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

Revision as of 17:03, 14 July 2010

Revision as of 12:13, 15 July 2010

Line 16:

Mathematics textbooks are conventionally built up carefully one chapter at a time, explaining what mathematicians would call the ''prerequisites'' before moving to a new topic. For example, you may think you can study Chapter 10 of a book before Chapter 9, but reading a few pages may then show you that you are wrong. Because Wikipedia's pages are not ordered in the same way, it may be less clear ''what'' the prerequisites are, and ''where'' to find them, if you are struggling with a new concept.

There is no quick way round the need for prerequisite knowledge, as [[Euclid]] is said to have replied to [[Ptolemy I|King Ptolemy's]] request for an easier way of learning mathematics, "there is no Royal Road to geometry". Be prepared for a few moves to get round such blocks, by getting more context. What different readers need by way of introduction will differ widely. Therefore

*follow wikilinks to pages on unfamiliar terms, to orient yourself;