How to Learn Math | Po-Shen Loh and Lex Fridman

Lex Fridman Podcast full episode: • Po-Shen Loh: Mathemati...
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GUEST BIO:
Po-Shen Loh is a mathematician at CMU and coach of the USA International Math Olympiad team.
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[@David_Lee45]

I am a full-time high school math teacher and a Pure Mathematics graduate student ( I graduate next week ayyyyy) and I would have to say that persistence is the #1 key to succeeding in math. I am not even close to being some kind of math genius but I’m too stubborn to quit and persistence and curiosity have gotten me to where I am today. I love creating challenging problems and helping students to understand challenging problems of all levels. Persistence is the key. Never give up. Sometimes I spend hours trying to figure out a single problem that my Professor gives me for homework. Knowledge is gained through the struggle. 📚👍

[@user-xs9ey2rd5h]

I'm also a math student, applied math, and what you said really resonated with me:not a math genius but really patient and stubborn. You really learn the most when you keep working on a problem and don't give up. I also feel like other courses become easier when you've struggled in the past with tough problems from previous courses even though they seem completely unrelated. It somehow generalises. So if you're struggling a lot right now you'll have an easier time later, maybe that will serve as some words of encouragement as well

[@7thwondergamin]

❤️may your day be filled with abundance

[@meeshtelly]

Petroleum Engineer here. Reminds me of differential equations. 3 notebook pages for 1 problem.

[@albertbonar3621]

you goat

[@charliejavani6457]

Thank you for the advice.

[@curvlinear]

Oh My God!!! I went to elementary, middle and high school with Poh Shen. He was always fantastic at math. Frequently he would be mentioned in the morning announcements for winning math competitions. Also a really humble considerate person. So cool to see him getting this recognition.

[@larryabecid2819]

Man I envy you

[@ReflectionOcean]

- Consider tackling math competition problems to improve skills (start: 0:18). - Use Math Counts, Math League, or AMC for practice problems (start: 1:00). - Engage with daily math challenges that offer hints and explanations (start: 2:04). - Aim to exceed past capabilities regularly for lifelong learning (start: 4:04). - Incorporate daily thinking exercises on various topics to build mental discipline (start: 4:44). - Teach math concepts to others, such as children, to enhance your own understanding (start: 6:27).

[@InternetSado]

I like this guy's energy as an educator

[@Theroadneverending]

Too bad this isn’t the norm

[@fmartin59]

@@Theroadneverending facts bruh. Most college professors just waste students’ time.

[@slothymango]

"Give people the chance on their own to think without that kid in the front answering each question in 2 seconds" BOOM, this guy gets it

[@prachethire812]

8:16- "Math gives you a perspective on the world that enriches everything else" - Lex Fridman.

[@dannyffd]

Been doing the daily challenges with Po. Absolutely wonderful. So much fun. Challenging. And I’m growing in my problem solving ability.

[@Knowledge_is_Power911]

Thanks for learning Lex

[@SaurabhSingh-mi9in]

Thanks! Gonna check out all of the three he mentioned.

[@IntelligenceSquare]

There, he not only teaches us how to learn but also how to teach. That is splendid.

[@kaybei9771]

Lex and Po-Shen Loh; Can you recommend any textbooks or mathematics books you would say show this process of invention of mathematical methods, ideas, tools and conjectures... I have heard of Polya's books but I did feel the problems were too elementary and was wondering if there was such a book which shows how a whole field can be born out of an idea and where that idea comes from. Where would a mathematician start and what inspired this idea? How do they go about exploring this idea? Do they do a bunch of easy little problems first? Do they draw pictures? Simple examples? I often see in polished textbooks the final result but we dont get to see the messy work that is involved to get there in the first place. I want to see what are the steps a mathematician takes when exploring a new idea or solving a new problem. At which point do they make conjectures. At which point do they prove them. How far into this field will they go until they decide they need a proof? What do they do?

[@nunyabiz6918]

Thank you so much

[@BrianAmedee]

Interesting conversation, and I love the pure enthusiasm of Po-Shen Loh. I think (as a high school math teacher), students need to: a) Have the basics explained and individually corrected (if they make small mistakes) in a timely manner. b) Collaborate/explain and actively practise new problems (that is - spend time in class working together, not listening to a teacher work through problems on the board). This is hard, because you only have ~2hours a week with students, and most of it is spent explaining new concepts to students. This is why I have adopted manim, 10 minute explanations take 1 minute.

[@sybr3602]

Use imagery to see an equation like E=mc^2 Energy = mass times the velocity of light squared. Energy = a square sheet of light (2d) that becomes a box of depth mass (3d). So everything in that box is the pure energy potential of that mass. A 150 lbs person = 1.7 trillion kilowatt of pure energy potential. That person's mass has enough energy potential to power a typical house for 200 million years.

[@kileerr1533]

Did not expect ANKI to get a shout out here!

[@benoto1014]

3:13 this is the biggest problem with education to this day. Especial With young children. You always have someone blurt out the answer lol. This is why I believe parents need to supplement their kids education no matter what.

[@novelspace]

Anki love! started using anki a couple months ago best decision I’ve made.

[@novelspace]

@@janezzmavec1803 Mostly machine learning and computer science bc that’s my field. But I have a slow drip of new cards everyday from several diverse decks, 5 new cards a day for each deck. Spanish, German, GRE vocab and math, geography, art, chemistry.

[@novelspace]

@@janezzmavec1803 no problem, I haven’t used that deck. I’ll check it out though. I normally make my own decks bc you learn the best when you make your own cards. The language decks I get from anki web though bc that’s way too much for me to do myself.

[@KevinHernandez-qz8sb]

Math was always hard for me. Hopefully this helps! 🤓📚

[@I_Lemaire]

Plot twist: You are really good at math--you probably were never taught an important minor detail.

[@Brand00d]

I did mathcounts in middle school and learned much more than I did in school

[@user-in1yw9ty5t]

I was amazed at how people could love this or that. To be specific for me it was maths and science that was so exotic to me that it was not about curiosity but confusion. Now I look back at it and it's not the same. It could be anything. Any career that's worth thinking about how that person could get into that field. Later I found out that when you are willing to find out for yourself and bring within yourself questions to curious problems and ideas you would find that it interests you and helps you become yourself and are engaged in that work it's apparent that you would get it. How it works and what to do with it and go on with it. As kids we were forced to attend classes we didn't like or weren't curious about or the teaching methods were wrong and you didn't get a chance to learn on your own. There sure comes a time when you think k12 doesn't work for me so I better understand and make sense of what I'm learning or just wasting my time. You would know from there that self education is the most important thing to find out if it's worth it and in the end most of the basics are worth it. It's just you have to struggle and not avoid the challenges that the school system puts out for you.

[@metaldr7925]

1+1=3 made the friendship. TY for the stream KG

[@breakdancerQ]

Lol awesome I didn't know this was an AI guy. I got into AI to couple years ago, trying catch up with my math too for a while now. I'm getting there but it takes a real constant consistent effort. Really like it tho

[@BorisBidjanSaberi11]

I am a half Asian child who was always horrible at math. I need this guy as a teacher haha

[@fibonaccifanzeroviews7839]

I ❤ numbers! No one can argue about 2+2=4. 🍀

[@H3XED_OwO]

@@anthonygalloni7699 💀

[@shittymcrvids3119]

Me while studying economics:

[@LeNoLi.]

i placed first in my region and was headed to math counts state competition but then my grandmother died.

[@ADoovy]

What's the app Lex is talking about?

[@Renejime9288]

Anki

[@Renejime9288]

It’s $25

[@polyannamoonbeam]

There is no link in the bio to Po Shen Loh website etc....

[@YairGutierrez1]

Just Google his name?

[@whatname4613]

He's got a KZbin channel too.

[@polyannamoonbeam]

@@YairGutierrez1 I can do , yes :)👍

[@polyannamoonbeam]

@@whatname4613 Thanks,Ill follow it up:)👍

[@Vibetothepain]

The only thing I ever learned in math was how to cheat without getting caught

[@LouStoriale]

Should change his name to Kwo-Shent-Loh

[@lipsinofficial3664]

I am the kid in the front answering the question in two seconds. Still I find myself lost on the exam. This paradox is simply bec. The issue is not do you understand and can you prove it-- it is: can you do? (i'm in low-level college mathematics: multivariable calculus 2: we learn green's theorem, vector fields, multiple integration and the conversion between coordinate systems)

[@itooflemma]

As someone who was the opposite (MSc Maths, PhD financial engineering) at school/uni I didn’t listen much, and didn’t show up to some classes. I think the important thing was developing the ideas independently - I remember day dreaming and solving the problems later. Sometimes less effort is more - provided you aren’t distracted. Boredom drives creativity and creativity drives problem solving.

[@vaccaphd]

In my humble opinion, math is learned with pencil and paper and not on a computer screen.

[@RS-rj2dg]

This math professor would wreck lex in a fight

[@MsHojat]

I don't really understand what you mean

[@johnmorrison3560]

@@MsHojat this math educator would beat lex up in organised mutual combat.

[@ench56]

This dude just looks like he would be good at math.

[@miamor5929]

Also Feynman technique To learn something deeply teach it to someoneelse

[@rey82rey82]

#Mathlete

[@monkey8041]

is lex high?

[@beardedwisdom101]

Something tells me this Po dude is a good table tennis player

[@blackpicture7106]

are you high??

[@sybr3602]

The problem with humans if we don't use our brain, we can forget and need to relearn. And our brain can lose memory and function over time. But an AI, never forgets and is always learning. The most dangerous AI is one that can self program and reprogram. But that AI needs access to unlimited amounts of energy (for processing power) and memory. If there is a faulty chip, it is a dysfunctional AI and potentially more dangerous but it could collapse on itself.

[@batou1468]

Damnit, another asian perpetuating the stereotype of all asians being good at math. I just want you guys to know I am living proof not all asians are good at math. Sadly... 😭

[@viniciusgta285]

lie

[@mikeyfreeman5776]

Try being white 🤷‍♂️

[@batou1468]

@@juliocesarsalazargarcia6872 lmfao!

[@Searchforfulltruth911]

How bad are you at math ??

[@batou1468]

@@Searchforfulltruth911 imagine the dude from the movie Memento trying to do long division...

[@kayhawkins5925]

Women and young girls always taught math is for boys at least when I was growing up. There is a discrepancy how girls and boys learn match. The teacher needs to know how girls learn and that is providing details which many math teachers assume students already know. Girls can learn math but need to have teachers who are good at communicating in detail.