TRIVIA MATH: A PROBLEM A DAY - VOLUME 2

Here is a collection of math links for arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, statistics, higher math, history of math, and even recreational and practical math. There are also links to tables and pages with problems designed to stump and challenge. Some sites require plug-ins and Java. If you find any dead links, pages that don't load, or sites that have changed address, or if you have any suggestions for pages to include, please email me.

Eileen H. Kramer 2/2/04

Table of Contents

Other Places to Go

Elementary and Middle School Mathematics

A+ Math
"This web site was developed to help students improve their math skills interactively. " Problems cover extremely basic  arithmetic and mathematical games, and include work sheets and flash cards. Topics include: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, money problems, decimals, percentages, and fractions.

Ask Dr. Math (Middle School Level)
Look at answers that Dr.Math, a group of expert math teachers and mathematicians, have given. Look through a very long table of contents for your topic or use the site's search engine. Topics range from "about math" to algebra and geometry.

Dictionary of Math Words
From the common to the very obscure, this site lists and explains number prefixes commonly used in math and science. The site loads easily despite its framed format.

K-12 Math Problems, Puzzles, Tips & Tricks
Puzzle problems that deal with mental calculation, critical thinking, numbers, shapes, and more. Some require algebra or geometry, but many just require brain power. There is also a link to more games and puzzles in the  Mathematics Library.

Kids Online Fraction Tutorial
A fraction tutorial for beginners. Starts with illustrations to teach the basic idea of fractions and has tutorials for adding, subtracting, simplifying, multiplying and dividing fractions. Java looks pretty but makes the site a bit slow to load even with a rapid connection.

The Mathematics Library
A meta site with links to other math sites arranged by topic. Topics range from arithmetic, to high school math, to higher math, and to math education. Within each topic, are subtopics in an extensive table of contents. The site also has a search engine.

Math Magic!
Mathematical stumpers designed for teams of school children to solve. Problems are grouped roughly by grade level. Teachers can register their classes as teams, but any one can try the problems without competing.

Me and My Math
This slick site offers how to's for solving arithmetic, fraction, and number line problems. There are no practice problems, and the pages use either Java or Flash. This web site has not received an update in more than a year.

Ole Miss Problems of the Week
Offers brain bashing problems in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. There is a new problem every week, plus past problems listed on the site.

Online Math Tutor -- Fractions
An outline that trouble shoots difficulties that students frequently encounter when working with fractions, decimals, and percents. There are no practice problems, but there are numerical examples. This site was more than a year ago.

Percent and Probability
A basic and fairly thorough explanation of percents, fractions, decimals and probability. Covers estimation and interest too. Definitions come complete with worked problems with numbers rather than variables. Useful for beginning students.

Word Problems for Kids
"This Web Site contains word problems for students and teachers. The problems are classified into grade levels from Grade 5 to Grade 12. THIS IS NOT A TEST, but a set of carefully selected problems which can help you improve your problem solving skills." Problems come complete with hints in case students get "stuck."

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Algebra and Related Subjects

Algebra Homework Help
Hundreds of practice problems to solve step-by-step interactively, math calculators, and even premade worksheets. Problems range from high school algebra to linear and abstract algebra. There is also an emphasis on word problems. The site is commercial, but you can enjoy it without buying anything.

Algebrahelp.com
Worksheets and lessons that cover nearly all high school and freshman college algebra. There is an explanation of how to do word problems, but no word problems for practice. The site is commercial, but you can use it without buying anything.

Algebra Word and Story Problems
After a brief article explaining the general approach to word problems, one can try word problems on one's own. The word problems are at the bottom of the page. Many of them end with simply setting up the equation, the most difficult part of solving. There are links to other algebra-related pages and to pages that offer help with other subjects. The site appears stable, but has not been updated in several years.

Basic Trigonometry
A brief outline with illustrations that explains slope, the right triangle, sum of the angles of a polygon, and the Pythagorean theorem. This site does not cover sines, cosines, and other related functions.

Dave's Short Trig Course
This site is an outline style textbook that covers basic concepts in trigonometry. It does not replace a practice book, text book, or real life teacher. The site covers trigonometric functions and their inverses but has nothing on conic sections.

Interactive Mathematics Online
Outlines with notes, illustrations, and sometimes sample problems for algebra, geometry, trigonometry, as well as chaos and stereograms. The author sees this page as a supplement to text books and course work. This page needs an extra click for access, due to its being on Thinkquest. This page has also not been revised in more than a year. Please watch for dead links.

Math Tutorial Index
A large selection of intermediate/college algebra, trigonometry, analytic geometry (precalculus), and calculus functions and rules arranged in alphabetical order. Definitions are technical, terse, and a bit slow to load. This site works best when you know exactly what you wish to find.

Purplemath: Your Algebra Resource
Look under "How do you REALLY do this stuff?" for readable lessons. There are also tips on improving math study skills and links to other algebra resources. Note: a few of the links to outside sites do not work.

S.O.S. Math
Practice problems in algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Problems are noninteractive and some areas are much stronger than others. The algebra section includes such topics as logarithms and complex numbers, but there are no word problems.

Solving Story Problems
An article that explains the whys and hows of solving word problems in any branch of mathematics. The article offers useful tips, but there are no actual word problems for practice.

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Statistics

A Guide to the Web for Statisticians
A meta site for statistical links, including books, journals, and data sets. Designed for the person with some knowledge of statistics and who also knows exactly what he/she wants.

Dr. Arsham's Statistics Site
"This Web site is a course in statistics appreciation; i.e., acquiring a feeling for the statistical way of thinking. It is an introductory course in statistics that is designed to provide you with the basic concepts and methods of statistical analysis." Actually the topics in this web text get fairly advanced and include: regression modelling, chi-square, correct sampling procedure, and hypothesis testing, among many others. The text is mainly in words wtih few diagrams or equations and no calculus.

The Statistics
A framed full text, statistics textbook that nearly every interested person who has had algebra can use. Choose from the table of contents at the right. Topics range from "Elementary Concepts" to splines. There is also a search engine in the center frame.

StatLib
"A system for distributing statistical software, datasets, and information by electronic mail, FTP and WWW." Software and datasets are arranged in a table. This site is for the statistically sophisticated, though it also provides a glossary that explains the offerings. Please do not download the software to the hard drive of any public machine. Software files arrive compressed. This site has had a face lift, though there may still be some broken links.

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Calculus Pages

Alvarine High School Problem of the Week
You can study calculus right along with the AB and BC advanced placement calculus students at Alvarine High School in Hudson, New Hampshire. The site contains problems submitted both by the students and teachers and also by the general public. New problems appear every week from September to early May. This site retains the old style tables but it receives periodic updates and even has had a partial graphical makeover.

AP Calculus at Batesville High School
This site features calculus and precalculus practice problems, a college algebra and pracalculus review, and even a "calculus readiness" test. There are a few dead links on the site, and it was several years ago.

Calc101.com
Step by step examples of derivatives and integrals. There is also a Mathematica powered calculus calculator. Derivatives are free but it costs five dollars for an integral password. Remember, you can still use most of the site without paying for anything. This site has not been updated in more than a year.

Graphics for the Calculus Classroom
Animated demonstrations (most likely Java or Java Script) that help make calculus principles and commonly encountered problems more understandable. There are graphic demos from both differential and integral calculus and a link to complex analysis demos as well. Note: these animations may not work with all browsers. This site last received a revision in 1997.

Karl's Calculus Tutor
Extensive outline style explanations, including worked problems, for precalculus and differential calculus. Also includes a section on why one should take calculus, a check list of things one should already know, and tips on sending mathematical notation through email. This site recently received a graphic upgrade.

Mr. Calculus
Scroll down through the big print to find solutions from previous AP calculus examinations, integer sequences, and information about the AP calculus exam in general. If you get really stumped you can email Mr. Calculus, but please send him only one problem a day.

World Web Math -- Calculus Summary
Explains the major concepts and definitions of calculus using both words and mathematical symbols. This web site, though graceful, is designed for those who do not fear the language of mathematics. This site was more than a year ago.

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Tables and Constants

Decimal to Hexidecimal Conversion Table
Converting ordinary or decimal numbers into hexidecimal numbers is an important skill for web page construction because "hex" numbers determine background and text colors. While this fast loading site does not show the colors, it does let you translate the numbers used in hex code to ordinary notation and vice versa. Has not been revised since 1998.

Favorite Mathematical Constants
The author of this page has lots of favorites. Constants, important numbers that almost work like magic to solve certain equations or the numbers "you just have to memorize," are here in abundance. Click on each constant to get its definition written in mathematical language with a bit of English added. There are constants for everything from arithmetic and number theory to geometry, analysis, and engineering. There is a link to a numerical table of constants too. This site has received both a visual and organizational upgrade.

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Graphers and Calculators

Free Online Graphing Calculator
Graph algebra, trigonometric, and even differential calculus functions using this free, fast, java-based graphing software. There is nothing to download, and the grapher pops up in a separate window. Instructions explain how to set up squares, cubes, roots, and trigonometric functions. Graphing elipses not centered at the origin is extremely difficult.

Maths Help
Convert English to metric units for weight, volume, and more. There is also a Farenheit to Celsius temperature converter, trigonometric and algebra calculators, and even a prime number tester.

Plane Graphic Calculator
"The Plane Graphic Calculator is a software tool that interactively displays a graphical view of mathematical functions." The interactive graphing software will handle most functions, including vectors. Keep the numbers low or scale up the graph proportionally. This site has not been updated in more than a year.

WebMath: Instant Solutions to Your Math Problems
A powerful fast-loading multi-purpose math calculator that will handle just about anything from figuring a tip to trigonometry. There is even a question and answer section that features problems solved step-by-step for practice.

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Stumpers and Recreational Math Problems

Brainbasher's Brain Teasers and Puzzles
Mathematical stumpers at various levels. Visual problems that involve constructions, and even games are all here to tempt and entice any user.

IBM Ponder This
"You are cordially invited to match wits with some of the best minds in IBM Research. Seems some of us can't see a problem without wanting to take a crack at solving it. Does that sound like you? Good. Forge ahead and ponder this month's problem. We'll post a new one every month, and allow two to three weeks for you to submit solutions (we may even publish submitted answers, especially if they're correct). " Since these problems are submitted by and for engineers and programmers, they are extremely challenging. Not for the mathematically faint of heart.

Interactive Mathematics: Miscellany and Puzzles
"A resource that would help to learn, if not math itself, then, at least, ways to appreciate its beauty... A resource for things, simple but curious, related to mathematics." An assortment of math games and trivia with fairly extensive explanations. Requires curiosity and interest rather than subject background, and also includes a page of links too.

Shack's Math Problems
This unpretentious little page lists over a hundred brutal brain teasers. Some of these stumpers require higher math. All require a lot of work, despite the reassuring words in the site's introduction. This site was more than a year ago.

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History, Philosophy, and Aesthetics of Mathematics

The Abacus
A well organized site featuring just about anything the interested reader might want to know about this ancient and still used counting device. There is an Introduction to the abacus, abacus history, abacaus articles, links, and even a java abacus applet.

Calculating Machines
"The history of mathematics goes a long way back with devices and methods of calculation. Starting with the ancient Abacus, the slide rule and the logarithms, the mechanical calculating machines, the electromechanical calculators and finally the electronic computer. This site deals mainly with the mechanical calculating machines." This page has not received an update in more than a year.

A Modern History of Blacks in Mathematics
Small but detailed biographies of and links to pages about famous Afro-American mathematicians. This still unattractive site is again being maintained and updated.

Slide Rules
Slide rules are the non-electronic ancestor of today's calculators. They used a slide bar and multiple scales based on logarithms to enable one to multiply, divide, do square roots, and trigonometric functions. This page explains slide rules' history and how they worked. It also describes the main types of slide rules and has links to photos of them. Some knowledge of high school mathematics is required.

Virtual Reality Polyhedra
Learn about polyhedra by reading the text and playing with the shapes. "Polyhedra have an enormous aesthetic appeal and the subject is fun and easy to learn on one's own. One can appreciate the beauty of this image.... but the more you know about polyhedra, the more beauty you will see. " VRML and Java are required for some of the demonstrations. This site has not been revised in more than a year.

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