lainchan / λ

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Anonymous · 2015-10-04 19:15
So, I find that I suck quite badly at math, especially when it comes to computing and things like combinatorics and set theory (in general any math). other than Khan Academy, anyone have a good way to beef up these skills? I was thinking project euler, but even challenge one kinda gave me an anxiety attack. Thanks in advance.
Anonymous · 2015-10-04 19:21
Practice Lain, thats what you do with any other skill that you want to get good at. You think any great mathematician just woke up one morning and said, "Hey, I totally understand all this shit!" fuarrrk no, they worked their asses off to get there. Get studying.
Anonymous · 2015-10-04 19:23
Chill, I used to be "bad" at math too but once I found my motivation I got up to speed. I went from developmental math to calculus over the past year, you can do this too. Check out this thread so I dont have to dump book recs https://8ch.net/prog/res/3034.html here is a good youtube channel that shows some mathematics specific to programming. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2_aWCzGMAwLL-mEB4ef20f3iqWMGWa25 here are some discrete math lectures as well https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG96LXNYz9x7eTqSRtQ2R9A/videos
Anonymous · 2015-10-04 19:26
>>10144 >>10145 Thanks, I tend to overthink things and freak myself out.
Anonymous · 2015-10-04 19:33
>>10143 pretty much in the same spot so all I can give you is my sympathy. It usually helps to connect that math to something you like**I cant even really calculate stuff from the top of my head... why did I even choose CS**
Anonymous · 2015-10-04 21:32
Check out Mathematics for Computer Science on MIT OpenCourse Ware!
Anonymous · 2015-10-05 12:51
>>10143 >>10144 >>10145 seconding this: Math is fundamentally hard compared to pretty much everything else. It is only natural that it takes longer to understand. Practice is key. Not only by reading books but by doing all the problems in them. >>10147 I understood OP as talking about university math, which has nothing to do with calculating. Its all about proofs.
Anonymous · 2015-10-06 03:50
First of all, don't be afraid of math. Fear may be your biggest obstacle here. Second, math is self-contained and thus has little to do with our everyday experience, it's a world in itself and common sense is not always your friend Third, try to find the fun side of it. Problem solving. Not through the given mathematical notation and tools but through abstraction, separation of the relevant issues from those not relevant to the problem at hand. Read Euclid's proof of infinite primes, make sure you understand it well, and appreciatemthe beauty of mathematics
Anonymous · 2015-10-06 04:00
>tfw dyscalculia >can't into even basic multiplication help. before you ask, yes I have actually been tested for it multiple times as a child and an adult.
Anonymous · 2015-10-06 04:40
>>10192 you've been tested so there must have been opportunities to receive professional help?
Anonymous · 2015-10-06 04:58
>>10195 there is no help for a brain problem like that my friend. The best I can do is struggle through basic math that even a third grader can grasp
Anonymous · 2015-10-06 10:17
>>10192 Then skip the numerical aspects entirely and jump intro the more abstract issues, or does dyscalculia cripple you there too? After all, all that high level mathematics is, kind of like programing, mere symbol manipulation. It's a running joke about graduate mathematicians that a mathematician doesn't know basic arihmetic. Also, you have your pc for that kind of stuff I don't want to be that guy, but I really honestly have zero empathy for you guys. While math does of course have its intrinsic difficulty like everything else, I find it no harder than programming, ohysics, linguistics etc.
Anonymous · 2015-10-06 11:39
>>10203 I feel like maths is something that's very hard to get back into once you leave school, even if you do want to improve yourself. It's certianly not like programming where there are dozens of helpful online guides encouraging you.
Anonymous · 2015-10-06 20:29
>>10205 Also, programming is more "fun"—code and get something on the screen. Math isn't like that for most people.
Anonymous · 2015-10-08 19:50
>>10218 I get a kick out of solving a good hard problem.
Anonymous · 2015-10-15 01:50
I really want to not work after I graduate and spend time teaching myself mathematics.... my school did not teach me.
Anonymous · 2015-10-26 20:01
Here's a textbook that looks comprehensive, for Discrete Math. I have not read it, but maybe someone can offer their thoughts.
Anonymous · 2015-10-26 20:25
>>11012 I've read it. It's a very good book. A bit dumbed down in some parts tho.
Anonymous · 2015-10-26 21:03
>>11013 >A bit dumbed down in some parts tho. when it takes almost 1000 pages to cover the material that it does you should expect that.
Anonymous · 2015-10-26 21:13
>>11015 That's not really a bad thing, especially for people coming into it without a comprehensive math background.
Anonymous · 2015-10-26 21:54
>>11015 A good portion of the page count is probably exercises. This is a first year college textbook, so it's made for big classes where the professor just assigns 20~ easy-to-check problems a week. It's not like the books in the 8chan link which are shorter and have harder, more abstract problems.
Anonymous · 2015-10-26 23:21
>>11016 >>11017 sure I understand all that but it's still a LOT of book to get through. that 8chan list looks a little shaky at the entry levels but CLRS and Concrete Mathematics are no-brainers.
Anonymous · 2015-10-27 03:38
>>10143 Combinatorics and Set theory can be really fuarrrkin' hard. Especially if youre not attending classes or youre learning its very structured. D/w man, you have motivation, all you need is discipline, and you will be good!
Anonymous · 2015-10-30 15:53
Do you need multivariable calculus before linear algebra?
Anonymous · 2015-10-30 21:55
>>11184 you should be learning linear algebra before multivariable calc.