/r/learnmath

Photograph via //r/learnmath

Post all of your math-learning resources here. Questions, no matter how basic, will be answered (to the best ability of the online subscribers).


We're no longer participating in the protest against excessive API fees, but many other subreddits are; check out the progress among subreddits that pledged to go dark on 12 July 2023 and the top 255 subreddits (even those that never joined the protest).


Think /r/math is too advanced?

Here, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

This is a subreddit for learning math, and can be seen as a sister subreddit to /r/math. Post all your math-learning resources here. Questions, no matter how basic, will be answered (to the best ability of the online subscribers).

Follow reddiquette. Be civil and polite; this is meant to be an approachable community for discussion of reason and logic.


To receive the best help, please use the following format:

[Level Discipline] Sample topic question

EX: [High School Math] Quadratic Equations
EX: [University Statistics] Probability

• Include instructor prompts (if any). What does your instructor (or the text) want you to accomplish?

• Tell us what is holding you up. Where are you in the process? Provide those who help with as much information as possible.

• Include any equations or assumptions you are using, and descriptions of any attempts you have made.

  • We recommend using Imgur to upload images for linking inside posts.
  • Reddit Enhancement Suite allows Imgur URLs to be expanded inline but doesn't work so well for other image-hosts.

ChatGPT and other large language models are not designed for calculation and will frequently be /r/confidentlyincorrect in answering questions about mathematics; even if you subscribe to ChatGPT Plus and use its Wolfram|Alpha plugin, it's much better to go to Wolfram|Alpha directly.

Even for more conceptual questions that don't require calculation, LLMs can lead you astray; they can also give you good ideas to investigate further, but you should never trust what an LLM tells you.


/r/LearnMath Chatroom

Join the unofficial IRC channel: #LearnMath on Freenode (no client required).


Not allowed:

• "Do this for me" posts

• personal information (Check your documents before posting.)

• offers or solicitations of payment in any form

• surveys (Take them to /r/samplesize.)

• advertisements of any form

• posting of quizzes or lists of questions

• one-sentence posts (Have some respect for people who take time to answer your question and follow the posting rules.)

• image or video link-posts (Links to articles, Desmos, Wolfram|Alpha, and the like are fine.)

• being a jerk (Jerks get banned.)


Using LaTeX

Type this as an example (replace the [-; with [; when typing):

  • `[-;e^{\pi i}+1=0;]`

You will see [;e^{\pi i}+1=0;] formatted as in a textbook if the MathJax UserScript is installed and working.

• You will need to install a UserScript loader first.

  • If your browser is so outdated or unusual that the linked advice doesn't work, consider these ideas.

Best read with

Discord for Math Study Groups

Other resources include


Courtesy of /r/math:

Basic Math Symbols

≠ ± ∓ ÷ × · − √ ‰ ⊗ ⊕ ⊖ ⊘ ⊙ ≤ ≥ ≦ ≧ ≨ ≩ ≺ ≻ ≼ ≽ ⊏ ⊐ ⊑ ⊒ ² ³ °

Geometry Symbols

∠ ∟ ° ≅ ~ ∥ ⟂ ⫛

Algebra Symbols

≡ ≜ ≈ ∝ ∞ ≪ ≫ ⌊⌋ ⌈⌉ ∘ ∏ ∐ ∑ ∧ ∨ ∩ ∪ ⨀ ⊕ ⊗ 𝖕 𝖖 𝖗 ⊲ ⊳

Set Theory Symbols

∅ ∖ ∁ ↦ ↣ ∩ ∪ ⊆ ⊂ ⊄ ⊊ ⊇ ⊃ ⊅ ⊋ ⊖ ∈ ∉ ∋ ∌ ℕ ℤ ℚ ℝ ℂ ℵ ℶ ℷ ℸ 𝓟

Logic Symbols

¬ ∨ ∧ ⊕ → ← ⇒ ⇐ ⇔ ∀ ∃ ∄ ∴ ∵ ⊤ ⊥ ⊢ ⊨ ⫤ ⊣

Calculus and Analysis Symbols

∫ ∬ ∭ ∮ ∯ ∰ ∇ ∆ δ ∂ Δ δ ε ∂ ‖ ℱ ℒ ℓ

Mathematical Greek Letters

𝛢𝛼 𝛣𝛽 𝛤𝛾 𝛥𝛿 𝛦𝜀𝜖 𝛧𝜁 𝛨𝜂 𝛩𝜃𝜗 𝛪𝜄 𝛫𝜅 𝛬𝜆 𝛭𝜇 𝛮𝜈 𝛯𝜉 𝛰𝜊 𝛱𝜋 𝛲𝜌 𝛴𝜎 𝛵𝜏 𝛶𝜐 𝛷𝜙𝜑 𝛸𝜒 𝛹𝜓 𝛺𝜔


Subreddit traffic stats

/r/learnmath

351,788 Subscribers

0

can someone help me with my math test questions

2 Comments
2024/11/04
16:40 UTC

2

How should I learn about the eigenspectrum of binary matrices over F_2?

I want to understand what is meant by eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a binary matrix over F_2. For example, the eigenvalues themselves can't be in F_2 so how should they be defined?

3 Comments
2024/11/04
16:31 UTC

1

Higher polynomial roots

I'm starting to review algerba more in depth and come across a tough polynomial to deal with f(x) = x^4 - 3x^2 + 2x - 5

I used rational roots theorem, and it didn't result in any rational roots. I was able to narrow down the range of the roots to (-3, 2) using the upper and lower bounds theorem. Finally, i used a graphing calculator to find the roots graphically.

But, if we restricted ourselves to not graph it, what is the best plan to find those roots?

0 Comments
2024/11/04
16:06 UTC

1

Books for self learning calculus

Hey, I want a textbook to supplement it with professor leonard's videos mainly for practise and core concepts,
I had heard about Gilbert Strang's books and there is also Openstax's book (which itself is based on Gilbert Strang's book), So what books you all may suggest ? Or Khan Academy would be better for practising questions ?

And I am learning calculus for own own personal interest and it'll also be super useful in data science and Ml.

0 Comments
2024/11/04
16:04 UTC

1

How can one be better at maths?

Im struggling to get better at maths.. I have my Uni exams in like 8 days, and there are still so many concepts that I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND 😭😭😭
iM FREAKING OUT ALREADYYYY. CAN ANYONE HELP??

1 Comment
2024/11/04
15:52 UTC

1

Why would someone need to take AP stats

I'm a junior in high school, and I'm taking AP stats and the course is light, but I'm not sure whether I should take the AP stats exam. I'm not majoring in anything related to stats(at least I don't think so.)

3 Comments
2024/11/04
15:33 UTC

1

Trying to understand for what values of x (-1)^(x)∈R

So when you rewrite x as a fraction, the denominator must be an odd number in order for the function (-1)^(x)∈R . But what if x is irrational number (such as pi, e...), how you determine whether (-1)^(x)∈R or not?

2 Comments
2024/11/04
14:53 UTC

3

Struggling to visualize how this percentage math is working.

Lets say I have £100 and I earn 5% interest. The maths would be:

100 x 1.05 = £105

Now lets say I have £105 but I want to discount it back 5%. You just reverse the maths so:

105/1.05 = £100

This is simple maths but for someone reason by brain can't understand how it works lol

For some reason by brain is reading it as. £105/ 105% = an answer that is 100% (which is this case is £100)

But that makes no sense. How does dividing by 105% give me an answer that is 100%. I know I'm getting something confused but I just can't work out what.

8 Comments
2024/11/04
14:39 UTC

1

help in this olypiad question please.

all natural N that (2*N^N) + 1 is a perfect square.

*Sorry,english is not my fist language.

7 Comments
2024/11/04
14:30 UTC

2

Dilations

I had a question about dilations, is it true that if you multiply by a scale factor smaller than one, then the answer will be smaller than the original? Thanks for the help in advance.

1 Comment
2024/11/04
13:51 UTC

1

Binary relations: minimality and maximality

I'm not sure if I understand minimality and maximality so I would like somebody to tell me if I'm right or wrong in my following very simiplistic understanding?

The set X contains orange, bananas and apples. John favourites are bananas, orange are fine and he hates apples. I know we can say go through all the strong preference, weak preference stuff but if we had another set containing just element apples would it be right to say then in a binary relation between these two sets that apples are minimality. And vis versa if the 2nd set contained just element bananas then that's maximality?

1 Comment
2024/11/04
13:48 UTC

0

Need Android Testers For Math Application

Hi Everyone

I need Android testers for my Entusia Math Exercise Application

You should join the google group first to make download enabled for your device and download the app on Play Store.

Join Google Group First

https://groups.google.com/g/entusia-tester/

Then Download From Play Store

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.entusia.entusia

Web Link

https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.entusia.entusia

Reddit Community

https://www.reddit.com/r/Entusia/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/entusia_app

Discord

https://discord.gg/BW4Xg7nDdU

0 Comments
2024/11/04
13:15 UTC

0

Lotto chances

Hey every 1 I played the lotto in my country and won a small prize by picking 3 correct numbers out of 6. The lotto type is 6 out of 49. I always pick the same numbers. Will it make sense to pick difrent ones form nou on? Since I guessed 3 of them now.

2 Comments
2024/11/04
13:00 UTC

2

Price of stability in a congested game system

Fix an arbitrary integer 𝑛 ≥ 2. Let G𝑛 denote the class of all congestion games with exactly 𝑛 players. Prove that PoS(G𝑛) = 𝑛. Explain and justify your answers.

Hi, I've been stuck on this for a while and was hoping to get some help, I know I need to split this problem into the upper and lower bound proof and I think I have the upper bound proof done (PoS(G𝑛) ≤ n) but I'm stuck on the lower bound.

I know I can construct an instance with two parallel links and hence prove that the PoS(G𝑛) can be as bad as n but I'm stuggling to find a system where the best pure nash equilibria is n times worse than the optimmal social cost. I know that I cannot use a system where one of the routes is a constant as OSC will equal the best PNE resulting in a POS of 1. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

0 Comments
2024/11/04
12:06 UTC

3

How to put euler's number in to numerical axis accurately

My professor just ask this question is there a way or is it a trick question. I am genuinely curious about the answer and need of help.

3 Comments
2024/11/04
11:47 UTC

6

Subtraction - does a subtraction minus make the number behind it negative in this case?

This will probably be a pretty stupid question, but I have an extraordinary ability to get stuck on nonsensical, miniscule things, so I'm just going to ask.

I, for the life of me, cannot understand this. I'm attending a mathematics course at school. In the book, there's this problem: 2-4 times (2-5)

So, in the example, they solve it as follows:

2-4 x (2-5)

= 2-4 x (-3)

= 2+12 (as in, -4 x (-3))

= 14

Now, somehow, in my brain, because it's 2-4 x (2-5), it should be

2-4 x (2-5)

= 2-4 x (-3)

= 2-(-12) = 2+12 (as in, 4 x (-3) = -12)

=14

The end result is obviously the same, as you see. But in the problem, 2-4 x (2-5), they use minus sign in 2-4 to mean that the 4 is a negative number. So, is it automatically a negative number if there's a subtraction minus in front of it? I hope at least someone understands where I'm stuck, I know it's stupid but I cannot get past this.

Thank you all in advance!

8 Comments
2024/11/04
11:21 UTC

10

How do I write a number being square rooted multiple times?

Let’s say I wanted to write 29 being square rooted twice, how do I correctly write it?

13 Comments
2024/11/04
11:09 UTC

20

A monster has a drop rate of 5%. What is the probability that I get nothing in 60 tries?

16 Comments
2024/11/04
09:56 UTC

1

How to find the area of a surface generated by revolving a function around given axis

Find the area of surface generated by revolving y=x^2 , x[belongs to][0,3^(1/2)] about y-axis

So this was the sum. I used integration (0 to 3) 2 pi x dy (surface area of cylinder) And i am pretty sure it is incorrect. There is formula on internet that includes (1+(y’)^2)^(1/2) but I don’t know WHERE it came from and I really want to understand HOW it came.

3 Comments
2024/11/04
08:29 UTC

1

Generalization of horse racing puzzle

0 Comments
2024/11/04
07:39 UTC

3

What happens when you dot product 2 vector functions?

I'm in calc 3 and what happens when you dot product 2 vector functions we're doing it right now but my teacher didn't explain what the answer meant it could be like 2t^2 + t. What is that is that scalar or vector? Also what is the cross product of 2 vector functions? what does that mean?

6 Comments
2024/11/04
07:26 UTC

1

How can this be solved?

I lost 1.25 marks on this question :(

lim x→0 (sin 2x/sin 6x)

Can you solve it please?

4 Comments
2024/11/04
06:47 UTC

1

Please help me on this function problem

Fine the domain and range of f(x)=x/x-2 with explaination please

3 Comments
2024/11/04
05:56 UTC

2

Weird triangle

Hey, can we draw a triangle consisting of 3cm, 3cm and 6cm sides? I know it would result in a line, but is this still considered a triangle since we would have 3 sides and the sum of degrees are 0+0+180=180°? (The 180° is cause it’s the basically 0 when you turn a side from right to left?)

Maybe I’m too high for this idk sorry for the question 😅

4 Comments
2024/11/04
05:15 UTC

1

Math help for dyslexia

I’ve been getting graded poorly due to not giving the correct values on scratch work. I get the correct answers but again scratch work isn’t perfect. I am dyslexic and I’m trying so hard. I am at a loss at what to do. Please does anyone have tips for dyslexics and math? I can do most problems in my head if I stare long enough. That’s another issue they don’t like. Since the beginning of the semester I’ve lost 40 pounds from stress. That’s not normal for a time frame of two months. Im mentally not okay.

1 Comment
2024/11/04
03:50 UTC

1

Trig help

I am learning to woodwork, and I am unsure how to find the angle that I need to cut. I started using Autodesk Fusion, but I’m still stuck.

I’m cutting legs to a coffee table that will taper, and also angle away from the table base. I can find the angles of the leg, but I am unsure what angle to cut the top of my board so the leg will “fit” inside it.

What angle do I need to cut the top and bottom of my board so it can rotate such that I can cut the leg out of it? The starting board needs to rotate on its axis (I.e. have the top cut from 90 degrees to something else).

Starting board is 4.5in wide by 25in tall Desired tapered leg is 4 in wide at bottom, tapering down to 2 in wide at bottom. From bottom to top, 18” tall. Top right corner angle is 74.5 degrees, top left angle is 99.5 degrees, bottom right angle is 105.5 degrees, and bottom left is 80.5 degrees.

0 Comments
2024/11/04
03:25 UTC

5

Hello, I need help on my math questions (HS)

I need help on calculating the maximum and minimum of a function, and Inflection point of this function.

f(x)=Cos^(2) (2x+pi/6)
v
f'(x)= -4cos(2x+pi/6) * sin(2x+pi/6)
v
f''(x)=-8cos(4x+pi/3)

I appreciate if you guys can also teach me how to do it 🥹

4 Comments
2024/11/04
01:12 UTC

2

why rational equation is a function.

I don't understand.

y=2x+1/x-1

18 Comments
2024/11/04
01:09 UTC

Back To Top