I went through may topics on learning maths effectively, learning math at later years (I am 30, so I read it to get motivated)
One thing I missed is a natural flow of topics that one must learn to progress
I am a Software Engineer and terrible at maths. I don't know anything except some basic maths. I don't know why logarithms are used for example, or how to solve a particular problem using math. You get the idea? yeah, terrible
I am sick of it and get over it, so I am starting to learn maths in my free time.
I just got a copy of What is Mathematics and will start now.
But question I have is
- What are some high level topics.
- in what order I should learn those topics?
What I would like?
- A natural progression in my math learning
If this sounds vague problem, I am sorry, let me know and I would try to fill in the missing gaps
Short and simple: You should study whatever catches your interest.
For example, if you would like to solve real-world problems such as how fast salt is flowing in per kg/liter in a container compared to how fast it is flowing out, you would use a Bernoulli equation.
Otherwise, if you'd like to think about the metaphysics of an object, you would be more interested in studying pure mathematics. For example, if I wanted to know whether the set $\Bbb R$ can be counted, that is something a pure mathematician would answer.
In the former case, one would need a good grasp of algebra (to manipulate certain expressions) and calculus (to understand differential (equations)). Geometry may be useful if the equations should be represented on $\Bbb R^2$. The equations one sees in calculus all use $\Bbb R$ as their domain.
However in the latter, one would have to use the real numbers consistently and have a good grasp of applications of real numbers. Then and only then one can understand how important it is to ask "Can the real numbers be counted"? or some similar question.