I also recommend g polya’s “how to solve it” in terms of general strategies. Like if you can’t solve a problem see if you can solve a simpler version of the problem, then insights on that can be used on the harder problem.
I think I have that one. Very thorough. I just got Velleman’s How to Prove It, too, along with some foundational books on math. I’ll probably go back to How to Solve It after Ive done the math and proofs a while in case it gives me different perspective on other book or new uses for the methods.
Yeah I think it’s really interesting how it affects how you think. I’m sure the material effect is small outside of like puzzle like problems (aka programming and math) but it really is amazing how much less I get stuck now. I do think part of it is like “Lifting weights for the mind” around problem solving and part of it is a removal of bad strategies.
I also recommend g polya’s “how to solve it” in terms of general strategies. Like if you can’t solve a problem see if you can solve a simpler version of the problem, then insights on that can be used on the harder problem.
I think I have that one. Very thorough. I just got Velleman’s How to Prove It, too, along with some foundational books on math. I’ll probably go back to How to Solve It after Ive done the math and proofs a while in case it gives me different perspective on other book or new uses for the methods.
Yeah I think it’s really interesting how it affects how you think. I’m sure the material effect is small outside of like puzzle like problems (aka programming and math) but it really is amazing how much less I get stuck now. I do think part of it is like “Lifting weights for the mind” around problem solving and part of it is a removal of bad strategies.
Aside from useful tips, there’s a lot of overlap between this math advice and assessing/verifying software.