Thread: Learning mathematics, need tips

Hi,

I find mathematics very interesting and fun and would like to progress beyond what I am taught at school at this moment. In other words, I want to study math at home and wonder what the best way would be? Take a trip to the local library? Might be hard to find english math books since I reside in Sweden.

So what should I do and since I can't really say what we're at but it should be rather basic, algebra and forward.

But please, write any good books anyway since I might find them on Amazon and so forth.

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Hi,

I find mathematics very interesting and fun and would like to progress beyond what I am taught at school at this moment. In other words, I want to study math at home and wonder what the best way would be? Take a trip to the local library? Might be hard to find english math books since I reside in Sweden.

So what should I do and since I can't really say what we're at but it should be rather basic, algebra and forward.

But please, write any good books anyway since I might find them on Amazon and so forth.

What is your current level of education in mathematics ?

For just basic algebra I would suggest that you go to the nearest unversity book store and purchase whatever text they are using for introductory college algebra.

Hello Dissolution ...

I have just recently been learning and relearning math .. for the simple enjoyment of it. I found Youtube clips very helpful and they have made working through my textbooks much more easier.

There are even online lectures from actual classes on Youtube.

I simply find it amazing that I can read and study math from my text and have my I phone tuned to a world of math advice.

MB

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Hi,

I find mathematics very interesting and fun and would like to progress beyond what I am taught at school at this moment. In other words, I want to study math at home and wonder what the best way would be? Take a trip to the local library? Might be hard to find english math books since I reside in Sweden.

So what should I do and since I can't really say what we're at but it should be rather basic, algebra and forward.

But please, write any good books anyway since I might find them on Amazon and so forth.

What is your current level of education in mathematics ?

For just basic algebra I would suggest that you go to the nearest unversity book store and purchase whatever text they are using for introductory college algebra.

The thing is, I'm not really sure how to describe my current level. Plus the fact that I haven't studied math in english for long which would mean I need a bit more basic than swedish. So algebra would probably be right.

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Hi,

I find mathematics very interesting and fun and would like to progress beyond what I am taught at school at this moment. In other words, I want to study math at home and wonder what the best way would be? Take a trip to the local library? Might be hard to find english math books since I reside in Sweden.

So what should I do and since I can't really say what we're at but it should be rather basic, algebra and forward.

But please, write any good books anyway since I might find them on Amazon and so forth.

What is your current level of education in mathematics ?

For just basic algebra I would suggest that you go to the nearest unversity book store and purchase whatever text they are using for introductory college algebra.

The thing is, I'm not really sure how to describe my current level. Plus the fact that I haven't studied math in english for long which would mean I need a bit more basic than swedish. So algebra would probably be right.

Let's try this. Which of the following are familiar to you?

the quadratic formula

polynomial addition, subtraction and multiplication

sine, cosine, tangent

trigonometric identities

the square root of -1

the complex number system including conjugates and the fundamental theorem of algebra

derivatives

integrals

limits of infinite sequences

infinte series, particularly Taylor series

vector addition

dot products and vector cross products

partial derivatives

the gradient of a scalar function

divergence and curl

BTW your English seems quite good. It is a LOT better than my Swedish (which is non-existent) or even my German.

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Hi,

I find mathematics very interesting and fun and would like to progress beyond what I am taught at school at this moment. In other words, I want to study math at home and wonder what the best way would be? Take a trip to the local library? Might be hard to find english math books since I reside in Sweden.

So what should I do and since I can't really say what we're at but it should be rather basic, algebra and forward.

But please, write any good books anyway since I might find them on Amazon and so forth.

What is your current level of education in mathematics ?

For just basic algebra I would suggest that you go to the nearest unversity book store and purchase whatever text they are using for introductory college algebra.

The thing is, I'm not really sure how to describe my current level. Plus the fact that I haven't studied math in english for long which would mean I need a bit more basic than swedish. So algebra would probably be right.

Let's try this. Which of the following are familiar to you?

the quadratic formula

polynomial addition, subtraction and multiplication

sine, cosine, tangent

trigonometric identities

the square root of -1

the complex number system including conjugates and the fundamental theorem of algebra

derivatives

integrals

limits of infinite sequences

infinte series, particularly Taylor series

vector addition

dot products and vector cross products

partial derivatives

the gradient of a scalar function

divergence and curl

BTW your English seems quite good. It is a LOT better than my Swedish (which is non-existent) or even my German.

Yeah, my english quite good, mostly because I'm an avid reader but I think I'll have to do some math. You just punched my ego in the face because none of these are very familiar to me but at least it is easy to point out where I'm at.

So I would be more than thankful if you could suggest some book or something so I can get started.

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Yeah, my english quite good, mostly because I'm an avid reader but I think I'll have to do some math. You just punched my ego in the face because none of these are very familiar to me but at least it is easy to point out where I'm at.

So I would be more than thankful if you could suggest some book or something so I can get started.

I went to Alibris.com and typed "basic algebra" into the search engine. The books that came up would probably be suitable for you. Pick one that sounds good and is available.

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Yeah, my english quite good, mostly because I'm an avid reader but I think I'll have to do some math. You just punched my ego in the face because none of these are very familiar to me but at least it is easy to point out where I'm at.

So I would be more than thankful if you could suggest some book or something so I can get started.

I went to Alibris.com and typed "basic algebra" into the search engine. The books that came up would probably be suitable for you. Pick one that sounds good and is available.

Yeah well, thanks for your help and all, just one more thing, there is Basic Linear, Basic Abstract, Basic Matrix and so forth. Which one should I pick?

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Originally Posted by DrRocket

Originally Posted by Dissolution

Yeah, my english quite good, mostly because I'm an avid reader but I think I'll have to do some math. You just punched my ego in the face because none of these are very familiar to me but at least it is easy to point out where I'm at.

So I would be more than thankful if you could suggest some book or something so I can get started.

I went to Alibris.com and typed "basic algebra" into the search engine. The books that came up would probably be suitable for you. Pick one that sounds good and is available.

Yeah well, thanks for your help and all, just one more thing, there is Basic Linear, Basic Abstract, Basic Matrix and so forth. Which one should I pick?

From what you have told me you are not ready for linear algegra, matrix algebra or abstract algebra. Those subjects one usually studies after calculus, and after the topics on my earlier list are old friends.

Try something with a title like Basic College Mathematics

From what you have told me you are not ready for linear algegra, matrix algebra or abstract algebra.

What in the world is abstract algebra ? I thought algebra was abstract enough !

That is funny though getting done with calculus and find your back at algebra. Much like traveling light years into the universe only to find your back where you started.

MB

Abstract algera is fun. It's what you get when you take algebra and take away the numbers.

Yeah those pesky numbers !!

MB ..

Originally Posted by MohaveBiologist

From what you have told me you are not ready for linear algegra, matrix algebra or abstract algebra.

What in the world is abstract algebra ? I thought algebra was abstract enough !

That is funny though getting done with calculus and find your back at algebra. Much like traveling light years into the universe only to find your back where you started.

MB

Abstract algebra is what is called algebra by mathematicians.

It is a term meant to distinguish it from the "algebra" of high school and introductory college mathematics.

Algebra in the terminology of mathematicians is the study of algebraic structures such as groups, rings, field, vector spaces and modules. It includes Galois theory which it is the study of fields, their extensions and the solvabilty of polynomials.

Thanks for the reply Doc ..

Always interesting reading your comments regarding math.

What about "knot theory" what area of math does that fall into ?

MB ...

Knot theory is part of 3-dimensional topology/geometry.