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Summer Resources: Mathematics

Books, puzzles, games, and websites?!?! Who knew math was in so many interesting places! Come explore a topic not presented in a typical math class through the Art of Problem Solving’s Math Jams, hone your deductive reasoning skills through a game of Mastermind, see a math idea explained with visuals, or read a book that brings math to life! 

Math Jams Through AoPS

Math Jams are free online discussions hosted by Art of Problem Solving for a variety of purposes, including:

  1. Informational sessions about Art of Problem Solving classes.
  2. Review of the AMC and AIME competitions.
  3. Introductions to new topics in math and other areas of study.
  4. Special events, such as our annual discussions with admissions officers and professors from outstanding universities such as MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and Duke.

To attend a Math Jam, simply sign in to Art of Problem Solving just before the Math Jam begins, and click on the Classroom bar that will appear on the screen. The Math Jam classroom will open 10 minutes before the Math Jam begins. 

Level guide:

0

No Math. Appropriate for all audiences.

1-3

Beginning Problem Solvers. Middle School, Algebra, Geometry, MATHCOUNTS, AMC 8

4-6

Intermediate Problem Solvers. AMC10, AMC 12

7-10  

Advanced Problem Solvers. AIME, USAMO

Fun Math and Strategy Games!

Sudoku - WikipediaSudoku - logic based number placement game - "Every Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically. Enter numbers into the blank spaces so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9 without repeats."

KenKen - arithmetic logic puzzles - the rules are here

Mastermind - code-breaking game - the rules are here

Films

The Man Who Knew InfinityThe Man Who Knew Infinity is a 2015 British biographical drama film about the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, based on the 1991 book of the same name by Robert Kanigel. The film stars Dev Patel as Srinivasa Ramanujan, a real-life mathematician who, after growing up poor in Madras, India, earns admission to Cambridge University during World War I, where he becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his professor, G. H. Hardy, portrayed by Jeremy Irons. Source: Wikipedia.com

Hidden Figures filmHidden Figures tells the incredible story of Katherine Jonson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) – brilliant African-American women working at NASA who served as the brains behind the launch into orbit of astronaut John Glenn, a stunning achievement that turned around the Space Race. The visionary trio crossed gender and racial lines and inspired generations.
 

X+Y

X+Y, released in the US as A Brilliant Young Mind, is a 2014 British drama film directed by Morgan Matthews and starring Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall and Sally Hawkins. The film, inspired by the documentary, Beautiful Young Minds, focuses on a teenage English mathematics prodigy named Nathan (Asa Butterfield) with autism who has difficulty understanding people, but finds comfort in numbers. When he is chosen to represent the United Kingdom at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), Nathan embarks on a journey in which he faces unexpected challenges, such as understanding the nature of love. The character of Nathan was based on Daniel Lightwing who won a silver medal at the 2006 IMO. Source: Wikipedia.com

More Challenging Puzzles

 

Click the image for math puzzles!

"Every week, The Riddler offers up problems related to math, logic and probability. Two puzzles are presented each week: the Riddler Express for those of you who want something bite-size and the Riddler Classic for those of you in the slow-puzzle movement. Submit a correct answer for either,1 and you may get a shoutout in next week’s column."

Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing (BBC)

Ada Lovelace was a most unlikely computer pioneer. In this film, Dr. Hannah Fry tells the story of Ada's remarkable life. Born in the early 19th century, Ada was a countess of the realm, a scandalous socialite and an 'enchantress of numbers.' The film is an enthralling tale of how a life infused with brilliance, but blighted by illness and gambling addiction, helped give rise to the modern era of computing. Source: YouTube.com

Math Channel

3blue1brown channel trailer - YouTube

Click for math videos!

3blue1brown is a channel animating math.  Check out their playlists for expositions of various neat topics and some clever proofs, and see the "Essence of ______" series for some more student-focused material.