MATHEMATICS RESOURCES
An Incomplete Guide

Useful and Interesting Math Books

Comprehensive Guides

Recommended Mathematics Literature for Self-study
An excellent annotated list of problem-solving resources and classics in the mathematical literature, strongly recommended for the serious student of mathematics.

Problem-solving resources:

The Art of Problem Solving/Volume 1: the Basics, and Vol. II: and Beyond, by Sandor Lehoczky and Richard Rusczyk. 1993: Greater Testing Concepts.
Lehoczky and Rusczyk, the creators of the Mandelbrot Competition, use problems from their contest and others (Mathcounts, AHSME, and USAMTS, to name a few) to illustrate the concepts they present. These books are excellent supplements to regular textbooks because of their extensive use of applications and problem-solving techniques. The critical and creative thinking processes that are encouraged in these books are most valuable for every student. Manuals with complete solutions for both books are recommended. (Available at a CMC meeting, or see the Art of Problem Solving website.)

Probability Without Tears, by Derek Rowntree. 1984: Scribner's.
This book is a very readable and useful guide to the subject of probability for junior high on up. There are other books in this series, including Statistics without Tears.

Math history, recreation, etc.:

From One to Zero, a Universal History of Numbers, by Georges Ifrah

Mathsemantics: Making Numbers Talk Sense, by Edward MacNeal.
A well-written, insightful, and fascinating book that challenges our way of thinking about math, and gives some concrete guidelines for learning how to think in a mathematical way.

The Joy of Mathematics and More Joy of Mathematics, by Theoni Pappas.
These books explore hundreds of topics from every branch of learning that is related to math in some way. Some topics require an understanding of algebra, geometry, or higher math, but many do not. Both books have lots of illustrations and complete indices. Theoni Pappas also puts together a couple of math calendars each year, and has several other math projects, including books for younger students and even a set of regular playing cards with a math brain teaser on each card. (These are available from Math Products Plus.)

Mathematical Fiction
Compiled by Prof. Alex Kasman at the College of Charleston, this website is a well-organized and cross-referenced annotated bibliography containing more than 240 entries, including films, plays and TV shows as well as books.

Bamdad's Math Comics Page
A collection of math comics from all over.

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Math Materials Mail-order Catalogs:

Carolina Mathematics

2700 York Rd., Burlington, NC 27215-3398 (800)334-5551

Lots of excellent and sometimes hard-to-find math books, games, charts and other items.

Dale Seymour Publications

P.O.Box 10888, Palo Alto, CA 94303-0879 (800)872-1100

This publisher carries many good problem-solving books, posters and other interesting and helpful math materials.

Institute for Math Mania--A Catalog of Materials for Math Maniacs

P.O.Box 910, Montpelier, VT 05601 (802)223-5871.

An interesting collection of math puzzles and games, manipulatives, three-dimensional models to make, hands-on materials of all kinds. Also included are problem-solving books for all levels, biographies of mathematicians, and a series on probability and statistics, among other things.

Key Curriculum Press

1150 65th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608 (888) 877-7240 Fax: (510)595-7040

This publisher carries math workbooks and other materials for grades K-12, videos, Geometry and Algebra II textbooks, problem-solving books (esp. Crossing the River with Dogs), computer programs (including The Geometer's Sketchpad), posters, and the Lenart sphere and other manipulatives.

Math Products Plus

P.O.Box 64, San Carlos, CA 94070 (650)593-2839

Math books, calendars, puzzles, T-shirts, and other items of interest to people who love math. Most of the books in this catalog are by Theoni Pappas, author of The Joy of Mathematics. Pappas' My Best Math Puzzles, a double deck of playing cards with a math puzzle on each card, is also available here.

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Math on the Web

North Carolina Math Newsletter
A website for North Carolina middle and high school students and teachers, providing math problems, upcoming events notices, information about math contests, guest and alumni columns, and other interesting math-related items.

Secondary Mathematics Web Resources
An Australian site with excellent links to many other sites and sources of useful information. The History of Math link is especially interesting.

The Math Forum
A large site based at Drexel College. Great links as well as a Q & A section (see also "Ask Dr. Math" below), discussion boards, Internet Math Library, and a "Problem of the Week section". Very well-organized and easy to search.

Math2.org (formerly "Dave's Math Tables")
Lots of information as well as some links to other excellent math sites.

Frank Potter's Science Gems (Mathematics section)
A list of links grouped by math subject area, which is helpful. There are some very interesting links referenced.

Internet Public Library (IPL) - Math Whiz division
An amazing list of helpful sites, in categories such as (but not limited to) Arithmetic and Basic Facts, Geometry, Math in the Real World, and Projects and Puzzles. Some examples of intriguing sites found here: Biographies of Women Mathematicians, A Brief History of Algebra and Computing: An Eclectic Oxonian View, Mathematical Quotations Server, The Prime Page.
The IPL is a fascinating place for other subjects, too.

Cut the Knot
A terrific math website with all sorts of interesting things to do and places to go. Have fun!

Mathematics Information Servers
This is a Penn State site; it has a search engine and links to all sorts of math sites all over the world.

Harold Reiter's Home Page
A site full of links to a multitude of fascinating, helpful, and diverse math sites.

Allmath.com - Math site for kids!
Just what it says - All Math: games, tools, glossary, lots of links!

Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics
A section of the website of Wolfram Research, this is a very well-organized resource that covers some high school math but more math for college math and beyond. Well-organized and easy to navigate.

Mega-Math
This site is maintained by Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico; it has a number of interesting math explorations in various topics.

Gnarly Math
A website devoted to promoting math in a friendly way. This site has lots of interesting things to learn about math on many levels, and it has excellent (and well-screened) links to both math and non-math educational sites.

Chisenbop tutorial
This is just what it says, a tutorial (complete with pictures) about how to do this unusual method of calculating on one's fingers.

FunBrain
This site has lots of games for all ages; there are some good math games and there are games from other subject areas, too.

Marvelous Math
Some ideas about math and homeschooling, and a handful of links to other sites.

Ole Miss - Problems of the Week
A collection of problems of the week contests for all levels of high school math.

Dyscalculia International Consortium
This is the site to find out about math learning disabilities and what can be done about them. There are some good references for math anxiety, too, on their book list.

Sassafrass Grove Math Page
This is the math section of a much larger site...lots of good links to math sites all over, and for all ages and abilities. Check out A Look at Math ...also, I like the motto at the bottom of the math page....

For math and computer competitions web links, go to our math competitions page or click here and scroll down to the Math Contest section of the page.

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Homework Help

Ask Dr. Math
This site gives an opportunity for students to get help with math problems, etc.

The Math Message Board
An interactive website where you can ask math questions of all sorts.

Homework Facts -- Math
Just what it sounds like: Can't remember how many feet in a mile? Need to know metric conversions? Forgotten a formula that you need RIGHT NOW? Check this out!

S.O.S. Mathematics
A study help site. It has lessons to refresh the memory on everything from fractions and factoring to differential equations and calculus. Lessons are followed by practice exercises, which are linked to complete solutions. This site also has a great list of books about math and about learning math.

Peanuts Software
FREE geometry drawing software, lots of things you can do with this for fun or in a geometry course!!

edHelper.com -- Mathematics section
A very large collection of math lessons, resources, and educational programs, categorized by math subject area and by topics such as Games, Measurement, and Functions.

Mathematics Dictionaries

Mathematics Glossary
A dictionary of math terms commonly used in grades 6-9 math courses. Alphabetically organized, very easy to use.

Harcourt Math Animated Glossary
An illustrated and, in some cases, animated, math dictionary. Terms are organized by grade (I don't know why!) but terms under each grade are organized alphabetically.

Harcourt Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology
A very comprehensive listing of math and science terms - maybe too much information here! For example, searching for the term "absolute value" turned up only "absolute value computer", but searching for "factor" yielded a very long list of terms that had the word "factor" in them, though I could not find, with a quick search, any definition for the word "factor" as we use it in Mathcounts.

Mathematics Clubs

The Charlotte Mathematics Club was begun in 1987 by Dr. Harold Reiter for the purpose of providing enrichment and challenges for students who have a strong interest and ability in mathematics. The club meets approximately once a month from September to May. At club meetings, students work individually and in small groups to solve problems from various areas of mathematics. Occasionally there is a presentation of a special topic, as well. In February the club attends the College of Charleston Math-Science Weekend, and the club has participated in such contests as the Mandelbrot Competition, the Mecklenburg Area Mathematics League (MAML), the USA Computing Olympiad and the Tournament of Towns, a Russian competition. The December meeting is a pizza & welcome-back-alumni event, and we gather in May for an end-of-year picnic. The club welcomes young people who are interested in joining together with other highly motivated students from Charlotte-Mecklenburg and surrounding areas. Our club members are typically in eighth grade or higher and are taking Algebra, Geometry, or higher level mathematics courses. Student backgrounds include public, private, parochial and home-school environments. For more information, check out the web page or contact:

     Stephen Davis
     Department of Mathematics
     Davidson College
     Davidson, NC  28036-1719
     e-mail:  stdavis@davidson.edu
     phone:  704-894-2343

The Mecklenburg Math Club meets once a month on a Saturday morning from 9:30 to noon at Regional Scholars Academy, 9100 Olmstead Drive (UNCC area) and Providence Day School, at the corner of Rama and Sardis Roads. During the meetings, students will be involved in problem-solving sessions and other interesting math-related activities. The MMC participates in the Math Olympiad for Elementary Schools during part of their meeting from November through March. For more information about the Mecklenburg Math Club, contact

     Cara Jokell 
     phone: 704-814-9276 
     e-mail: cjokell@post.com		

Mu Alpha Theta
The national mathematics club for high school students.

NRICH Online Maths Club
This is a British site, with a newsletter, games, problems to solve, and other activities.

Mathematics programs for high school students

UNCC High School Escrow Program Charlotte area students who are gifted in math, computers, or other areas and who would like to take college courses as a supplement to their high school education can do so at UNCC as long as they can handle the level of work required--no minimum age limit. At UNCC, the program is called the "High School Escrow Program"; contact the Admissions Office for more information. For students who live outside the Charlotte area, more information can be had from your local college or university, your high school guidance counselor, or the local chapter of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics(NCTM).

Summer Ventures
Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics (SVSM) is a cost-free, state-funded program for academically talented students who may pursue careers based in science and mathematics. The program brings rising juniors and seniors together in residential settings for four weeks of intensive study. See their website (www.summerventures.org/) for information and application materials. The application deadline for summer 2005 is January 31, 2005. (The application includes a teacher recommendation; be sure to give your teacher time to write this!)

There are many other summer programs in math for students in grades 9-12, some in our area and others at various sites around the country. Some are free, others charge varying amounts of tuition but most of these have some scholarships available. See Harold Reiter'sSummer Opportunities Page, and the Summer Opportunities for Pre-College Students section, or Summer Math Camps and Programs for High School Students, sponsored by the American Mathematical Society, for more information.

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A Footnote about Math Clubs and Competitions

by Susan Schaeffer

Math competitions and math clubs are not for every student, but for many they are a way of learning a more interesting kind of math than is encountered in the normal curriculum and textbook, and a way of meeting other students who have an enthusiasm for mathematics. Many times, becoming involved in some of the activities listed here has brought about a change in attitude and a new appreciation for math and for learning that the student perhaps did not have before. Also, involvement in these activities can bring real talent to light, and be a way for a bright student to connect with people and programs that can be of great value in helping the student choose a direction for the future, in terms of career, college, etc. I highly recommend that students who are interested in mathematics and have a solid foundation in the subject take advantage of the opportunities I've listed.

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We need your input!!

This guide is, as we noted, incomplete. In order to make it more useful for our visitors, we need input from you! Send your suggestions for improvements/corrections/additions to this resource list to Susan Schaeffer. Thanks!

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(last update: 23 January 2005)