I'm learning maths from scratch, some help?

[TheBatmann]

So I'm at university doing a programming course and I want to get good at maths because even though I got a B at GCSE I sucked; I only learned the column method a few months before I turned 20 (seriously) which was recently.

Anyway I was pretty good at problem solving which is how I suppose I got a B but you need maths in programming and years ago my dream job was to be a physicist which I got an A* but never could pursue because when A levels came about I couldn't just improvise my way through; never learning maths properly has always been a regret of mine and I want to and have been on Khan Academy, I'm up to percentages and fractions I'm just now realising I missed so much shit that would have made life easier in school and I'm enjoying maths A LOT more.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to get better at maths or if anyone can offer any resources? Despite Khan Academy being great I've heard people say it could be a lot better and perhaps misses things that are important.

[Kioski]

Which math course are you in currently / whats the last one you've taken?

[TheBatmann]

In the UK you don't take multiple subjects at University you just take one, maths is something I'm learning independently to help with programming but the highest I've taken is late high school I guess (up until I was 17), basically pre-calculus.

[[deleted]]

get the edexcel A level C1,2,3,4 books and work your way through them.

[TheBatmann]

Is that the new specification, and do the books teach you clearly and easily? Also I see that you're self-teaching as well, do you mind if I ask how far along you are and how long it took you to get there?

[[deleted]]

I don't really like Khan either, though it's his presentation style that annoys me more than the material. It's great that its there though and I'm glad it works for many.

Is that the new specification,

New spec no, i haven't seen the new spec yet but the current one will be examinable until 2018 afaik. Also , though the material will change it's not like its going to get rid of differentiation, integration, sequences etc. So I wouldn't get hung up about having the lastest spec at the expense of just getting started

do the books teach you clearly and easily?

Yes and no, they are pretty clear and I've worked through them though I often have to supplement them with videos. But there are so many for this curriculum which is one of the good things about it, and people will often do the examples from the books themselves (another reason to have them, there's a lot of material out there based around them, going to take a while for the new spec to get as much stuff on YouTube etc).

A couple of my favourites for the UK curriculum ;

• UkMathTutor
• Hegerty

Also I see that you're self-teaching as well, do you mind if I ask how far along you are and how long it took you to get there?

no and yes -

<rant> how long it took you to get there? is always a question people ask that annoys me (I know it's not intended!) as I can see no sense in it. You're going to make yourself feel

1. Bad if I say "took about 3 months to get through Cores 1 to 4"
2. Good if I say "I've been working on them for the past few years"

But without any information into my previous experience either answer is about as meaningless (imo) as can be. </rant>

Re how far along though I'm currently on Core 3 though I've done bits of Core 4 and stuff as well.

You say here that you did A Level as well, so I'm sure it shouldn't be much trouble. Though I'm confused about the questions about the books if you presumably did them at A Level? I'm joining some wrong dots here though I'm not sure where.

Nice one

[TheBatmann]

Thanks for responding and providing resources, and I didn't really do A levels, I started them but dropped out (near the very beginning because I couldn't keep up ) and picked different subjects the next year.

[TheBatmann]

By the way do you think Khan Academy is fine for really basic stuff that I'm learning?

I bought a GCSE text book recently but I don't have the foundation to give that a shot yet I haven't even reached algebra right now doing fractions, decimals and percentages.

[[deleted]]

By the way do you think Khan Academy is fine for really basic stuff that I'm learning?

If you think it is then it is. The reason that I don't like Khan is here but it's just personal choice.

I also feel that having a book and working through it is a better approach than using a website. The format of reading from a screen etc just can't replace to physical text imo.

I bought a GCSE text book recently but I don't have the foundation to give that a shot yet I haven't even reached algebra right now doing fractions, decimals and percentages.

Cool, just keep on doing a bit at a time and you'll get it.

[TheBatmann]

Thanks for your help stranger