The pages here on Wikipedia dealing with mathematical topics are numerous (over 20,000) and form one of the more prominent resources on the Web for factual information about contemporary mathematics. It is natural that many readers will be using them for the purposes of self-study of mathematics, or its applications, whether or not they are simultaneously studying in a more formal way. There are certain points that need to be borne in mind by anyone in this position, to make the best use of what is here, perhaps in conjunction with other resources.
General points
- Wikipedia is a reference site, not a website directly designed to teach any topic.
- Wikipedia is organized as hypertext, meaning that the information you require may not be on one page, but spread over many pages.
- In technical subjects, the material may also be technical: there is no restriction on the depth of coverage. The lead section of any article is supposed to give a summary accessible to the general reader.
Particular points
Studying mathematics from a reference source is not ideal. Unless you come here with a particular query to answer, it is not reasonable to expect instant results.
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. 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;
- look at related pages, either under the "See also" section or using the article's categories.
Ways to use Wikipedia
- Talk pages
- Reference desk
- Explore the category system