This is largely true, but also, the dynamic shifts depending on how learners engage with peers as they move from understanding to synthesis.
In small peer groups (“pods”) that debug and learn together, communication becomes a core skill—and that can actually change how math skills are applied and developed. Language doesn’t just support learning; it reshapes the process.
I picked this book up when I was learning Algebra to see what the hype was about as a kid. It was dull. I went back to the library stacks after some weeks and found Calculus and Pizza to be even easier to swallow.
Calculus Made Easy is a good book. It made me appreciate even easier books when you need them and have enthusiasm for learning a topic.
Two or three guesses with Wordle using the ETAOIN SHRDLU I learned doing cryptopals has been very effective at reaching a solution.
I usually have a first guess like SAINT then something like SCARE, CORED, etc eliminating vowels and frequent constants while also considering the most likely sequencing of matched characters or remaining characters.
Also eliminating S, T, C really reveals there’s no TH, SH, SP, CK, etc and is one factor that gets me suspicious of repeated chars or rarer k, g and x combos.
Also, yet another article that makes me rethink my choice to take Homological Algebra with no real algebraic topology coursework. Merkurjev was teaching so at least I have all his notes. It kind of forced me to give up any concrete basis and just handle abstract tools.