# Soft question: how do I get back to studying maths after taking a long break?

#### ensbana

I'm studying for a Master's degree in mathematics at the moment, after taking a break from studying for several years. As was then, my current area of interest is combinatorics and graph theory, which I suppose require a little less calculus and analysis than some other areas. Regardless, I still have to either read or perform algebraic manipulations sometimes, and I'm frequently at a loss in doing so. I'm talking about things like trigonometry, inequalities, limits, integrals, differential equations, etc., i.e. things usually covered in the first one or two years of college-level maths education. How do I bridge those gaps? Should I just re-learn those things as I go, or should I do the courses again?

#### ensbana

Case in point: I've just read a proof that requires the use of the identity $$\displaystyle \lim\limits_{n \to \infty} (1 + \frac{x}{n})^n = e^x$$, which I got stuck at since several steps in between were skipped. Once someone pointed out that that is the identity used (and after I looked up the proof for the identity), everything became clear. Yet it's frustrating since this situation happens more than it should.

#### romsek

Math Team
Patience. Your brain will only absorb it so fast anyway. I would re-learn things as you go up until it becomes absurd.

That identity isn't one that typical math students will have up their sleeve. I know it because it comes up frequently on these sites.

ensbana