more basic course is Discovering mathematics (MU123). http://mathschoices.open.ac.uk/mu123

https://students.open.ac.uk/openmark/mct.level3/

> Question 1: Sara wants to buy a desk before she starts her Open University course. She has chosen a suitable place for it but needs to measure the space before going to buy it.

> Which of these units is the most suitable for measuring the width of the desk? (a) millimetres, (b) metres, (c) centimetres, (d) kilometres.

Seems pretty arbitrary to me. Okay (d) is arguably out. (b) is maybe out? (c) vs (d) seems a toss up to me. Who cares if it's 1234mm or 123.4cm? How is this even a good question? Not a good sign

Note: the answer they want is (a). I don't think I have a tape measure I could get accurate millimeters on especially given measuring a space where I need to bend the tape at 90 degrees like next to a wall.

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#89

Post by noelwelsh »

polyphonicist wrote: post #85
strls wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm studying for a Math BSc with the OU and I think their books are great. They are designed for 100% self-study and are polished over the years. The range of topics in level 1 math courses such as MST124 or MST125 is huge, while keeping the appropriate level of difficulty.

Which university, if you don't mind me asking? Can you share the names of the textbooks?

OU = Open University. It's a UK distance learning university. Website is at https://www.open.ac.uk/

The courses the comments refer to are the level 1 courses listed here: http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/maths/all-modules

The text books are the texts for these courses. I don't know if you can get the books from OU without registering for the courses.

Re: Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner

#90

Post by imjasonmiller »

rustybolt wrote: post #70
puritanicdev wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in the same shoes, and as ridiculous as it sounds but I've been in programming (self-taught) for 10 years now without an especially good knowledge of math. I've been slacking in HS on math classes, despite the fact that I loved math and was really good once I sat to listen, practice and understand the material. Also, I'm painfully aware of the fact that my math is really bad and that I'm missing on utilizing it i…

What is an example where you missed mathematical knowledge to do your job? Honestly curious, I never needed any math during programming for my job.

In my case, having to write WebGL shaders required me to brush up on mathematical concepts, but I very much enjoy being granted the opportunity to learn about those things.
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