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 spwa4 on Monday November 02, 2026 @11:13AM (#50338960)

I think you mean it was the Soviet Union. Either you scored excellently and were sent to university or at least into engineering, to end up well-paid and comfortable in military research or you scored less than and worked on the fields ... Or were sent into war as cannon fodder.

Or to put it more generally: motivation.

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Re:Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison t... by harvey9 on Monday November 02, 2026 @01:02PM (#50340860)

I was thinking years ago a western kid in a school that didn't ask much of them still had more chance of getting access to a computer and teaching themselves. But yes, the incentive for Russia kids to study is much more stark.

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