I'd first have an objective in mind -- why do I need to relearn Math? For me it's because I want to study General Relativity in a rigorous way, so that needs some Math.
Then I'd break down the Math needed. I want to be safe so I'd include more Math than many people suggested online. Basically General Relativity can be approached by either tensor or differential geometry, so I'll take both. Now I check the prerequisites of them until I reach the root, probably Calculus and Linear Algebra.
Once I identify all courses I need to take, I'd go to MIT or other open course and download all assignments and final exams and go for them.
Of course in my case I need to take Physics classes interwoven, but your case may differ. I'd skip any material that is not required but also add some historical background.
Looking back, it should have been taught closer to 1st grade, not 7th.
Speak about how linear algebra is cool and the basis of ML algorithms. If I were to teach algorithms, I wouldn't start by theory I would start with a problem that would take minutes to compute an answer.
I was taught CS in an abysmal way. I was taught system deisgn by drawing retarded diagrams of entities and how long they leave instead of taking an example of some social network with millions of users and having a real world discussion of it before moving to theory. I think professors suck and are doing it just to teach the class and don't care about it.
Number theory - motivate the example with RSA. Linear algebra - motivate the teaching of the class with ML and autodiff. Functional programming - this was the worst. I had this class at 18, no one sat down to explain to me why it was just one class after the other of boring theory.
For me, I want to dive into matrices, vector operations for game engine programming
But,
> In any case, had trig been taught alongside or in close relationship with the aspects of math where it's used
I took it concurrent with a physics course and we did apply trig quite a bit so my practice with it was more than just whatever was needed for the trig class itself.
Yes! Trig is key for later math, and that's why I place learning it better as central to my retrospective. I struggle so much with memorization, though, that I was having to derive from first principles all the time.
I want to learn enough mathematics that will help me to understand and learn about ML/AI and newer research and furthermore quantum computing.
Is that even possible? If so which topics I can target first? That will help me refactor and rebuild my foundational mathematical knowledge
If you're talking "math" as used by mathematicians and some physicists (Proofs, disciplines that end in "theory") etc... no idea!
