Mathematical Methods for Physics [pdf] • Hacker News Board

Re: Mathematical Methods for Physics [pdf]

#41

Post by panda-giddiness » Sun, Mar 23, 2025, 9:52 AM UTC

toogan wrote: post #8

paulpauper wrote: post #3

We're in something of an autodidacticism boom. I have yet to see anyone, in years, actually become proficient at college-level math/physics without formal instruction, just by doing self-study with tutorials like pdfs and videos. There will always be major knowledge gaps or roadblocks/impasses of understanding, like notation or clarification needed. This is not to say it cannot be done but I have to see anyone do it.

The key ingredient in a formal course is the formal examination. Be it graded exercises or a written or oral exam. It forces studying at a level where you can reproduce and explain the key concepts and results and apply them to something new. In theory one can do that also with self-study. Most people don't, they just watch some youtube video or read a Wikipedia page, and then they think they have understood somethin…

Just to add some more motivation: in a typical physics undergraduate curriculum, you will spend roughly as much time doing homework as attending lectures. If you skip the exercises, you are quite literally skipping half of the education.

Re: Mathematical Methods for Physics [pdf]

#42

Post by fsloth » Sun, Mar 23, 2025, 12:19 PM UTC

paulpauper wrote: post #10

fsloth wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

”but I have to see anyone do it” This is a strange take. Why or how would you ever see someone do it? It is very unlikely you would be aware of them. I do concur most ppl I’ve seen lacking formal education in physics - no matter how smart - do have some gaps in their knowledge. There seems to be something of a tacit knowledge transfer involved - but I have no clue what it is. Maybe physicists radiate physics particle…

Posts by Susan Fowler "so you want to self-study math/physics" have gone hugely viral here and I have yet to see anyone in the comments or later report that they actually became really good after following her tutorial. Same for any other tutorial or guide or self-study overall. maybe one blogger whose name eludes me but extremely rare. This is a strange take. How is it strange? What you meant to say is you disagree.

> What you meant to say is you disagree.

No, I meant what I wrote.

In general there are 8+ billion people on the planet, of which some number are trying to autodidact through MSc physics equivalent. It’s possible you are in a circumstances where you engage with lot of autodidacts, but I personally have no model how you could do that (unless you are a tutor which ofc you may be!).

I’m also guessing most autodidacts arent observable through the internet.

I may be totally wrong of course!

Re: Mathematical Methods for Physics [pdf]

#43

Post by MikePlacid » Sun, Mar 23, 2025, 6:30 PM UTC

uoaei wrote: post #26

ezconnect wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there's a method to feel the pressure of classroom test or the requirement of finishing a project would really help home DIY learning.

Unfortunately it's really hard to put the same kind of accountability on yourself compared to that of a professor gatekeeping an accredited degree. Personally, arbitrary goals don't really motivate me as the acknowledgment of its arbitrariness overrides any pursuit of reward.

It’s entirely possible that creating a brain capable of controlling itself is more costly (in an evolutionary sense, measured by the number of generations needed to achieve this goal) than equipping a brain with the ability to check itself by communicating with others.

Nevertheless, some brains lack even that ability, gravitating instead toward echo chambers where everyone shares the same views, so no mutual checks are possible.

Re: Mathematical Methods for Physics [pdf]

#44

Post by jhanschoo » Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 3:37 PM UTC

bokoharambe wrote: post #34

paulpauper wrote: post #3

We're in something of an autodidacticism boom. I have yet to see anyone, in years, actually become proficient at college-level math/physics without formal instruction, just by doing self-study with tutorials like pdfs and videos. There will always be major knowledge gaps or roadblocks/impasses of understanding, like notation or clarification needed. This is not to say it cannot be done but I have to see anyone do it.

I am currently coasting through a mathematics undergraduate degree after having taught myself how to do proofs using a proof assistant. The last barrier to autodidacticism in mathematics is overcome with them, because one no longer needs direct contact with the mathematical community via academia to learn the techniques used (at the undergraduate level.)

I don't think the math libraries for proof assistants are good enough to support undergrad math very well, but they may be occasionally useful in specific places. I still think you will dominantly be doing informal proofs to make progress with any velocity.