Self study Definition and 208 Threads

[1] When self studying, do you memorize vocabulary words and things like that? This isn't like taking a course where the teacher tells you what to memorize and what will be on the test. When self studying how do you separate the stuff? Or do you literally study the material "inside out" as in...

First of all, i would like to appologise if there is already a topic related to this on which i could have posted. I was not able to find it but also only skimmed through the search results. Mathematics has not been one of strong points. In middle school i struggled with it - i didn't spend any...

I'd like to study math on my own at home so that it will make me a better student of mathematics. I am in college and have recently finished Calc II. I got an A in both calc 1 and 2 but yet I am unsatisfied with my knowledge and skill with the subject. My goal is to prepare myself for the...

I will be attempting to get a PhD in statistics eventually though I have yet to get my BS, however, in the mean time I have a few electives I need to fill and I want them to help me in my self study of relativity and quantum mechanics. I will not be surpassing a Master's knowledge of these areas...

Hi, I'll be beginning my high school sophomore year in August and will be taking Precalc in school, but, because I want to start studying physics seriously, I thought it would be a good idea to take initiative and get a solid foundation in the required math before classes start (an entire...

Hey so I'm trying to self study for both AP Physics exams for May 2012, and I've been going through halliday & resnick 7th ed. as a text, however, I feel that this book isn't helping me so much for the mechanics side of things (as I haven't begun to study E&M stuff yet) for two reasons. First...

Hi, I'm in my second year of my degree in Physics specialising in Theoretical Physics. My second year is coming to an end now and next year we will begin a course called Advanced Classical Physics (ACP) which will introduce Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics as well as SR and...

Hi, I am currently in high school (Year 9) in Australia. I would like to self study high school physics so I can prepare for my HSC earlier. I finished all the year 9 maths and I'm currently up to quadratic formula. I have yet to do curves and logarithms. Can you please recommend me any...

I am a student @ UK COE in Lexington. My original plan was to complete my sophomore year @ UK and then transfer to UT Knoxville to do NucE. I live about 60 miles south of Lexington and have come to realize I cannot afford the gas in the fall to go to UK. I have been forced to register at a...

So this fall is going to be my first full semester as an EE major. Here's my classes: Introduction to Circuits and Electronics This course introduces linear circuit analysis and design including extensive use of op amps. Presents DC networks, including node and mesh analysis with...

I'm an engineer student, and I think I need a refresher on everything from algebra to calculus. Would definitely appreciate it if some of you can provide recommendations for some math self study software.

Do you have any stories of people successfully self-studying a relatively advanced subjected in which they've had absolutely no coursework? Personally, I've taken some honors level courses in high school and then done some extra studying to get on a good enough level to take the AP test. I've...

I'm sure there are many like myself who are self studiers: read the book, do the problems. Right now I'm working through Halliday, Resnick and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, and doing all the odd problems because the answers are in the back of the book. I'm also watching the MIT OCW lectures...

Hi all! I am a current senior in high school, and will be finishing BC by the end of this month. I do not yet know where I am going to college, but I am planning on trying to place out of a few math classes before arriving. II will most likely major in engineering, but I still am interested...

Advice on a "great" self study book. PDE [FONT="Arial Black"]Hello, for the first time this summer i won't be taking ( at least i hope so) any classes. That will give me a lot of free time to do as i please. i will be a senior in college and i still have to take pde's. The prof that teaches the...

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good solid book(s) for self study of electronics design? I emphasize design because I recently finished an electronics course in college and have found that I am decent at solving book problems but horrible at designing circuits. I still have no...

so At my current school they do not offer ap physics, and i need to take ap physics b to get into university! Does anyone know who has taken the exam if it is possible to teach ap physics to yourself in 5 months?

I was wondering if there's some kind of curriculum I could follow to self-learn undergraduate physics and math. I'm a senior in high school, I took Pre-AP physics last year and am taking AP Physics this year. I also took a computer science class and am taking another one this year. I...

Can Someone learn all mathematics required for undergraduate physics from only one textbook (mathematical methods in physics texts ) prior to knowing anything in physics especially if he want to self study ? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method? If I have superficial...

Hi, so I'm going to attend university this fall, and I'm planning to double major in math and physics. So I will be taking a calculus course based on Spivak and an Algebra course that uses Friendberg's Linear Algebra. So currently I'm trying to start studying these books so that I can get up...

Hello. I was wondering if I should self study multivariable calculus or introduction to proofs? I am an entering high school senior (contrary to what my username might suggest), and I just took a Calc 2 class last spring. I can only do one or the other, and I don't know which one would be...

I've got a good background in physics and math. I'm interested in getting a decent foundation in chemistry/biology with an eye towards understanding nutrition (for starters). (I've been out of school for years.) From browsing course requirements, it seems like I'll need: organic chemistry...

There are a lot of calculus books I've heard around these forums, namely Spavik, Stewart, Apostol, and Thomas. Can any direct me to each books strengths towards self study? I don't mind one with a decent amount of theory, in fact, I welcome it.

I am an undergrad that will be a sophomore in the fall, and I've completed the first level class in calc-based classical mechanics, as well as Calc I and Calc II. The math presented to me was a typical plug-n-chug, cookbook, focus on techniques rather than concepts style. In short, I don't...

Ug physics self study alongwith engineering...please help...! I belong to india, and couldn't get a decent physics ug course for reasons i don't have time to explain. I have now ended up in an engineering course and plan to self study and take the gre after 4 years. And yeah, forgot to say, my...

Hi, I am looking for a really good book that I can use for self study of algebra. I would like the book to contain topics from both algebra 1 and algebra 2. I took both algebra 1 and algebra 2 in high school and did very well in both. However, its been several years and there are certain...

For the last few months I have been fascinated with Physics. I taught myself the basic, non-calculus based ,Newtonian concepts. In Math class, I would always study my notes instead of physically solve the math. That is why I never really enjoyed it before. Now that I actually doing the...

Hello, I'll be starting grad school soon after taking two years off since undergrad. As a review, I'd like to go through all of Halliday Resnick and Krane's 5e "physics," doing as many problems, questions, exercises, and multiple choices as I can. Does anyone know where I could find an answer...

I study physics and i find math very interesting. I'm using Michael Spivak's "Calculus" and i think it's really good book. Spivak's book is great sample of book that i desire - it's for mathematicians, not for physicist, but you can understand it even if your not a mathematician. And it...

I'm looking to find a cheap and short intro to the minimum knowledge of Classical Mechanics(Hamilton/Lagrange formulations) you need to know to understand properly Quantum Mechanics. Any recommendations? I'm not worried about it being too rigorous or in depth since I will take a full class in...

I've 2 more classes to go to finish my degree in applied math with a minor in physics. I am retired so will have plenty of time to devote to the study of quantum mechanics. I want to start building the necessary library now. I could use some good solid suggestions. I have an older copy of...

What is the most effective way to learn physics material without the aid of a formal course? Trying to (only) read material really thoroughly and take notes takes a huge amount of concentration, and doesn't seem to have been very effective for me. I think it would be amazing to meet someone...

I was trying to self study Linear Algebra and I had a copy of Hoffman and Kunze. I found it a bit dry. I searched for some alternatives and I like these: 1) Applied Linear Algebra and Matrix Analysis - Thomas S. Shores (Springer Undergrad math series)...

How does CMBR differ from ether (SR self study -- Question from W. Rindler) Hello everyone First of all, apologies for a previous post which was against forum rules. I was unaware that I had violated the rules by posting a link to a paper that wasn't from a proper peer-reviewed scientific...

Hello, I'm about to be a high school senior next year, and I want to study Calculus on my own. I have a strong base in mathematics, and I'm self motivated. I am currently learning the basics of calculus from a book called "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Calculus", and I'll be done with it in a...

I'm a second year Indian medical student, and I've been interested in physics all my life, but didn't pursue a career because a) I'm a little slow in math and b) come on, I'm Indian, I have to be a doctor. I want to go into radiology, specifically nuclear medicine...

Hello all, Let me first say, "Hello PF." This is what I'm trying to decide: I'd like to spend this summer by self studying a range of topics. The problem is, I really don't know what I should study as I honestly have no clue what I want to do in college, etc. I started working through two...

Hey, I am currently planning on majoring in chemistry, but I am obsessed with physics as well. The school I plan on going to only offers physics as a minor degree, and I can think of many more practical things that I would want to do with chemistry than physics. Still, I like physics more, just...

I would like to know the best way to go about learning Quantum Physics. I have read a little here and there over the years, and it is a subject that greatly interests me. I have never had the motivation until recently to put some effort into learn more about it. If anyone out there can give me a...

Open question, respond with your style.

Ok, so I've been obsessed with the wackyness of quantum mechanics for years and I can't tell you how much i want to learn the math and the equations like the dirac notation and the shroedinger equation, spin and angular momentum...all of it. As a senior in high school I am going to start...

Hi, I'm a junior at my high school taking physics B and I planned to take physics C next year but then I found out its not offered at my school. So now I want to self study it and take the AP test during May of senior year, but would this be worth it, since neither the class nor the score on the...

i am medical doctor who wants to self study mathematics , the last mathematics course i took was 6 years ago at the pre-medical college .. worth mentioning that i am from a country where the educational system is different from USA at high school i studied algebra , calculus , trigonometry...

I'll take a quantum mechanics course this semester. I am a so-called advanced undergraduate (3rd year). This is the second course of quantum mechanics for me. The first was "the basics" (no bra and kets, a bit of linear algebra). I have read a couple of reviews of books on advanced...

yes i know there's one right beneath me, and i actually posted in it but my question is a little different than that poster's. I'm actually a physics student at a university at around the junior level and i want to pursue theoretical physics. now i know everyone says this because it sounds so...

I am interested in self-studying analysis and was trying to purchase a textbook, but I am not sure of the appropriate level to start at. I have come across: Intro to Analysis: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486650383/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Intro to Real Analysis...

Hello all. I'm going to be entering my second year of college in the fall. I have a deep love for math and physics and I have decided to major in Mathematics. However I have a very limited background in mathematics. I will be starting Pre-Calc this upcoming semester and I am trying to hit the...

Hello there, Does anyone know some good sources (preferably on the Internet) for Monte Carlo and Inverse Monte Caro methods (especially the latter)? There is plenty of stuff to find on Monte Carlo, I am particulary pleased with Stefan Weinzierl's 'Introduction to Monte Carlo methods'...

Greetings. What would be the easiest way to generate random math problems for me to practice with? For example, I might want to have five questions that are just basic algebra, five that are polynomial long division, maybe some straight arithmetic thrown in, and perhaps later I could add...

I'm a chemical engineering major and I noticed that my second semester I'll be taking chemical engineering computations, which entails "basic programming language." I don't know the first thing about programming, so what books could I study this summer as a good intro? Sorry if I'm being a...