Self studying Definition and 41 Threads

Hi, I am trying to teach myself Physics 1, 2, and 3. I tried learning using MIT Open Courseware. The courses which I tried taking are 8.01, 8.02, and 8.03. Are these courses in MIT Open Courseware a complete college course or just a brief overview of online courses in physics, as the video is...

I will be entering uni in less than a year, I will be pursuing a degree in computer science. I want to some day be able to understand "string theory" ,"quantum gravity" (as of now these are merely buzzwords to me) and understand the standard model in and out (so QFT, QED, QCD) even GR! So far...

I have a question. I’m reading the series of the practical man which include arithmetic, algebra,geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus. I’m having some trouble understanding these books and was thinking about reading the series of ____ for dummies such as Geometry for dummies as a supplement. Is...

Summary:: I want to study QFT 1 in the upcoming semester, so what are the prerequisites to study it. By QFT 1 I mean Classical field theory, Canonical Quantization, Feynman Diagrams, and QED. I am trying to self study QM from Griffiths' Introduction to Quantum Mechanics book. What are the sub...

Hello, so I am a 16 year old passionate about physics and mathematics, I’ve pretty much self taught myself everything. Before you start saying that I’ve got to focus on what I have, I am nailing everything science related, straight As, but I find them quite easy and I REALLY want to move on. I...

Hello, So, I'm looking for some advice from people here who have experience studying physics outside of an academic program. Recently, I've started Griffiths E&M. Although it hasn't been long, I've been having an absolute blast: like, heart-fluttering, "helping me with suicidal depression"...

Hello I am looking to find advice on the most optimal and efficient way to properly and deeply study a mathematics textbook, such that I completely understand everything and thus giving me good foundations for future study of more advanced mathematics. However, I want to change my ways of...

I am currently teaching physics to myself, however when I start to comprehend one thing, an unknown term or equation finds me and I get stolen from my current reasearch to begin to research that. So my question is, where should I start? Is there any logical starting point to begin to teach...

Hi all. I'm looking for a little guidance on starting out in self-studying analysis. The reason is two-fold. Firstly, I am very interested in it and want to have a deeper understanding of Calculus rather than the computational plug and chugs I learned in Calculus I last semester. Second, I've...

Has anyone been successful self studying mathematics and physics? By successful I mean to achieve your goals to study and have firm understanding in the subjects. How did you do it? How long did it take?

I'm currently self studying, and I find maths to be very difficult atm, I understand things but only after doing it on pen and paper, and applying it practically, I was just wondering is maths universally hard or is it just me. However when I learn something it is good, because I'm doing it on...

Hey everyone, I'm currently studying A Course in Algebra by E.B. Vinberg, and I was wondering if anyone is studying the same book. I think it will be a less lonely journey for all of us self learners if we can form a book study group to discuss ideas and exercises.

So just to as quickly as possible give an overview of my situation, I'm currently a Highschool Senior part way into my second semester at my local community college, and to be honest, I'm starting to hate it. I was homeschooled my whole life and while I don't think that was ideal, I never hated...

I am a mechanical engineering student who got a master offer in space science recently. This master course is more like astrophysics. So if I want to systematically study astrophysics, where should I start and which books should I start reading first of all? Thanks!

What are good books in universal algebra, given that I have a background in Herstein (Topics in Algebra), Hubbard/Hubbard, Engelking (Topology), and Dugundji (Topology)? I am currently reading Hungerford, and I found a field called universal algebra while searching internet for some concepts...

Hey all, I want to try and pass a proficiency exam for my universities version of ode. Here (http://www.math.uiuc.edu/Bourbaki/Syllabi/syl285_edwards-penney.html). What book would you all recommend? (I prefer rigor, but also like ease of read if there is a good middle ground). I will only...

Hello guys. I am a resident practicing Neurology in Atlanta,GA.But Physics has always fascinated me. I want to self study Physics with no time constraints.I want a feasible plan.I will outline what I have in my mind; please guide me through it appropriately. Firstly, I did A levels Physics and...

Hello everyone. 'm studying proof based calculus in my spare time. I have already taking Multivariable calculus, Diff. Equations and Linear Algebra. I'm using the textbook Apostol Calculus 1, as it was recommended by these forums, but I'm having great difficulty on understanding some of the...

Hi, I know that Chemistry doesn't really pertain to math or physics but I guessed this was the best website that would suit my question. Haha. I was wanting to self study general chemistry using a textbook. I do have the textbook, but was wondering what I should supplement it with. Also I was...

Hi I was wondering how long it would take to self study math using Khan Academy and supplement the website with a self teach book from Geometry through Calculus. I am a sophomore in high school and I am hoping to take the CLEP exams for Calculus and College Algebra after senior year. I was...

I am an advanced 8th grader and I'm very interested in physics. However, I want to study calculus first (I know precaculus, but I will study it a bit further before beginning calculus). Does anyone have recommendations for good, interesting calculus books if my main goal in studying it now (as...

I have a knowledge of precalculus (Algebra II, basic Trig), and I was wondering what would be a few good books for self studying calculus, primarily introductory calculus (Calculus I, Single Variable Calculus). The books I'm currently looking at right now are Thomas and Finney, Swokowski, and...

Hello, I'm still in high school and I was wondering if you would say that it's possible to learn the entire course of AP Physics 1 in the length of one summer with dedication not being an issue. Also, could you learn AP Physics C Mechanics and E&M WHILE you take a Calculus BC class (I'm not...

Hi there, Thank you for stopping by this thread. I'm an engineering student rekindling an interest in Maths. I just love studying Maths in my free time (and sometimes it trespasses into my non free time). I have plenty of fantastic books on my iPad and it's really helping me. However, I have...

Hello everyone, I have been trying to teach myself GR for sometime now, and while I started to learn through books like Schutz and Hartle, I reached a point where the motivation behind the mathematics they used didn't satisfy me nor did it appeal to me. I think the worst I remember is when...

Hello, so I will be starting Calculus 3 (vector and multivariable calc) and physics 1 (intro calculus based mechanics) this next semester. I am interested in using this next semester to go further into both of those topics and I am curious how I would start? I am interested in studying Calc 3...

I have been out of school for over a year now. The reason for this is that I was bored with the classes I was taking at the community college (calc 2, physics 2 and physics 3) to the point that I could not concentrate on earning A's, among other issues, not quite sure why given that I had...

I can do calculus on a normal level from high school now but I would like to further myself. I was recommended Michael Spivak 4th Edition...Tom Apostol 1st and 2nd edition...Walter Rudin Mathematical Analysis 3rd Edition...Richard Courant 1 and 2 calculus/analysis introduction.

No, you didn't read the title wrong. I am really self studying a physics class. I just finished Mechanics (Physics I) and since I want to go to college to study physics to become an engineer or physicist. I need to take the next class, E&M (Physics II, Electricity and Magnetism). However, I...

I want to start selfstudying such subjects. I don't know where to start. I don't know any calculus or precalculus. I've taken a basic algebra and geometry class that went a tiny bit into trig. I have taken a basic physics class in 10th grade. I'm 16 years old in 11th grade as an exchange...

I cuurently have Larsons Calculus alternative 6th edition and was woundering what would be some other good calculus books to purchase, how about calculus for dummys too? I'm self studying so what sort of books would be best for this

Could anyone give me some tips on self studying? I have a Calculus book from my high school ( I am alloud to use it for the remainder of the year...but I am NOT in calculus) So could anyone give me some tips on selfstudying skills, it would be extreemly helpfull, I just started on chapter 1 and...

Hi, I'm currently self studying "Principles of Quantum Mechanics" by R. Shankar. (Its prep for research, a Prof. recommended the book.) I have only done 2nd year of intro to QM which only covers 1st few chapters of griffiths. (Know multical) I find myself having a hard time going to...

Homework Statement In an effort to keep me from spending all summer lying on the couch, I recently started reading Michael Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds; while working on problem 1-6 I got stuck on a technical detail and I was wondering if anyone could provide a little insight. Problem 1-6...

In an effort to keep me from spending all summer lying on the couch, I recently started reading Michael Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds; while working on problem 1-6 I got stuck on a technical detail and I was wondering if anyone could provide a little insight. Problem 1-6 says: Let f and g...

I have two main questions: 1. What's next? I have taken several physics courses(covered both mechanics, E/M, wave motion, fluid dynamics, and special relativity) in my high school career. I want to know what i can learn next? (preferably not quantum) The reason I ask is because I love...

this year I finished calculus BC, which is the equivalent of calc 1 and 2. I feel as though I've completely mastered the material and I'm ready to start moving on before I enter university next year. The next math classes I'd be taking would be differential equations, calc 3 (multivariable...

I'm taking Calc 1 and 2 this summer to try and catch up for the math needed in physics(which I am starting next year). I have an introductory calculus based mechanics book that's about 400 pages long, 12 chapters. Would it be worth trying to self teach myself some of this stuff before I take...

I don't have much experience in this, and hopefully someone can recommend the right type of book that I need to look thru in order to solve future problems like this. I have to have a formula for the nth derivative. I have like in the numerator, but Idk how to express it properly. 5 5 x 10...

Hello! I am thirteen and self studying real analysis... I'm wondering where to go after this; kinda looking for a general outline of what to do from here on out. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I was wondering if there would really be any major difference in studying a subject by yourself, than learning it in a class. Basically, the class just regurgitates information that is in a textbook, right? So, would it be feasible to self study Calculus 3, provided that one has a syllabus at...