“It is often difficult to see the practical application of academic studies while in the classroom and math is no exception.  However as abstract as the concepts may seem, their underlying principles are essential knowledge in the working world.”  See what the folks at Rasmussen College have created to show professions where a knowledge of math is important.  Check it out at:  http://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/main/when-am-i-going-to-use-this/

The American Mathematical Society is pleased to announce that MathSciNet Tutorials are now available! Learn how to take full advantage of the rich structure of the MathSciNet database.

Tutorials include – Publications, Authors, Journals, and Citations searches – as well as tutorials on the Free Tools and Preferences options. Every user will find new features and search options that will enhance their use of the database.

Go to http://www.mathscinet.info/index.html to start using the MSN Tutorials!

Artists are constantly on the hunt for interesting new structures to frame their creative process. From composers to painters, writers to choreographers, the mathematician’s palette of shapes, patterns and numbers has proved a powerful inspiration.

Often subconsciously artists are drawn to the same structures that fascinate mathematicians. Through the work of artists like Borges and Dali, Messiaen and Laban, Professor Marcus du Sautoy will explore the hidden mathematical ideas that underpin their creative output but will also reveal that the work of the mathematician is sometimes no less driven by strong aesthetic values.

Now view Professor du Sautoy’s Michael Faraday prize lecture

http://royalsociety.tv/dpx_royalsociety/dpx.php?cmd=autoplay&type=solo&dpxuser=dpx_v12&pres=477

Enjoy!

The IMU has just launched a website providing full text access to all the proceedings of the ICM which began in 1893.  This site is free, openly available.  The site is searchable.  This is a wonderful service to the mathematics community.  In addition, the document: International Mathematical Congresses · An Illustrated History 1893 — 1986 by A. J. Albers, G. L. Anderson, C. Reid, is provided.  Also, the book, Mathematics Without Borders · A History of the International Mathematical Union by O. Lehto, will appear soon.  To check out the site, go to: http://www.mathunion.org/ICM/

Hopefully soon, we will get links to these resources in our catalog.

Hi all you math puzzle afficianados!  The popular math puzzle games have been added to Drexel’s Math Forum.  Created by Japanese math teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto, KenKen which means “wisdom squared” uses simple arithmetic and logic to solve puzzles.  Teacher guides, Math Forum Problem of the Week and other tied-in resources are planned for the future.  Check it out and have fun!  http://mathforum.org/kenken/

It’s break and time to wander around a bit.  Just came across this article in the New Scientist.  Here is the “mathematical analysis” of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (aka mathematician Charles Dodgson).  DPhil candidate, Melanie Bayley, offers up some mathematical explanations of those weird adventures that Alice has.  Take a look-see:  http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427391.600-alices-adventures-in-algebra-wonderland-solved.html?full=true

It’s kinda fun!

I was just asked about the “R Project for Statistical Computing“.  Any one on to this?  Any one familiar?

Let me know what you think?

The Mathematical Association of America offers 8 reviews of new math books per week in their MAA Reviews online.  The full database includes both “MAA Reviews,” which are commissioned by the editor, and reviews submitted by our readers. It also indicates which books belong to MAA’s Basic Library List, and allows you to search for those books in particular. The full MAA Reviews database is available to members only and requires a password.

I will on the look out for more sites that review math books specifically.