Help:Using Wikipedia for mathematics self-study: Difference between revisions

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Wikipedia provides one of the more prominent resources on the Web for factual information about contemporary mathematics, with over 20,000 articles on mathematical topics. It is natural that many readers use Wikipedia for the purpose of [[Autodidacticism|self-study]] in mathematics and its applications. Some readers will be simultaneously studying mathematics in a more formal way, while others will rely on Wikipedia alone. There are certain points that need to be kept in mind by anyone using Wikipedia for mathematical self-study, in order to make the best use of what is here, perhaps in conjunction with other resources.

==General points==

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There are some mathematical concepts for which different authors use different definitions. For example, some authors count zero as a [[natural number]] while others do not. These differences can affect the way that mathematical theorems are stated. Therefore, double-check the definitions in each article to see whether they match those to which you are accustomed.

==Ways to use Wikipedia==

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The main way to use Wikipedia is to search for an article on a topic that interests you. Follow the wikilinks to articles that explain any terms you don't understand or want to explore further. In addition:

*A well-written Wikipedia article will cite references, which you can use to expand your knowledge further and check that the Wikipedia article is correct.

*Talk pages (the "Discussion" tab at the top of article pages) are the best way to raise queries about the content of a particular article.

*The [[Wikipedia:Reference desk/Mathematics|mathematics reference desk]] is useful if you have a question and don't know where to look up the answer.

*Explore the [[:Category:Mathematics|category system]].

*The [[Portal:Mathematics|mathematics portal]] is a good "way in" to mathematics articles on Wikipedia.

If you are in doubt, ask at the [[Wikipedia:Reference desk/Mathematics|mathematics reference desk]]. No one on Wikipedia is going to [[Wikipedia:Do your own homework|do your math homework]] for you, but if you ask the right question they might point you to some information that will enable you to do it for yourself.

==Sister projects==