Learning math again as an adult
I’ve always been a little scared of mathematical notation. They feel like symbols from an alien intelligence that is smarter than human.
Every time I see a summation formula, I feel dumb. I’ve been trying to study data structures and algorithms as an academic topic, something that can stimulate the mind. To do that, things have come to a head – either I learn to be comfortable speaking mathematically, or I’m forever in the ‘do this to get a job and it's enough’ camp.
There are two discoveries on that journey that make me feel more confident.
- Mathematical Notation book
- The Art of Problem Solving series of books, specifically:
- Introduction to Counting and Probability
- Intermediate Counting and Probability
- Introduction to Number Theory
- Giving the screenshot for an equation to ChatGPT, and asking it to translate it to Python