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/sci/ - Science & Math

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2935933 No.2935933 [Reply] [Original]

How long does it take to read a textbook?
I am the kind of guy who will read most books in a single sitting (up to about 400 pages) so it irritates me when I find a book that I cannot do that with and I'm not sure how to pace myself.

I'm referring specifically to mathematics textbooks, not really interested in any other subject. I can read the popular books in about the same time as any normal one (with a few equations every other page) and there are a few hybrids I've read which took me maybe 3 times longer than usual.

>> No.2935945

Ages, because I'm not satisfied until I've completely figured out every single proof in the book, and filled in for all the missing proofs as well.

>> No.2935953

if you're reading a math book then you're doing it wrong.

>> No.2935963

>>2935953
Then tell me how to do it right.

>> No.2935971

>>2935953
wat

>> No.2935975

>>2935963
spend 10% of your time reading the book and 90% doing the problems in it.

>> No.2935987

>>2935963

It depends on the books. Like if you are good at algebra, then you could go through an abstract algebra book at 60% normal pace.

Lets just say some books if you reading 1 page every 4 minutes then you are reading too fast.

It depends. However, in general to fully understand it you are reading it really slow.

It gets worse. Like topology books you can turn a page and it's like I don't understand anything and then you are looking at the page for half an hour.

>> No.2935988

>>2935975
Most of them don't have solutions though, so could be doing it all wrong.

>> No.2936003

>>2935975

I disagree. Certainly, doing problems is good. However, it should really be 50/50.

>>2935988

You shouldn't really look at solutions. If you got it correct most of the time it's obvious. If you can't see it's obvious after you done the solution, then you don't really understand it and should either go back in the book or give up.

Also, that another point. But, if you don't understand something start at the beginning even if you don't understand 1 bit of it. That's really important.

>> No.2936004

>>2935988
for most problems, if you understand the material then you'll know if your solution is right. Usually there are odd answers at the end of the book so you can check that you got the right number. And finally if you're unsure you can ask your teacher or someone else who's good at math.

>> No.2936013

>>2936004
>>2936003
I am just so used to hammering through past papers and checking mark schemes from high school.
I am worried about using some flawed logic somewhere in a proof because there's no way I will spot it if I came up with it in the first place.

>> No.2936020

>>2935933
depends on the book and how good you are in the subject, abstract algebra took me about 3 hours to do the whole book (200 pages) while a book on exterior calculus and manifolds took me 2 weeks to do the first 200 pages. note I took the time to fully understand the material, not to just read.

>> No.2936034

>>2936013

MacLane Algebra is good book to read.

It depends on what level you are at. Most don't care if you make a small slip. Don't worry about it. Just focus on writing the proofs like you are going to be examine on it. Also reading and doing a lot of proofs helps.

>> No.2936038

first 15 pages of Rudin took me about a year before i gave up.

>> No.2936049

>>2936034
Just about to start university this year, am a Britfag.

>> No.2936072

>>2936020
pure bullshit, it takes more than 3 hours to WRITE all the exercises (with their solutions duh) in an abstract algebra book, let alone do them.

>> No.2936082

>>2936072
His book was only 200 pages.
It probably barely covered anything.

I once had a shitty linear algebra book that barely went past definitions.

>> No.2936091

>>2936082
sorry, it's just impossible unless his "book" was just some notes written by his professor and had 1 or 2 exercises here and there.

>> No.2936092

>>2936072
why would I want to wright out all the exercises? yes it was just an introduction to book, but still. I only do 1 of each type if I do exercises, repeating the same thing over and over doesn't teach you anything.

>> No.2936098

>>2936092
yeah, troll confirmed. or maybe you're talking about " x +8 = 16 find x" type of algebra

>> No.2936101
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2936101

>>2936092
That's it. Everyone go home.

>> No.2936104

>>2936092
>repeating the same thing over and over doesn't teach you anything

Yes it does. Enjoy forgetting everything within a week.

>> No.2936105

1-10 pages per hour, depends on book

>> No.2936123

>>2936104
some people have a good memory, and if I forget anything, I know in which book under what heading to look to refresh it.

>> No.2936133

>>2936123
adding to that, I study by reading the book and not doing any problems and I still get 90% - 100% for tests. and I don't mean I cram, I read about 10 pages on each subject a day.

>> No.2936144
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2936144

>>2936123
>>2936133
No, seriously. We know you're a troll. You can stop pretending now.

>> No.2936159

>>2936144
ya well you don't have to believe me, ill still get good marks and have lots of free time.

>> No.2936168

>>2936105

What fucking book does it take 1 hour to read a page?

Seriously, if it takes you 1 hour to read a page you don't have the necessary background material to understand it and your body isn't ready for it.

I suppose if you are a postgrad and reading Perelmans proof of Poincare conjecture it might take an hour to get through a page.

>> No.2936190

>>2936049

Don't worry. I go to Manchester University and second year. You don't really need to be able to prove stuff at a decent level into the second year.

>>2936038

Rudin isn't that good. Nor is it hard. I don't see why everyone loves that book especially when it's outdated.

>> No.2936227

>>2936190
>implying progress in analysis

yeayea sure

>> No.2936232

>>2936190
sometimes I need time to get the proofs or get lost in thinking about how to generalize something

>> No.2936254

Going through a modest-sized textbook, front-to-back, while running through most of the exercises, and making sure everything actually sticks, takes an hour a day, most days, for an entire semester, especially for things like Analysis, Group Theory and Topology.

End run-on sentence.

>> No.2936697

>>2936254
How long is a semester?
We don't really use that word here.