• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Mathematics self-study resources?

catbasket

Graduate Poster
C
Joined
Jan 25, 2002
Messages
1,478
My interest in Maths has been re-awoken* after lying dormant for around thirty years and I'm looking for cheap (free!) resources to re-educate myself. One of the problems I have is that I'm not sure where to start, having probably forgotten a lot of what I once knew about the subject. Maybe some kind of tests which point out areas of Maths I'm particularly weak in would be the way to go? Books would be good as I could get them from my local library or even get Santa to bring me a few ... on-line resources would also be cool.

Bit of background - I have a grade A at O-Level Maths (1976, aged 16yo) and then studied A-Level Maths (Pure and Applied, plus Physics) for around five months before dropping out of school. For non-UKians - A-Levels were/are the exams taken usually at 18yo as a pre-req for entry to university.


* Is that even a word? Maybe I need some English lessons first :D
 
A while back I had the same urge to start up math again, but then I took on science instead, BUT! I was working at the call center, so to start exercising my math skills, I would add, subtract, multiply, and divide phone numbers.
 
Not free, but Stroud is very good. There's an advanced text by the same author if you fancy learning about such things as vector calculus.

The basic format in both books is to give lots of worked examples which the reader is expected to fill in more of the blanks as they progress, followed by sets of questions (with answers) throughout each section.

ETA: The above books assume an basic understanding of calculus and complex numbers, though the first book does have a foundation section to bring readers up to speed.
 
Last edited:
I am dealing with the exact same urge, and the same uncertainty, presently.

There's something offputting about doing an online course, at least for me. I'm not even sure what it is, but I just know I would need to have some external impetus to complete it, or I would just put it off forever.

Luckily, I just found out that my company will pay for my continuing education (or re-education, as it may be). So I'm pursuing going back to my local university (Melbourne) -- turns out they let you take courses without enrolling in a degree program. So that might be worth looking into for you as well.

I'd also suggest some of the books that are available now which are math "popularizations" -- designed for the educated layman. I've gotten some serious joy out of some recent ones:

  • Metamaths, by Gregory Chaitin
  • The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan, by Robert Kanigel
  • Five Golden Rules : Great Theories of 20th-Century Mathematics - and Why They Matter, by John Casti
  • Mathematical Mountaintops, by John Casti
  • The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved: How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry, by Mario Livio
 
Soapy Sam said:
Awifmetic for under fives.
Click to expand...

Tried it but found the theory too complex ... and not enough pics of puppies for my taste.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far - more always welcome. I'll check out the various books and send a request to Santa.

@Ivor the Engineer - Stroud looks good from the reviews. I did once have an understanding of calculus and complex numbers but I imagine I've probably forgotten most of it so the foundation section sounds ideal. One of the (negative) reviews gave an online resource which looks good after a quick mooch about, might be useful for others -

mathscentre

I'm currently having a look at the differentiation section ... and am a happy bunny!
 
Hahaha what a strange coincidence, I too felt the need to reimburse myself with some mathematical knowledge in the past week or so. My friend has been getting me to solve some equations in our Biology classes, have you not got any mathematically minded friends that would not feel so irked as to give you some pointers or literature?
 
My recommendation would be to browse through some textbooks (university and secondary school level) in order to discover where you stand by trying to solve some problems, etc. Then, you could use those same books to brush up and learn new material. With the additional help of the Internet, you could probably tackle just about anything (assuming you have the ability).
A more entertaining and expensive approach could be "The Teaching Company."
Check out: http://www.teach12.com/teach12.aspx?ai=16281
 
My thanks to you both. More suggestions always welcome!

Update - I spoke to one of Santa's elves and it appears I'll be getting a copy of Stroud's "Engineering Mathematics 5th ed: Programmes and Problems" for chrimbo, and the word is out that book tokens would be most appreciated ... donations can be sent to Cell 3.1415926535897932384626433, Home for the Mathematically Challenged, Horsham, UK. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom