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Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

math.cmu.edu

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Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#101

If I could read, and understand, a textbook like this in a day, I would be so happy. Alas, I must only look with longing at the links provided by HN, thinking wistfully 'someday...'

The key to learning Math in adult life, as I have found- setting aside 40-180 mintues every day to learn regularly.

It would be golden if you can create a study group that meets weekly. Just start a discord/Element room/Zulip/IRC chat and go from there.

I am learning Topology as an adult and learned Category Theory this way.

This truly works.

Setting aside time 4-5 days a week works. Make it a habit.

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#102
post #3

Beautifull! Is there similar book on physics?

I'd say the Feynman Lectures of Physics [1] volumes cover a broad base with some topics in great detail as well. [1]: https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/

No.

Feynman Lectures, to be properly understood requires one to be at least an advanced undergrad.

Most people just use it as home decor and many use it like a novel.

To properly appreciate the material, you need training in Physics. Otherwise you will be getting much less.

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#103
post #66

Does anyone know of an entry level book that could take someone through say, high school math to college alegbra / calculus? This is my singular biggest hurdle in going back to school to finish my degree and I'd love to fill the gaps I have around mathematics so I can not only finish my degree; I'd also like to participate in some more advanced computer science that rely heavily on underlying computation.

At Math Academy ( https://mathacademy.com ), we created a series of courses, Mathematical Foundations I, II, & III, that will take a student from basic arithmetic through calculus and prepare them for university-level courses like Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Probability & Statistics, etc. You can jump in at any with an adaptive diagnostic that will custom fit the course to you based on your individual str…

> our adaptive, AI-driven algorithms makes it the most efficient way to learn math that you're going to find

Can you elaborate on this? What do these algorithms do?

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#104
post #66

Does anyone know of an entry level book that could take someone through say, high school math to college alegbra / calculus? This is my singular biggest hurdle in going back to school to finish my degree and I'd love to fill the gaps I have around mathematics so I can not only finish my degree; I'd also like to participate in some more advanced computer science that rely heavily on underlying computation.

At Math Academy ( https://mathacademy.com ), we created a series of courses, Mathematical Foundations I, II, & III, that will take a student from basic arithmetic through calculus and prepare them for university-level courses like Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Probability & Statistics, etc. You can jump in at any with an adaptive diagnostic that will custom fit the course to you based on your individual str…

When I am ready to dive into this again, I will definitely look at this. I know I need concrete time dedicated to this sort of thing (repetition is the only way to master it really) but I'll circle back around to this soon!

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#105
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At Math Academy ( https://mathacademy.com ), we created a series of courses, Mathematical Foundations I, II, & III, that will take a student from basic arithmetic through calculus and prepare them for university-level courses like Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Probability & Statistics, etc. You can jump in at any with an adaptive diagnostic that will custom fit the course to you based on your individual str…

> our adaptive, AI-driven algorithms makes it the most efficient way to learn math that you're going to find Can you elaborate on this? What do these algorithms do?

Geez, I'm trying to figure out how to describe in a short paragraph or two what it would take a book to explain. Here's my best shot.

We've created an extensive knowledge graph representing all of mathematics (3,000 topics and counting) from 4th Grade Math up through our university-level material, and our algorithms traverse the graph to identify the optimal learning tasks to assign to the the student at any point based on their performance on previously completed learning tasks: diagnostics, lessons, reviews, quizzes, etc.

There are actually multiple graphs, including one that defines the direct prerequisite relationships between topics as well as one that describes encompassing relationships (e.g. the topic on Solving Two-step Linear Equations fully encompasses the topic on Solving One-step Linear Equations Using Multiplication), but there are other graphs as well.

In addition, the algorithms have to deal with spaced repetition, which is vastly more complicated to sort out within the context of a hierarchical knowledge structure with both full and partial encompassings. (Without encompassing relationships, the backlog of reviews would quickly slow progress to a crawl).

We actually have some deep-dive writeup in the works that attempt to explain how all of this works at a level that will be accessible to most people, but it's more than I can describe here, unfortunately.

Anyway, I hope this helps a little.

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Check out Kahn Academy, they have a gamified course to guide you through the equivalent of a high school and early college math curriculum. AFAIK it's free?

Specifically these three courses [0][1][2] will take you from basic algebra to precalc. They're very thorough and I've found them extremely useful in upgrading my high school level math skills. I have heard that their calculus courses aren't sufficient though, and that it should be learned from somewhere else. [0] https://www.khanacademy.org/math/math1 [1] https://www.khanacademy.org/math/math2 [2] https://www.khanac…

Would you recommend this path over doing the Algebra 1 -> Geometry -> Algebra 2 …. etc path?

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#107

Does anyone know of an entry level book that could take someone through say, high school math to college alegbra / calculus? This is my singular biggest hurdle in going back to school to finish my degree and I'd love to fill the gaps I have around mathematics so I can not only finish my degree; I'd also like to participate in some more advanced computer science that rely heavily on underlying computation.

I absolutely adore the works of John Bird: https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Jo...

it really takes you from the ground up all the way to advanced subjects. He published multiple books on various levels of mathematics.

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#108

I love the style, I'll download it when I get home. Is there anything similar but for statistics?

Came here to ask the same question. Really hope there are some good recommendations!

If you search this post for "statistics", you find several recommendations (over similar books):

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/xg3hXCYQPJkwHyik2/the-best-t...

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#109
post #5

Judging by the URL, this book was used for CMU's 15-151 / 21-128, which is a first-semester course for CS and math undergrads. Nowadays, the course uses [0]. [0] https://infinitedescent.xyz/

https://infinitedescent.xyz/dl/infdesc.pdf

Re: Everything you always wanted to know about mathematics (2013) [pdf]

#110

One thing I've always wanted is a comprehensive guide to mathematical notation, which tells you what symbols mean or at least what field of mathematics they come from. I frequently come across all sorts of weird mathematical symbols in papers, and of course these symbols are virtually never explained, so I have no idea what they mean. Even better would be if there was some way an LLM could read through a paper itself…

RE: math symbols Check out this excerpt of definitions of basic math notation I use in my books: https://minireference.com/static/excerpts/set_notation.pdf It has some examples of the "alien symbols" ∀ (for all), ∃ (there exists), etc. One problem (feature?) of math notation is that paper authors don't follow a consistent convention for symbols, so what you're asking might not even be possible... It doesn't help that…

One thing I love about programmers is that they rarely use complex symbols. They are the complete opposite to mathematicians in this regard. Basically all programming languages consist just of ASCII keywords. So when in doubt about some keyword, you can just use Google and type it in. Together with the name of the language.

I guess symbols look fancier and are more concise.

Also, mathematicians do love their PDFs. No doubt because it supports their beloved symbols so well. Of course PDFs are terrible for the Web and screens in general, but only a programmer would care about that.

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