for significant context based on HN links and comments, I posted a cleaner, formatted version on --
* https://medium.com/@SolveEverything/ask-hn-learning-math-practically-examples-from-real-life-links-inside-2ea752f8c5d7
--
An old post, due to the 2000 characters limit.... and was uploaded to:
* https://pastebin.com/rnywXAVh
* http://textuploader.com/druk9
2) Grind through a bunch of representative problems without studying. Just give it your best shot, you might be able to figure it out.
3) Check your answers and use this as a form of placement test to identify deficiencies.
4) Specifically, if you're getting the complex questions right, you understand the domain. If not, go back to the source material and read it. You'll have a new focus in reading it as you know exactly what you got wrong and you know what points to fix.
Doing it this way is (IMO) the most efficient way of spending your learning time. First do problems with worked answers to find out what you don't know, then fill the gap with focused effort.