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Relearning math as an adult

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Re: Relearning math as an adult

#161

Post by zelphirkalt »

hiAndrewQuinn wrote: post #119

About a year ago my wife and I made the joint decision to get her into college for a bachelor's degree in either English or computer science. Here in Finland, university admissions are based around how well you did on various end of school exams, and she fortunately did quite well on all of them a decade ago - except for math. She bombed math due to health and family problems as a teenager decimating her ability to p…

It is truly amazing, what some people can do, when they are enabled. Now imagine, if somehow we could get this for more people, as a society, not just on a partner/SO level. How much more human potential we could unlock.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#162

Post by zelphirkalt »

mjburgess wrote: post #117

The "math" used in ML/AI papers is usually just a sort of 'whiteboard math' which is a domain-specific mishmash of linear algebra, calculus, set theory and statistics. If you could find a book just going through the relevant bits you wouldnt really have to "learn math again", it can be translated into english straightforwardly -- very very few ML papers relevant to industry have extended proofs, etc. that require eg.…

While I think, that you may be right, that most papers are not about proofs, and that higher math is mostly about proofs, I still think it is math and important math at that. Perhaps it is a link in the chain between mathematics and engineering skills.

The proof centered math is indeed the difficult one. I struggled with a lot at university and was completely unprepared for that finishing school. So I think I have a good idea about the difference in difficulty.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#163

Post by coderedart »

I will recommend a couple great channels for Math:

1. https://www.youtube.com/@SawFinMath : She is a great Professor that walks through problems/solutions one step at a time, so that you can follow along. Has a bunch of Under Graduate course playlists like discrete math, calculus, (abstract or linear) algebra, statistics. highly recommended for the great pacing and solving a lot of problems live.

2. https://mathispower4u.com/ : Another professor who takes an open math textbook (free), and makes a course out of it. Its a little bit more difficult because of denser "pure math" material, but in return, you basically cover everything that a college usually would. He has courses like discrete math, calculus, graph theory, trigonometry, statistics, algebra, geometry etc. Also solves a lot of problems live.

I haven't really tried it, but apparently there is https://www.myopenmath.com/index.php which is sort of like exercism in that you follow along a textbook and solve problems. If someone has tried this, maybe they can share their experience.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#164

Post by dghughes »

baq wrote: post #128
hiAndrewQuinn wrote: post #119

About a year ago my wife and I made the joint decision to get her into college for a bachelor's degree in either English or computer science. Here in Finland, university admissions are based around how well you did on various end of school exams, and she fortunately did quite well on all of them a decade ago - except for math. She bombed math due to health and family problems as a teenager decimating her ability to p…

> set her nose to the grindstone Worth calling out the key observation: it takes practice, and lots of it (for most people, anyway) to get good at math. Just reading about it does zilch.

Exactly. I'm not a programmer because I don't program. I can't play guitar because I don't play guitar. I can't speak another language because I don't practice one. It sounds obvious but doing the thing you want to do is critical to doing it.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#165

Post by dghughes »

jorgesborges wrote: post #28

I’m a thirty-something with an arts degree who decided to learn math. Basically I was tired of reading popular science and being fed metaphors to understand concepts. I wanted to “see” it for myself. I spent time online at Khan Academy and friends for a year or so on and off. It was fine but meandering? So I enrolled in community college! It’s great. I have a clearer path, immediate feedback, teachers, and an obligat…

> It was fine but meandering?

I think that's a good point you sound like me I need to be pushed. I sued to read a lot of magazines and books on all kinds of subjects. Then came the Internet it has everything available but for me structure is missing.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#166

Post by coolness »

hiAndrewQuinn wrote: post #119

About a year ago my wife and I made the joint decision to get her into college for a bachelor's degree in either English or computer science. Here in Finland, university admissions are based around how well you did on various end of school exams, and she fortunately did quite well on all of them a decade ago - except for math. She bombed math due to health and family problems as a teenager decimating her ability to p…

Great story and I'm sure the new math chops help her a lot during her studies.

In case anyone else is interested, it is possible to study computer science without any entrance exams due to the Digital Education for All initivative (https://www.helsinki.fi/fi/projektit/digital-education-all in Finnish, sorry). You get the full study right after completing 60 credits (out of a total 180 credits) worth of courses in the first year.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#167

Post by jimhefferon »

dghughes wrote: post #164
baq wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> set her nose to the grindstone Worth calling out the key observation: it takes practice, and lots of it (for most people, anyway) to get good at math. Just reading about it does zilch.

Exactly. I'm not a programmer because I don't program. I can't play guitar because I don't play guitar. I can't speak another language because I don't practice one. It sounds obvious but doing the thing you want to do is critical to doing it.

It seems not to be entirely obvious to the students in my classroom. Today second day of the semester, job one is to explain that they need to have a notebook. They need to write in the notebook. And they need to do the homework in the notebook. They seem not to know that, many of them.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#168

Post by lifeinthevoid »

I'm a 38yo male and was (in my high school at least) some math prodigy. But hormones got in the way, I wasn't a great student at university and decided to study economics. I have a pretty good job at a well-known software company but it still itches to do something with my talent. My dream right now is to become a Math professor. I'm really considering starting a Math degree at my local university and see where it takes me. If I'm just mediocre or even bad, or don't enjoy it, I'll stop pursuing it, but if I'm great than I really hope to get a kick out of it and just keep going.

I've kept my Math skills a bit up to date, so I won't have to overcome a 20 year pause. I've got some cash to keep me going for a couple of years, but would need a plan to generate money in meanwhile, that's what's holding me back somewhat at the moment.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#169

Post by imetatroll »

larodi wrote: post #144

I feel like the author, and did like the author for like year now. And I know lots of people feel this way, and we're telling each other to like "learn math, man, coding is something LLMs be doin in 10 years". Indeed, these ML/AI papers are indeed full of cryptic writing, but in essence they are not so difficult compared to like... understanding what a FSM is and how to produce a minimal automata it from regex (hey M…

Do "current gen" llms use Markov Chains? I have been wanting to look into trying to understand this stuff but I honestly don't know where to begin.

I guess I should clarify that I prefer being able to purchase textbooks or use free online sources.

Re: Relearning math as an adult

#170

Post by zethsg »

hiAndrewQuinn wrote: post #119

About a year ago my wife and I made the joint decision to get her into college for a bachelor's degree in either English or computer science. Here in Finland, university admissions are based around how well you did on various end of school exams, and she fortunately did quite well on all of them a decade ago - except for math. She bombed math due to health and family problems as a teenager decimating her ability to p…

I would love to know more about the study process you followed and resources because my wife is in a very similar situation, but here in Norway where they require her Math R1+R2. Great story, and congratulations!
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