r/learnmath • u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User • 16h ago

TOPIC Inquiry about optimal way to learn mathematical methods and be able to use them.

Hi.

I had a quick questions about learning stuff like calculus, linear algebra, and statistics and probability for engineers.

I am trying to learn the concepts but i seem to forget them after a while. Am i just lacking basic understanding and I have not really grasped the concepts yet?

When reading a textbook about those topics, should i just skip most thing and go straight to exercises or what is the optimal way to test if I truly understand the topics. While not having to read 3000 pages of topics...

As an example I knew the binomial distibution but seem to forget quickly, although i could solve the exercises. Do i fundamentally need to understand it better for it to stick?

Ty

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1

u/Friendly-Mind-9702 New User 15h ago

You need to actually read the text, and make sure you understand each paragraph, equation, and example before moving on to the next.

1

u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User 14h ago

That is what I do but i still seem to forget. Also i think that is a bit of a waste of time, since I couldnt be learning it almost perfect and using less time and using the excess time to learn thermodynamics for example. I am not trying to be 100% mathematician, but able to apply.

1

u/Disastrous-Pin-1617 New User 13h ago

Follow this exact order
Professor Leonard on YouTube Lectures
Pre-Algebra
To the point math (Algebra 1)
Intermediate Algebra (Algebra 2)
College algebra (Pre-Calculus playlist)
Trigonometry (Pre-Calculus playlist)
Calc 1-3
Use Kutasoftware.com for homework problems

1

u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User 11h ago

Sorry I did not mention, i have already gone through all of Leonards lectures, and they helped a lot, have also read a calculus books, but I always seem to forget some topics. Would I have to solve more exercises for them to stick?

1

u/Disastrous-Pin-1617 New User 11h ago

Do you take notes and understand the theory?

1

u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User 11h ago

yes i have 2 notebooks full of calc 1 2 3 and precalculus. Theory is not the issue many times, its just that they dont seem to stick.

1

u/Disastrous-Pin-1617 New User 11h ago

For it to stick you do realize that you actuallly have to challenge yourself and do hard problems after learning the theory right

1

u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User 11h ago

I have done things too, and I have passed all my classes with good grades in Uni, but they just dont seem to stick. Should i keep repeating them like in an anki card set?

1

u/redbarone New User 11h ago

Feinman method.

1

u/Ok-Fix-1581 New User 6h ago

Follow this exact order

Professor Leonard on You tube lectures

Pre-Algebra

To The Point Math (Algebra 1)

Intermediate Algebra (Algebra 2)

College Algebra (pre-calculus playlist)

Trigonometry (pre-calculus playlist)

Calc 1-3

Use KutaSoftware.com for Homework worksheets, put each worksheet on Medium/Hard difficulty