Its time to get mathy.
February 26, 2008 8:01 AM Subscribe
HindsightFilter: Due to a lack of perspective I didn't give math the attention I should have. I want to now.
The last time I had a math class was 8 years ago, and it was pre-calc. My math has always been so-so but I'm at a point where I'm realizing that everything I'm interested in requires a hell of a lot more literacy in math than I have. I have lots of math literate people around me who can help me learn, but what I'm after now is resources. I want to learn as much as I can on my own and then maybe take some classes. I am not concerned about my ability to grok any of it, I just don't know where to start.
Bonus: I think I'm especially interested in applying all of this to post-bachelors study in economics so using that to filter your help would be appreciated.
Disclaimer: I know that it will be a major uphill battle to get into any kind of econ program without a math background and an unrelated undergrad (anthropology, art history, asian studies) but this feels so right to me that I don't really care and am going to try anyway.
The last time I had a math class was 8 years ago, and it was pre-calc. My math has always been so-so but I'm at a point where I'm realizing that everything I'm interested in requires a hell of a lot more literacy in math than I have. I have lots of math literate people around me who can help me learn, but what I'm after now is resources. I want to learn as much as I can on my own and then maybe take some classes. I am not concerned about my ability to grok any of it, I just don't know where to start.
Bonus: I think I'm especially interested in applying all of this to post-bachelors study in economics so using that to filter your help would be appreciated.
Disclaimer: I know that it will be a major uphill battle to get into any kind of econ program without a math background and an unrelated undergrad (anthropology, art history, asian studies) but this feels so right to me that I don't really care and am going to try anyway.
A very comprehensive reference is Mathematics:From the Birth of Numbers.
posted by TedW at 8:38 AM on February 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by TedW at 8:38 AM on February 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
If you like the idea of working online, you might try Aleks. I know people who have used it and liked it a lot. You do an online assessment, and then you get personalized work modules laid out for you to do as fast or as slowly as you want. It includes K - 12, so if there's anything there you missed, it should let you know, as well as higher maths, like calc and trig.
posted by jvilter at 8:43 AM on February 26, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by jvilter at 8:43 AM on February 26, 2008 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Paul's Online Math Notes - from pretty basic algebra to calc III or so, plus linear algebra! I'm in engineering student and more or less use this site as my maths textbook.
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot at 9:09 AM on February 26, 2008 [15 favorites]
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot at 9:09 AM on February 26, 2008 [15 favorites]
Response by poster: Those math notes look fantastic-
thanks all for your suggestions. They are sure to help.
(keep them coming though!)
posted by zennoshinjou at 9:17 AM on February 26, 2008
thanks all for your suggestions. They are sure to help.
(keep them coming though!)
posted by zennoshinjou at 9:17 AM on February 26, 2008
There are lots of great course materials available online at the MIT OCW site. This site can be a little difficult to use if you don't have access to a good library, but I'm sure you could find an introductory course and buy the corresponding textbook.
Another idea: Some sort of tutoring? Is there any way you could put an ad for a tutor in Craigslist? Math is one of those things that are best learnt with someone to help you along. I owe much of my current math ability to a tutor I had for two years of high school.
posted by peacheater at 11:05 AM on February 26, 2008
Another idea: Some sort of tutoring? Is there any way you could put an ad for a tutor in Craigslist? Math is one of those things that are best learnt with someone to help you along. I owe much of my current math ability to a tutor I had for two years of high school.
posted by peacheater at 11:05 AM on February 26, 2008
We've used the Saxon Math books for self-teaching with very good results.
posted by trinity8-director at 12:04 PM on February 26, 2008
posted by trinity8-director at 12:04 PM on February 26, 2008
When it comes time to tackle calculus I cannot recommend Calculus Made Easy by Silvanus Thompson. It is easily the best treatment of the subject I've ever come across.
posted by zap rowsdower at 12:40 PM on February 26, 2008
posted by zap rowsdower at 12:40 PM on February 26, 2008
whoops, that should have read "cannot recommend ... enough".
It is a fabulous book.
posted by zap rowsdower at 12:40 PM on February 26, 2008
It is a fabulous book.
posted by zap rowsdower at 12:40 PM on February 26, 2008
This may seem out of left field for economics, but given that you'll need some statistics in that field, I wholeheartedly recommend Intuitive Biostatistics by Harvey Motulsky. Skip the heavy bio stuff, and read the stats basics for clear explanations of elementary concepts.
posted by j-dawg at 1:21 PM on February 26, 2008
posted by j-dawg at 1:21 PM on February 26, 2008
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Keep going until you hit a wall. Then start reading the text before you do problems.
posted by notsnot at 8:10 AM on February 26, 2008