the road to learning useful math
euroclydon: It can be difficult to stay awake when trying to learn Math or especially Stats in the abstract.Are you reading these stats-heavy comp-sci papers for a particular reason beyond mere curiosity, like for a project or for work? If so, then you will have what I consider the most crucial element needed for learning a difficult subject: motivation, real lasting motivation.My advice: identify a concrete need to learn about a particular area of math/stats, like solving a real-world problem with software, then don't start by getting bogged down in a particular equation, but instead, find out the area of math/stats which that equation is a part of, and seek out the most interesting essay or video lecture about it. It's important that this video or essay be composed by someone with a reputation for making the complicated accessible to mere mortals.Good luck!