Maths

Cromulent · 2 May 2025 at 14:03

My maths skills are poor but I'd love to improve them. I'm thinking of getting this book:

Foundation Mathematics: Amazon.co.uk: K.A. Stroud, Dexter J. Booth: 9780230579071: Books

Buy Foundation Mathematics 1 by K.A. Stroud, Dexter J. Booth (ISBN: 9780230579071) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

amzn.eu

but I'm also looking for some advice from people who know more than me. To give you an idea of my maths skills I have a GCSE in it but no more. I'm mainly wanting to learn for four reasons. Electronics, game programming, quantum computing and machine learning. I know it'll be a long journey and I'm not expecting to be able to do it overnight but I'm keen and have a lot of spare time.

Cromulent · 2 May 2025 at 14:20

Makhaira said:
Stroud is a well used author on this so it's probably a solid book. My advice though would be to have an aim - i.e. if you're trying to do something with electronics and encounter logs, then let's go learn logs. Otherwise you're trying to absorb a breadth of theory that you may not use for a fair while.

That seems reasonable. I have an electronics book that I've been holding off on because I wasn't up to speed but if I start reading it I guess I can learn the maths as it comes.

MrRockliffe said:
Khan Academy + YouTube videos would be where I start. It’ll give you tools and a wider understanding of the application of mathematics.

Problem with that is I get easily distracted when doing things on the web but I'll certainly look into it.

D.P. said:
for maths i find books too dry. You need tutorials and exercises, and matching theory to practice.

Fair point. I'll start going through my electronics book to do something practical.

Cromulent · 2 May 2025 at 14:36

Tram said:
Then you should be looking at stats if you want to do the above. Then what you don't understand refer to a maths book. But algebra, logs and notations is what you should focus on.

Awesome. Thank you!

Cromulent · 2 May 2025 at 16:28

firstborn said:
The Stroud books are pretty solid and are the ones I recommend. Can you check them out in a library first to see it they suit you though?

That is a good idea. I'll have a look. Thanks!

Cromulent · 5 May 2025 at 19:27

loftie said:
Pretty sure I used a Stroud book at uni - advanced engineering mathematics IIRC and I found it good. On the flip side, the Stewart's calculus book I didn't like and that was 'the' recommended book.
100% get them out of a library if you can - saves you some dosh, supports your library and it's why they're there.

Thank you. Very useful.

I have this book for calculus:

Calculus Made Easy: 2024 New Edition: Amazon.co.uk: Thompson, Silvanus P., Ava, Brenda: 9798873556236: Books

Buy Calculus Made Easy: 2024 New Edition by Thompson, Silvanus P., Ava, Brenda (ISBN: 9798873556236) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

amzn.eu

Cromulent · 5 May 2025 at 23:55

Thank you all. That is some really useful information. I'll look into everything you have said.

Cromulent · 7 May 2025 at 10:36

Blimey! Thank you all so much. There is a lot in this thread to digest. I think the best idea for me is to do a general maths course at A-level grade and then once I have a basic understanding specialise on different parts of maths for my specific interests.

Cromulent · 7 May 2025 at 11:31

Varys said:
Misread the title as Meths. Disappointed.

I mean it might help me concentrate

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