Learn Math

[papasmurf]

hey ppl, I'm 22 years old and only know basic mathmatics. I managed to get enough algebra right to pass, but now i'm old enough to realize that math really IS important. so i'm here now to learn from you all. please forgive me in advance if i as any really stupid questions. i'll do my best to follow the rules and make sure i check previous threads before I ask a question. thanks all. hope to be here a long time. I've got my science all day long, so maybe i'll be useful in that aspect.

 

--papa

[ecoli]

welcome... is there any particular subject you're interested in?

[papasmurf]

i suppose i should start where my brain left off. pre-algebra... i'm gonna be spending a lot of time in the computer science section as well (now thats somewhere i can help others )

[thedarkshade]

Hey papa, welcome to the forum. It's good to heard you like math. I am kinda math-addicted too, trigonometry-addicted actually. It's hell of a interesting and fascinating field man. I strongly believe that there is nothing as perfect and beautiful as math (although i_a thinks it's an evil:P)

 

Cheers!

[shaunculver]

My advice is to get hold of this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Its-Content-Methods-Meaning/dp/0486409163

 

T.O.C.:

http://web.doverpublications.com/cgi-bin/toc.pl/0486409163

[Bignose]

My advice is to get hold of this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Its-Content-Methods-Meaning/dp/0486409163

 

T.O.C.:

http://web.doverpublications.com/cgi-bin/toc.pl/0486409163

 

If he only knows algebra, that's going to be an exceptionally hard book to get very far into. Chapter 2 covers calculus and then expands from there. This looks like a very good book for someone who already knows the subject matter, not a good one to learn from.

 

What the OP needs is a book with lots of practice problems, with answers so he can check his answers to the text. I'd recommend going to the library and finding a precalculus book. It should pick up where algebra left off (probably a decent amount of review, too) and work on it. Do lots of practice problems. Then do a calculus book, again, lots and lots of practice problems. Don't just read it and think you know how to do it -- you have to practice it over and over to own the knowledge.

 

A precalc and calc book should keep you busy for quite some time.

[shaunculver]

True. I think he/she should get "What is Mathematics?" by Courant, et. al.

[papasmurf]

these are all good suggestions. i really appreciate all of the advice i'm getting. thank you all.