- #1
SomeGuyLearningMath
- How did you find PF?
- Searching for book recommendations on DDG and landed here.
Nice to meet you all!
I am a college dropout self-studying math. Before dropping out, I flunked out my Calculus class even though I managed to pass my Precalculus class (I honestly don't know how). I realized that I was lacking a lot in Geometry and Trigonometry. My understanding of algebra is quite average, but I am very unsatisfied with it after seeing Euler's Algebra and Introductio in Analysin Infinitorum.
I realized how disappointed I am at my mathematical upbringing. Math education is practically non-existent in my country - I was able to pass through high school without knowing the notions (even the words themselves!) of congruence, similarity, induction, and other basic stuff. The only mathematicians I knew were literally only Euclid, Descartes, Newton, and Leibniz - Newton being a miracle genius that invented the entirety of modern science and calculus after an apple fell into his head; and Euclid, Descartes, and Leibniz being footnotes at my textbooks.
I have also seen how math people talk so enthusiastically even with smallest of the minor stuff like the textbook they use at class (e.g. Spivak, Hubbard & Hubbard, Arnold), and how enthusiastically they talk about solving hard problems (e.g. problems on a textbook for math circles) and seeing the beauty and unity of mathematics for themselves (e.g. how Euler's Formula reveals the unity of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and complex numbers). I also became aware of the lives of mathematicians with Posamentier's Math Makers, Hoffman's The Man Who Loved Only Numbers, and Kanigel's The Man Who Knew Infinity. I realized that mathematicians are not just introverted geniuses that write equations no one else understands on blackboards. I became very intrigued and curious about mathematics in the last few months.
I am coming back to college this year or next year (depending on circumstances) to study for another degree, but I want to get my hands dirty with mathematics. I am planning to study Elementary Mathematics again (since I have a lot of time in my disposal in the coming months), but this time in a serious manner - without the frills of the education system, using the following books:
I will be posting here my learning journey soon- what I've learned, questions, struggles, etc. I also want to generate discussions regarding the stuff that I will read. I'll probably also post a Github repository of the latex files of the solutions manual soon. This community at glance seems to be very bright, vibrant, and helpful; and I hope to talk with you all! Again, nice to meet you all and let's do math together!
I am a college dropout self-studying math. Before dropping out, I flunked out my Calculus class even though I managed to pass my Precalculus class (I honestly don't know how). I realized that I was lacking a lot in Geometry and Trigonometry. My understanding of algebra is quite average, but I am very unsatisfied with it after seeing Euler's Algebra and Introductio in Analysin Infinitorum.
I realized how disappointed I am at my mathematical upbringing. Math education is practically non-existent in my country - I was able to pass through high school without knowing the notions (even the words themselves!) of congruence, similarity, induction, and other basic stuff. The only mathematicians I knew were literally only Euclid, Descartes, Newton, and Leibniz - Newton being a miracle genius that invented the entirety of modern science and calculus after an apple fell into his head; and Euclid, Descartes, and Leibniz being footnotes at my textbooks.
I have also seen how math people talk so enthusiastically even with smallest of the minor stuff like the textbook they use at class (e.g. Spivak, Hubbard & Hubbard, Arnold), and how enthusiastically they talk about solving hard problems (e.g. problems on a textbook for math circles) and seeing the beauty and unity of mathematics for themselves (e.g. how Euler's Formula reveals the unity of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and complex numbers). I also became aware of the lives of mathematicians with Posamentier's Math Makers, Hoffman's The Man Who Loved Only Numbers, and Kanigel's The Man Who Knew Infinity. I realized that mathematicians are not just introverted geniuses that write equations no one else understands on blackboards. I became very intrigued and curious about mathematics in the last few months.
I am coming back to college this year or next year (depending on circumstances) to study for another degree, but I want to get my hands dirty with mathematics. I am planning to study Elementary Mathematics again (since I have a lot of time in my disposal in the coming months), but this time in a serious manner - without the frills of the education system, using the following books:
- Some parts of Elementary Algebra (Chrystal) - 2 Volumes
- Numbers and Geometry (Stillwell)
- Planimetry and Stereometry (Kiselev, Givental)
- Trigonometry (Gelfand, Saul)
I will be posting here my learning journey soon- what I've learned, questions, struggles, etc. I also want to generate discussions regarding the stuff that I will read. I'll probably also post a Github repository of the latex files of the solutions manual soon. This community at glance seems to be very bright, vibrant, and helpful; and I hope to talk with you all! Again, nice to meet you all and let's do math together!
