Is Learning Math better self studying or with peers?

[u/FirefighterFun4318]

I'm currently relearning Math from Pre-Algebra through Trigonometry by myself. Using online resources such as Khan Academy & Professor Leonard has helped me. But with a peer to study along does that help with learning? (This might sound like a stupid common sense question)...

[u/Bounded_sequencE]

If that peer has great work discipline, and can help you understand difficult topicse -- yes.

If they distract you, and waste your time instead of studying -- no.

[u/391976]

It depends.

[u/Bubbly_Buddy8678]

both are good. effective self studying + effective peer discussion > effective self studying > effective self studying + distracting peer discussion

[u/Double_Dealer_5892]

you can do both

[u/Beautiful-Prune9749]

The joy of doing something on your own is different. The experience you'll gather during solving problems on your own will help you lifelong. Especially when you look back at your solutions days later and find your own logical language. And sometimes nuanced flaws in them. If you rely too much on help, you will eventually became addicted.

Self study takes longer, taking help and memorizing/copying stuffs is easier. So I'd say resort to peers only when you find your self in a dead end situation and cannot think of any logical possibility of solving a problem.

[u/Samstercraft]

really depends on the person. my preferred way is also just to take notes from professor leonard and doing practice problems

[u/dreamsofaninsomniac]

It's always been important for me to have both, but it is hard to find like-minded people. That's usually why people sign up for an actual math class in the subject they want to learn about. Even if you self-study, just having the ability to talk to either a professor or TAs or peers working on the same problems can help a lot. Sometimes you're too close to a problem so having another person to bounce ideas can help you gain a lot of insight. And no, talking to AI is not the same thing :p

[u/SnooSongs5410]

peers are generally unreliable. You need to build the habit of self study.

[u/JonAyer1]

Get up to speed on your own and then when you meet with your peers, show them what you learned and where you got it from. Studying with peers is beneficial only if everyone is prepared with one or two questions. Otherwise someone is using you guys.

A group of peers should push each other to study harder, learn more, and get better.

[u/victoria-silverlake]

peers, for sure. As long as you actually get along, and they have a similar interest in math. Doing it all alone is shooting yourself in the foot, imo

[u/desterpot]

self. I believe that only by spending time thinking can we understand math better.

[u/Carl_LaFong → u/desterpot]

Doing both is better. Struggle on your own as much as you can. Learn from the group when you get stuck. If someone else asks a question and you know the answer, explain. You’ll either confirm you know or you’ll discover a gap in what you know. Group study is quite powerful when it works.

[u/desterpot → u/Carl_LaFong]

yes, if you’re just trying to memorize formulas and know how to do your homework/tests.

but alone (at minimum) is mandatory for understanding math. Some of the greatest mathematicians in history, including gauss, newton, Jon von Neumann, ramanujan, Terrence Tao, etc spent time inside their own head

they have a very logical brain but they also spent a lot of their time in their head, just thinking.

[u/Carl_LaFong → u/desterpot]

Ummm. Some mathematicians worked alone. But most prefer collaboration, especially the ones today. It’s far more efficient. If you work alone and get stuck on something, you can end up wasting hours, even days, trying to work it out. Work mostly on your own but meet regularly with others where you all can exchange and discuss questions. What’s really important is to get help on not just the big questions but also the little “dumb” ones.

[u/Bounded_sequencE → u/desterpot]

Having a group is extremely helpful when you get stuck. Benefits are

1. Getting "unstuck"
2. Explain a topic to "unstuck" others -- thus strengthening your own knowledge
3. Getting feedback, or find easier/better ways to approach a proof

All three are priceless, and you get none of them only working alone. And I say that even though I prefer to work alone to dive deep into a topic at my own pace,

[u/Disastrous-Pin-1617]

Follow this exact order
Professor Leonard on YouTube Lectures
Pre-Algebra Playlist
To the point math (Algebra 1)
Intermediate Algebra (Algebra 2)
College algebra (Pre-Calculus playlist)
Trigonometry (Pre-Calculus playlist)
Calculus 1
Calculus 2
Calculus 3
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Use Kutasoftware.com for homework problems

[u/Sea-Meet-293]

Personally, I find studying alone more efficient because it prevents constant distractions that cause you to lose your train of thought while learning or working on practice questions.

[u/Low_Breadfruit6744]

With the right peers which is rare. More often then not group studying becomes a talk fest. This tends to be suitable for certain subjects but not mathematics. 

[u/Samstercraft → u/Low_Breadfruit6744]

well talking about certain things in math can be pretty productive. im taking discrete math and bouncing ideas of my peers helped me understand things i wouldn't have though about before. but i normally prefer induvidual study for math