[sdiy] SDIY MATH GOALS--need real help!

[Matthew Smith]

Quoth Dan Snazelle at 2009-02-27 12:30...
> i feel i have gotten about as far as i can in understanding many electronic books and topics in the last few years without knowing ANY math beyond basic pre-algebra. I never took anything past algebra one in high school and that was in 1992 and i dont remember any of it.

Dan, I truly sympathise - I have a similar problem.

My problems with maths are part of the reason that I have been heavily 
into digital electronics and have shied away from analogue stuff unless 
there's a nice easy formula presented that I can work with.  I have no 
problems at all with Boolean Algebra, DeMorgan's Theorem, etcetera.

I thought that I should learn calculus, so purchased "Calculus Made 
Easy" by Silvanus P. Thompson (revised Martin Gardner.)  Several people 
recommended this to me.

Unfortunately to us this book, I require a much higher degree of algebra 
than I am up to.  "Practical Algebra A Self-Teaching Guide" by Selby and 
Slavin has been of no use to me whatsoever.  I consider this title quite 
unsuitable for the mathematically-challenged.

Despite my deficiencies, I find that I rarely find that I need any maths 
more advanced than that involved in high-school physics (which by some 
miracle I can still remember.)

One day I will find a decent book or someone who can teach me (I need 
things explaining in MY terms, not a mathematician's terms.)  Until 
then, I will just keep plodding along and fire any Hard Sums that I come 
across at an appropriate mailing list.  There's always some kind soul 
ready to help.  Yes, there's a certain amount of guilt-feeling in that 
but it gets the job done.

Cheers

M


-- 
Matthew Smith
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