Math Resources

“Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Math Resources

I enjoy math and have been good at it most of my life. Over the years, I have tutored many people in all levels of math from upper elementary school to calculus. Most of the materials on this page had their origins in those tutoring sessions.

These are organized roughly into the different areas that middle and high school students, as well as college students, are likely to encounter. There is always a bit of overlap, as each field of mathematics builds upon the previous. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please look around. If you would like to suggest a resource for me to add, please contact me.

Please note that these handouts do not constitute a curriculum of any sort, nor are they meant to. They are simply summaries that I and the students I’ve tutored have found useful. If you are a teacher or college instructor, and would like to use these in your classroom, please read my permissions page. Thank you.

Click on each title  below to view the resources available. Items with a red check mark () are new in the last 90 days. Items with a blue chevron () have been updated in the last ninety days.

Arithmetic 

A thorough grounding in basic operations (addition, substraction, multiplication, and division) lays the foundation for later success in mathematics. Math is often more difficult for students in middle and high school than it need be, simply because they lack basic arithmetic skills.

Algebra 

Algebra is the gateway to higher mathematics. There isn't a single field of mathematics where algebra isn't used. Unfortunately, many people think of algebra as difficult. There are aspects that are challenging, but at its root, you are using a group of known numbers to find one or more unknown values.

Geometry 

There are two opposing schools of thought when it comes to geometry. One holds that geometry is a great place to teach the use of logic. Hence, the study of theorem and postulates and an emphasis on proofs. (This is the geometry that I had in high school and I loved it.) The other holds that geometry is merely a tool (albeit a highly useful one) in science and engineering.

This is a case where you can have it both ways. Geometry is a highly useful tool, and the best part is that you can master the basics in less than a day. But when you study it for its own sake, it is both beautiful and fun.

More to come.

Trigonometry 

Unfortunately, trigonomety is often still taught as if all its practitioners are going to be navigators or surveyors. The true value of trigonometry is in understanding periodic functions and their use in science. A thorough understanding of the unit circles underlies your success with the subject.

Calculus 

Calculus models real life much more accurately than algebra. It is not difficult, but a solid foundation in algebra and trigonometry is required. Once you understand the basic concepts (such as limits and derivatives), much of calculus is simply applying algebra.

More to come.

Graph Paper 

Need some graph paper? Download a file and print it out. (These look great printed in color. Not so great printed on a laser printer.)

Each of the following a zip file, each containing that type of graph paper in six different colors: cyan, yellow, magenta, green, dark grey, and light grey.

Miscellaneous graph paper

How to Cite this Page:

  • Odle, Kenneth John. "Math Resources." kjodle.net. 20 September 2015. Web. 6 October 2024. <>