a reply but added some tangential off-topic observations about math and society.

Yes, again, thank you, Eric, for the suggestion. I was just thinking that I should try "paper trades," now, to learn the processes better on paper.

I guess I needed to get my feet wet a little to know I could keep myself safe whilst I learned. I can actually try the paper trades, now, because, I understand the process a little better; I can recognize what those numbers are telling me. It was only after I bought a warrant for OXY, that I realized I paid a substantially higher price than Warren did. Without the prospect of losing actual money, I didn't think or to check that out, previously, or what I needed to look for. I'm still discovering the many dimensions involved in these instruments.

Also, I wouldn't have understood the numbers on the page at quantum until I actually dipped my toe in and had an actual preferred stock. They would have remained two-dimensional to me and the terms opaque. It forced me to learn.

I know it sounds backwards.

Regarding math: I recently spoke to a friend who is also a writer, whose brother is a very successful one, and when I told him about interest and treasuries, he shivered. I understand. A lot of people that I know are not numerate and don't realize they need to be -- can be, even though they went to prestigious universities. "Numeracy" is not a word or concept that is taught as a specific requirement. It's almost an elective. At least, it seemed that way to me. While I went to good local public schools in La Canada, CA, my family was uneducated, relatively, which would have contributed to my misunderstanding the importance of numeracy. But my husband went to Stanford and his father was the head of a major fund company... And neither he nor his siblings are numerate or financially savvy. Well one of them kind of is.

I feel like I've gone through a looking glass.
Thanks for being a guide.