A Message To Students

Guess what?

• None of these things are true!
  • Mathematics is mostly about numbers.
  • It takes a special kind of brain to do mathematics.
  • You have to learn a lot of special symbols if you are going to be good at math.
  • You are good at math when you can get the right answer fast.
  • Only a specialist can understand the newest discoveries in mathematics.

• All of these things are true!
  • Only a very small part of mathematics is about numbers. Knots, logic, infinity, and imaginary shapes are important mathematical topics.
  • There are so many different topics in mathematics that everyone can find something that they like and are good at.
  • Mathematicians use symbols as a shortcut for writing down their ideas. The ideas are important, not the symbols.
  • Mathematicians sometimes try to find an answer to a question that nags them for years! Some problems have been unsolved for hundreds of years. You are good at math when you can be patient with yourself and give your brain time to think and work in the ways that it does best.
  • MegaMath is full of the newest discoveries and hottest topics in mathematics, and you will see that they are easy to understand and fun to play around with. Not only can you understand them, but you might be the one to make a new discovery.

How to Get Started

• Look at the pictures and see what looks interesting to you.
• Read the stories.
• What is your favorite letter? Find out what mathematical ideas begin with that letter.
• Are you bored on the playground? Try out some math games for the playground. (You won't do any counting, but you might get out of breath!)
• Check out the mathematical words in the glossary or the topics in the Reference Section. Which ones look interesting to you?
• Read the mail from other students.
• Write a letter to MegaMath. Tell us about yourself. Ask questions. Tell us what you think is interesting about mathematics.