I have a fairly basic understanding of mathematics. I'm really interested in learning more. But I am not sure how to go about it. How would I learn mathematics on my own? which topics should I learn first and which books/websites would you recommend? I've currently using videos from khan academy but no text books. Knowing which way to go would help a lot. thanks Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I am the all time worst ever mathematician to ever post on sciforums, and it's your lucky day to learn from the drunken master who does not even know his times tables. First step is too become the teacher and the student, you must enter into the state of Bi-polar schitzo-ness. Set yourself goals just like a teacher would, get your study area all arranged with a nice bit of feng shui, desk, learning materials, open your notebook. Find your weakest area, be it multiplication, addition, algerbra or long divisions. start to grasp and understand the formulas needed for each calculation. Don't get all advanced and harsh on yourself set small tasks one by one complete them. Like learning anything you have to understand which type of "student" you are, do you respond better to verbal teaching? visual teaching? this is very important and you must first understand which class of learner you are and which group you belong too. are you a lefty or a righty? which side of the brain do you use more? the logical side or artistic side? or if your lucky you use both like me 50/50. You must become the sensei and make sure you are a nice teacher who works with your own natural talents instea dof against them. if you are a highly visual learner then giving yourself tons of verbal teachings is likely to go in one ear and out the other. PEace hope it helped.
You could look around where you live for a private tutoring that would help you one on one which would be a good idea if you can afford to have that done. http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=private math instruction&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart
Nothing beats having a math teacher. Most community colleges are reasonably priced and have offerings after hours. If you are really strapped for cash - ask the teacher if you could audit the class. My first 2 years of college were at a community college and then my last 2 years were at Cornell. The professors at the community college were much better teacher than at Cornell. In a community college the professors are hired to teach not to do research...
First, thanks to all of you for the advice. I too think going to a tutor would be the wise choice. But as I am working and also studying (software engineering) and I'm not studying mathematics for the course. I am just interested and would like to learn on my own time, in my own pace. In such a case, I would like to know the approach I should use. Maybe a list of topics I should start learning on or mistakes others have made while they were learning..etc. I am aware that the basics are to be dealt with first and then slowly move up the ladder. My goal is to be able to understand the formulas used in most computer science related books. Any approach that would help me reach such a level would be nice. EmptyForceOfChi, I am able to cope fairly well in any method of teaching. and as for the question of whether I am a lefty or a righty, I think I'm too a 50/50.
Hi first post. MIT has a wonderful online free self learner program, complete with video lectures, assignments and test. They are the exact same courses as are offered to the students, only you get no credit. ocw.mit.edu/courses/ocw-scholar/
skorph, two points: 1) From your brief comments about why you want to learn you seem to want to focus on algebra, at least initially. 2) The most important thing is to get started now. Buy a couple of second hand maths books from a used book store and plunge in, or find any site on line and begin some work. Chi is correct that ultimately you should follow a systematic plan, but if you wait to find the best way of doing this you will still be farting around in a year. Start now. Try this link to find some five million plus hits for "online algebra". But get started. Good luck.
Algebra it is. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Thanks for the advice/opinions everyone!
One thing I might suggest is to visit the web page for the math department at a university and review their suggest course time-line by semester. Another suggestion is to pick up a book on the GRE Math Subject Test and go from there. The basics of each area you might be interested in are there for review... starting from basic algebra all the way to topology and more. This can help you progress. The review book isn't going to teach you anything of depth. For that, you need to pick up specialized books.
