> “To this day, that’s to a large extent how I learn,” he said. “I never really learned the basic things like linear algebra, actually — I only assimilated it through learning some other stuff.”
This was interesting to me. My math profs always admonished us to ensure foundations are completely watertight before advancing to the next thing in tiny increments. I've absorbed this to the point where I perhaps get stuck filling in inconsequential gaps at roughly the same level, kitting out base camp as fully as possible but postponing the ascent.
I have no dreams of becoming a professional mathematician, but maybe I'd have quicker insights and more creative ideas if I tried this approach too, tackling something impossible and working backwards.
This was interesting to me. My math profs always admonished us to ensure foundations are completely watertight before advancing to the next thing in tiny increments. I've absorbed this to the point where I perhaps get stuck filling in inconsequential gaps at roughly the same level, kitting out base camp as fully as possible but postponing the ascent.
I have no dreams of becoming a professional mathematician, but maybe I'd have quicker insights and more creative ideas if I tried this approach too, tackling something impossible and working backwards.