Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison to US textbooks? (2017)

Re:Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison t... by novok on Wednesday April 22, 2020 @12:14AM (#22942078)

This is what infuriates me about college level mathematics from about 12 years ago at least. Why can't they also explain it like they do in those 1-1 sessions instead of making calculus textbooks that assume you know set theory before set theory is taught in some of the worst most obtuse writing there is.

I'm glad there is khan academy now, but come on.

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Re:Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison t... by lsh123 on Wednesday April 22, 2020 @12:25AM (#22942160)

There are good reasons why formal texts are important but I can’t agree more that this is not a good way to teach math if there is nothing else available. But you also need to learn how to read these texts at the end because this is the way mathematicians communicate to each other ;)

Re 1-1: the biggest advantage is that students can rediscover things. It’s one experience to read or listen to a proof, and it is completely different experience when you discover it yourself with small hints from the teacher.

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Re:Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison t... by novok on Wednesday April 22, 2020 @12:38AM (#22942246)

I don't think formal texts should go away, just things equivalent to those well done, plain spoken, 1-1 explanations need to be right beside them in the textbooks. They often are not.

Also math tends to have a documentation problem that could learn a lot from software engineering. Single letter variables are not acceptable in most coding for a simple example.

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Re:Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison t... by screye on Wednesday April 22, 2020 @12:12PM (#22947121)

You would love 3B1B.

He teaches undergrad level math with his youtube videos in the most intuitive way I've ever seen on video.

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Re:Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison t... by lsh123 on Wednesday April 22, 2020 @12:34AM (#22942225)

And another point, high school and college level math is coming from the 18th and early 19th centuries. All of it can be explained without formalization from 1920-30 and students for non-mathematical degrees will understand it much better. I can explain sets to elementary school kids in 10 minutes ;)

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Re:Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison t... by zozbot234 on Wednesday April 22, 2020 @12:18AM (#22942106)

The very point of 1-1 sessions is to start with an awareness of your existing knowledge background (set theory or not?) and to aim for real mastery in the most effective way. Unfortunately 1-1 sessions don't scale, while at least khan academy does.

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