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What would be the most efficient way to "uplift" to competency a relatively-intelligent person whose education in mathematics stopped prior to high school?
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Lots of things: Their job is in something they aren't really suited for given the educational background they have. Failing to understand computer science textbooks because things that the authors see as relatively basic just aren't there; striking out during the quantier parts of interviews at even relatively routine things (like basic mental arithmetic or trigonometry problems or "understanding what a logarithm is"); not having a real understanding of or capability to understand information theory. Just sort of a systemic failure to have been taught anyt... (read more)
7Random Developer
Math is one of those subjects where everything builds on itself, step-by-step. And skipping prerequisites for something makes it much harder to learn. I would start by figuring out the last math that you know fairly well (multiplication tables? fractions? pre-algebra?), and then figuring out what math you would like to know.
The three big pieces of high school math in the US are algebra, geometry and (depending on the school) calculus. It's possible to dislike algebra but really enjoy geometry.
My biggest advice for math is to do the problem sets! If you don't, it will sneak up on you and you'll start losing track. Try looking at new ideas from multiple angles, and ask yourself how it works. Play around with it. The textbook and the problem sets are guides, and the real work happens in your head.
My best physical analogy is getting strong. You gotta lift the weights and do the reps, and that takes time. This gets a lot of clever people in trouble, because they try to push too far, too fast, and then they get lost. If that happens, go back study the previous step some more.
8Zack_M_Davis
Math Academy ($49/mo) is great for training the fundamentals; one of the developers has a manifesto.