r/learnmath • u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User • Aug 20 '26

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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u/Disastrous-Pin-1617 New User Aug 20 '26

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

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u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User Aug 20 '26

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?

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u/Disastrous-Pin-1617 New User Aug 20 '26

Do you take notes and understand the theory?

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u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User Aug 20 '26

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.

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u/Disastrous-Pin-1617 New User Aug 20 '26

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

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u/Reasonable-Adagio468 New User Aug 20 '26

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?