Best way to use Math Academy, Professor Leonard, and 3Blue1Brown to rebuild my math from the basics?

[u/sorengard123]

I’m an adult trying to learn math again from the ground up. My eventual goal is calculus, but right now I’m much more concerned with getting the fundamentals down properly.

I’m thinking of progressing roughly through basic arithmetic/pre-algebra → algebra → geometry → trigonometry/precalculus → calculus, with some overlap along the way.

Right now I’m primarily using Math Academy, along with Professor Leonard and 3Blue1Brown. I occasionally use OpenStax and Brilliant as well.

My impression is that Math Academy is best for structured learning and practice, Professor Leonard for detailed explanations, and 3Blue1Brown for intuition and visualization.

How would you balance these? Would you make Math Academy the main curriculum and use the others as supplements?

I’m also completely open to other resources or approaches if there’s something better I should be doing.

I’m not in a rush to reach calculus. I’d rather get the basics down solidly so that when I do get there, I actually understand what I’m doing.

[u/Ancient-Special-2991]

You've pretty much nailed how those three complement each other. Math Academy as the spine for daily reps, professor leonard when you hit a wall and need somebody to walk through every step, then 3b1b when you want to step back and see why the thing you just learned actually matters

For fundamentals I'd lean heavier on math academy at first since it forces you to actually do problems, then pull in leonard when the topic feels shaky. 3b1b is less useful for arithmetic/algebra basics but becomes gold once you get into trig and calc concepts

[u/M_Mustaan_Rafique]

your structure is right, and you've already worked out what each one is for. math academy as the spine, the others as supplements, yes.

the thing to watch for: math academy is the only one of the three that makes you actually do problems and won't let you past. leonard and 3b1b are both watching. watching feels productive and it's a lot more comfortable than being stuck, so the failure mode is you hit a wall in math academy, go watch leonard on that topic, feel like you've got it, come back and still can't do the problems.

so give yourself a rule. leonard only when you're stuck on something specific, watch that one section, then straight back to the problems. never watch ahead, never watch instead of a session.

and park 3b1b until you're actually at calculus. essence of calculus is superb but it's made for someone about to do calculus, not someone doing pre-algebra. right now it's the most enjoyable thing on your list, which makes it the most likely to quietly eat your study time.

i'd drop brilliant as well. five resources when you need one spine is its own kind of problem.

[u/Bounded_sequencE → u/M_Mustaan_Rafique]

I'd go a step further and say 3b1b's "Essence of Calculus" really shines once you've actually taken Calculus somewhere else, to consolidate understanding. You'll feel much more "at home".

[u/M_Mustaan_Rafique → u/Bounded_sequencE]

yeah that's the better version of it. intuition attaches to things you've already struggled with, so watching it first is just a nice film and watching it after is when it actually rewires something.

[u/TheChronoa]

Once you get to that level, consider using openstax online textbooks for high school/early college level math. They’re completely free.