Where to start learning mathematics for physics?

[Lynch101]

Homework Statement:: I'm looking to start learning mathematics to help me understand physics better.
Relevant Equations:: N/A

Hi all. For the longest time I've been talking about learning (or possibly even studying) mathematics to help me better understand physics. My biggest problem is, I'm not entirely sure where to start. I studied physics to a high school equivalent level but I would be quite rusty, so I'm thinking somewhere there would be the best place to start. With the Covid-19 when better to start?

Would anyone be able to recommend a textbook and some accompanying resources? I sometimes struggle with mathematics if it is too abstract, so if there are any textbooks which relate the mathematics to real world scenarios, I find that helps me understand things more and remain motivated.

 

[troglodyte]

Hi,

Yes you are right.For deeply understanding physics you need also good intuition of the mathematical machinery which lies behind it.
Maybe you can start with the books of Boa,Cahill or something else which is analogous to this Präsentation.The chronological manner how these books are structured could be a model for your approach.

 

[Lynch101]

Hi,

Yes you are right.For deeply understanding physics you need also good intuition of the mathematical machinery which lies behind it.
Maybe you can start with the books of Boa,Cahill or something else which is analogous to this Präsentation.The chronological manner how these books are structured could be a model for your approach.

thank you troglodyte! what are the names of the books by Boa and Cahill?

 

[DrClaude]

thank you troglodyte! what are the names of the books by Boa and Cahill?

Mary L. Boas, Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences
Kevin Cahill, Physical Mathematics

 

[Lynch101]

Mary L. Boas, Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences
Kevin Cahill, Physical Mathematics

Thank you Dr.Claude

 

[atyy]

You can try the books at http://www.openculture.com/free-physics-textbooks. If you don't understand one, try another one, as the different styles of presentations in different books sometimes work better for one topic or another.

To start you could try Ben Crowells's Simple Nature from start to end. As a complement to Chapters 0-4 of Simple Nature you can try Mechanics.

Ben Crowell has other books available at http://www.lightandmatter.com/books.html.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Deciding where to start depends on where you are now, and you need an accurate assessment of that which is rare based on high school classes and grades. An ACT Math score provides a better assessment, and better yet, use the ALEKS online learning system and complete the precalculus course there.

When you complete 95+% of the ALEKS precalculus "pie" you are ready to begin algebra-based college physics and not far from calc-based college physics.

But don't let a passing grade in a Calculus class fool you into thinking you know enough precalculus to succeed in physics.

 

[Lynch101]

Deciding where to start depends on where you are now, and you need an accurate assessment of that which is rare based on high school classes and grades. An ACT Math score provides a better assessment, and better yet, use the ALEKS online learning system and complete the precalculus course there.

When you complete 95+% of the ALEKS precalculus "pie" you are ready to begin algebra-based college physics and not far from calc-based college physics.

But don't let a passing grade in a Calculus class fool you into thinking you know enough precalculus to succeed in physics.

Thank you Dr.Courtney. I think this sounds more like where I'm at. From what little I know, it sounds like I need to start with pre-caculus at least, if not prior to that (if that makes sense). I'll check out that ALEKS system.