what is my math biography

Wonder in Mathematics

[verb] + [noun]: Wondering about and creating wonder

My maths autobiography

School maths

I have always loved maths, but the reasons why have changed dramatically over time.

This is my Year 1 work. It reminds me about what I thought it meant to be good at maths: lots of ticks on neat work, especially if it was done quickly.

This attitude was reinforced by my report cards in primary school. A typical one looks like this. Note the focus on speed and accuracy. I loved maths because I was good at it.

Our Year 2 classroom had a corner filled with self-directed puzzle-type problems. If students finished their work early, they could go to the puzzle corner. I recall spending a lot of time there (my report says I was put in an extension group). Looking back, I’m sad that not every student had the same opportunities to engage with these richer, stimulating problems.

Outside of school, I loved doing and making up puzzles. I looked for patterns everywhere. I was always thinking about different ways to count, to organise, and to get things done more quickly. Growing up on a rural property, I had a lot of chores and time to think. For example, I’d think about how many buckets of oranges I could pick in an hour, how long it would take us to fill an orange picking bin, the different ways I could climb the rungs of the ladder, and so on. But I didn’t connect these ideas to maths.

Most of my school maths memories involve doing exercise after exercise from the textbook, but that was fine by me because I could put a self-satisfied tick next to each neatly done problem (after checking the answer in the back of the book!). I remember one high-school maths project to work out the most efficient way to wrap a Kit Kat in foil. It stands out in my memory because it was so different to the rest of maths class.

There were gaps in my knowledge along the way that I tried to cover up. I missed a month of Year 4 due to illness, and a substantial chunk of that time was devoted to fractions. When I got to algebraic fractions in later years, I would furtively use my calculator on simple examples to see if I could work out the right ‘rule’. Now I congratulate myself on having the sense to work it out for myself by generalising from specific examples. In Year 12 I felt embarrassed for using straws and Blu Tack to make visualisations of 3D coordinate geometry; everyone else could do it in their heads. Now I’m proud that I found a tool to help me make sense of the maths.

In Year 12 I hit a big obstacle. All my grades went downhill, including in maths. My maths report card says that I was ‘prone to panic attacks when working against a time constraint’. I don’t remember that, although I do remember crying (which I almost never do) in my maths teacher’s office and thinking that I didn’t know anything. I realise now that much of my maths schooling was about memorisation but not about understanding, and that it had caught up with me by Year 12.

Despite my mostly mediocre grades (I got a D in physics!), I did okay and was offered several university places. My love of the English language drew me to careers such as law, journalism and psychology. But I had also applied for and been offered a place in mathematics. Despite this, I chose to repeat Year 12. I took maths again because I still enjoyed it. The second time around it seemed to make a lot more sense; my scores were 19 and 19.5 for Maths 1 and 2. At the end of Year 13 I was awarded one of the first UniSA Hypatia Scholarships for Mathematically Talented Women. This boosted my confidence and made University study more affordable for a country kid. So, I decided to do mathematics. I also enrolled in a computer science major because I wasn’t sure what kind of job you could get with a maths degree.

University days

Most of my undergraduate mathematics experience was the same as high school. I got Distinctions or High Distinctions for all my subjects (except Statistics 3B where I scraped a pass). I did most of my thinking in my head and then committed it to paper. I produced beautiful notes, and would rewrite a page if it had a single mistake on it. On reflection, I had a fairly superficial understanding of mathematics, but knew what to do to get good marks. I got disenchanted in the third year of my four-year degree and briefly considered quitting, but I had never quit something so important so I kept going.

At the end of third year, I had an experience that made me sure I wanted to be a mathematician. I attended a Mathematics-in-Industry Study Group. This is a five-day event that draws together around 100 mathematicians. On the first day, we listen to five or six different companies tell us about a problem they have that needs solving. For example, they might say ‘we want to stop washing machines from walking across the floor when they are unbalanced’ or ‘we want to know the best way to pack apples in cartons’. The mathematicians then decide which problem they want to work on, and smaller groups spend the next three and a half days feverishly trying to find a solution.

It was transformative as I witnessed, first-hand, mathematics put into action. I also saw how mathematicians creatively and collaboratively approach solving problems. I watched accomplished mathematicians initially not know how to start. I saw them making mistakes. They had intense (but friendly) discussions about whether something was the right approach. It was a defining moment, because it showed me how mathematics is really done, beyond learning mathematics that’s already known, or applying algorithms without a sense of why we would do so.  I saw the true habits of mathematicians in action. I also discovered the important role that communication plays in mathematics, and that I could put my love of the English language to good use.

The transition from doing maths exercises with answers that were ‘perfect’ the first time to the more authentic and messy problem-solving required for mathematical research was not an easy one for me. I found it difficult in my PhD to accept that I was not perfect and that I had to constantly draft and refine both my mathematical ideas and my writing, especially because I had never been taught these skills. But I was helped in being surrounded by more experienced mathematicians who modelled, if not explicitly articulated, that this was how mathematicians really work.

It’s eight years since I was awarded my PhD, and I can now say that I am quite comfortable with this ‘messy’ approach to maths. I like to say that mathematicians are chronically lost and confused, and that is how it is supposed to be . It would be ridiculous for mathematicians to spend their days solving problems that they already know how to solve. So, being uncertain about whether something will work, or uncertain about what to do next, is a natural way for mathematicians to be.

Teaching maths

I started teaching mathematics during my PhD. At first I taught exactly as I had been taught, with procedures and algorithms. But I also didn’t want to respond to a student with ‘Because that’s the rule’, so I started trying to really understand why maths concepts worked the way they did. I learned so much more about maths when I started to explain it to others. The way I taught expanded to include visual ways to think about maths, a variety of representations and approaches, and other flexible ways of thinking. It wasn’t natural to me at first (and at times I still solve arithmetical problems in my head by imagining a pen writing the algorithm) but it has immeasurably enriched my own understanding of mathematical concepts.

I also realised that the way I was taught was not the way I wanted to teach, but I wasn’t sure how to change that. I sought ideas from the internet, and eventually stumbled into the early days of the online community that is the MTBoS (the Math Twitter Blogosphere), although I didn’t realise that until much later. I lurked for a long time because I felt like an outsider: I wasn’t a school teacher (what did I know about education?!) and I wasn’t located in North America. Today I couldn’t imagine teaching without the support of my professional community on Twitter which extends all around the world.

Around five years ago I decided that I could help break the cycle of traditional procedural-based teaching by supporting students, particularly preservice teachers, in experiencing maths in the ways that I and other professional mathematicians do. So, I designed a course that gives students these problem-solving experiences alongside learning skills for thinking and working mathematically. I hold these word clouds from Tracy Zager in my head as a reminder and a motivation of what I am trying to accomplish. (You can read more about how I found them here .)

I still love ‘cracking puzzles’ in maths like I did in Year 2, but my love of maths has expanded to include learning how others think about mathematical ideas. In almost every class I see a student think about a problem in a way I’d never imagined, and I love it. Listening to student thinking is why I’ll never tire of teaching, and it helps me to be a better teacher. I can’t wait to learn from you.

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5 thoughts on “ my maths autobiography ”.

You are an inspiration Amie – I love that you have shared your journey. It gives me confidence to continue to pursue your approach to teaching mathematics in my role as a mathematics teacher to young people.

Thanks Vanessa. It’s my respect for the work that you and your colleagues do that made me realise I have to learn a lot more about school teaching. So I’m about to start a Master of Teaching. Wish me luck!

I’m inspired about what we can do as a community when we work together. I’ve read a lot of maths autobiographies recently, and they almost all talk about procedurally-based classrooms. But I hope we are making an impact. I can’t wait to read the maths autobiographies of our students!

Thanks for this Amie. My journey in maths has similarities to yours. Unlike you it was not events within the research community that lead me to a transformative experience, rather it was conversations with a mathematics educator that brought things together.

I was capable at what I was asked to do at school. And I certainly remember speed and accuracy being rewarded there. University was more of the same and looking back I learnt how to do well, without any deep understanding. I did get frustrated at the assessment and got a sense that exams were a speed contest, not an opportunity to show deep understanding.

Unfortunately for me I feel as though my honours and postgraduate years were so overly scaffolded that even then I didn’t really learn what it is to do mathematics. No disrespect at all to my supervisor who is one Australia’s finest applied mathematicians – I know he thought he was doing his best by me. At the time, I thought his approach to my “research” internship was entirely appropriate, because it was like my undergraduate years. Looking back I wish he wasn’t so attentive and had me work out things for myself.

I finished my PhD in three years and three weeks and the following day took up my lecturing job in north QLD. This was 1993. I had moved to a department in decline and there was no broad culture of research or doing of mathematics. The most authentic doers of mathematics were actually the physicists on the floor below, but it took me a while to work this out. It was very much a place where we did direct teaching in the way I had experienced as a student.

By 2007 I was in a multi-disciplinary school and my responsibilities extended outside of mathematics into physics and assisting with off-shore delivery of IT. Somehow my efforts in teaching were recognised and I got approached to take a leadership role in the science faculty. It was a role where I had no power. I was supposed to use my “influence” to raise the profile of teaching. This did give me an opportunity to reflect – not on mathematics, but on what we were doing in our BSc – and I decided to focus on numeracy, because I knew this was an issue frequently discussed by the cohort of academics. I got to mix with other learning and teaching people across Australia and be involved in some great projects.

In 2010 I decided I needed some help from somebody with a knowledge of education, because I wanted to formalise some of the work I had been doing. I ended up meeting the mathematics educator, Jo Balatti. I did not ask for her. This was the person the Head of Education got me to meet.

It did not take long before Jo started telling me about her struggles with the maths pedagogy subject. She very quickly got me to realise that I as a mathematician had a responsibility to focus on the cohort of preservice maths teachers. There was a lot of distrust between education and the sciences and maths within the university, so there was not a history of cooperation. But Jo pointed out to me that her students were doing at least four subjects of maths in my discipline before she begins to teach them maths pedagogy in education – and that her experience was these students were very weak when it came to explaining mathematics concepts and procedures.

My interactions with Jo lead to a lot of reflection by me about mathematics and the way it needs to be taught. This is not to say that I had not contemplated this before. Despite my own lack of profile in research mathematics I knew enough from the conference circuit that mathematics is a very powerful bunch of knowledge and pursuits in mathematics are not procedural in nature. However it was not until I thought about Jo’s words that I really began to understand how our approaches in maths teaching were unhelpful.

Jo & I co-wrote a subject for preservice maths teachers – and this subject has given me an opportunity to revisit so much of mathematics – in a way that we hope helps aspiring maths teachers to do a good job. And I agree with the message in the word clouds of Tracy Zager – that there is so much to the body of knowledge we call mathematics that we ought to get across. This includes the messiness of problem solving and the absolute thrill of the light-bulb moments where connections are made and the beauty of the structures within mathematics are revealed.

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100 Best Mathematician Biography Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best mathematician biography books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Rebecca Skloot | 5.00

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

Now Rebecca Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells; from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia — a land of wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo — to East Baltimore today, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells.

Henrietta’s family did not learn of her “immortality” until more than twenty years after her death, when scientists investigating HeLa began using her husband and children in research without informed consent. And though the cells had launched a multimillion-dollar industry that sells human biological materials, her family never saw any of the profits. As Rebecca Skloot so brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family — past and present — is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

Over the decade it took to uncover this story, Rebecca became enmeshed in the lives of the Lacks family—especially Henrietta’s daughter Deborah, who was devastated to learn about her mother’s cells. She was consumed with questions: Had scientists cloned her mother? Did it hurt her when researchers infected her cells with viruses and shot them into space? What happened to her sister, Elsie, who died in a mental institution at the age of fifteen? And if her mother was so important to medicine, why couldn’t her children afford health insurance?

Intimate in feeling, astonishing in scope, and impossible to put down, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences.

Carl Zimmer Yes. This is a fascinating book on so many different levels. It is really compelling as the story of the author trying to uncover the history of the woman from whom all these cells came. (Source)

A.J. Jacobs Great writer. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

Walter Isaacson | 4.93

Elon Musk Quite interesting. (Source)

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Gary Vaynerchuk I've read 3 business books in my life. If you call [this book] a business book. (Source)

Hidden Figures

The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

Margot Lee Shetterly | 4.89

Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South and the civil rights movement, the never-before-told true story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program—and whose contributions have been unheralded, until now.

Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of professionals worked as “Human Computers,” calculating the flight paths that would enable these historic achievements. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American women. Segregated from their white counterparts by...

Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of professionals worked as “Human Computers,” calculating the flight paths that would enable these historic achievements. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American women. Segregated from their white counterparts by Jim Crow laws, these “colored computers,” as they were known, used slide rules, adding machines, and pencil and paper to support America’s fledgling aeronautics industry, and helped write the equations that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.

Drawing on the oral histories of scores of these “computers,” personal recollections, interviews with NASA executives and engineers, archival documents, correspondence, and reporting from the era, Hidden Figures recalls America’s greatest adventure and NASA’s groundbreaking successes through the experiences of five spunky, courageous, intelligent, determined, and patriotic women: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden, and Gloria Champine.

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"

Adventures of a Curious Character

Richard P. Feynman, Ralph Leighton, Edward Hutchings, Albert R. Hibbs | 4.76

Sergey Brin Brin told the Academy of Achievement: "Aside from making really big contributions in his own field, he was pretty broad-minded. I remember he had an excerpt where he was explaining how he really wanted to be a Leonardo [da Vinci], an artist and a scientist. I found that pretty inspiring. I think that leads to having a fulfilling life." (Source)

Larry Page Google co-founder has listed this book as one of his favorites. (Source)

Peter Attia The book I’ve recommended most. (Source)

A Beautiful Mind

Sylvia Nasar | 4.74

Ariel Rubinstein The story of John Nash is really a human story – I don’t think it sheds much light on game theory. But it gives hope to people dealing with this disease. (Source)

Diane Coyle This is a terrific book for just saying something about what game theory helps to do, without plunging you into all the complicated mathematics of how to do it in practice. (Source)

The Man Who Loved Only Numbers

The Story of Paul Erdős and the Search for Mathematical Truth

Paul Hoffman | 4.72

The Last Lecture

Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow, et al | 4.71

Gabriel Coarna I read "The Last Lecture" because I had seen Randy Pausch give this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo (Source)

His Life and Universe

Walter Isaacson | 4.71

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2011.] (Source)

Elon Musk I didn't read actually very many general business books, but I like biographies and autobiographies, I think those are pretty helpful. Actually, a lot of them aren't really business. [...] I also feel it’s worth reading books on scientists and engineers. (Source)

Scott Belsky [Scott Belsky recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Ashlee Vance | 4.68

Richard Branson Elon Musk is a man after my own heart: a risk taker undaunted by setbacks and ever driven to ensure a bright future for humanity. Ashlee Vance's stellar biography captures Musk's remarkable life story and irrepressible spirit. (Source)

Casey Neistat I'm fascinated by Elon Musk, I own a Tesla, I read Ashlee Vance's biography on Elon Musk. I think he's a very interesting charachter. (Source)

Roxana Bitoleanu A business book I would definitely choose the biography of Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance, because of Elon's strong, even extreme ambition to radically change the world, which I find very inspiring. (Source)

The Man Who Knew Infinity

A Life of the Genius Ramanujan

Robert Kanigel | 4.68

Don't have time to read the top Mathematician Biography books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

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Leonardo da Vinci

Walter Isaacson | 4.63

Bill Gates I think Leonardo was one of the most fascinating people ever. Although today he’s best known as a painter, Leonardo had an absurdly wide range of interests, from human anatomy to the theater. Isaacson does the best job I’ve seen of pulling together the different strands of Leonardo’s life and explaining what made him so exceptional. A worthy follow-up to Isaacson’s great biographies of Albert... (Source)

Satya Nadella Microsoft CEO has plunged into what must be an advance copy of Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson, who has written biographies of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein and Ben Franklin. Isaacson’s biography is based on the Renaissance master’s personal notebooks, so you know we’re going to be taken into the creative mind of the genius. (Source)

Ryan Holiday Truly excellent book about one of history’s all time greats. (Source)

Benjamin Franklin

An American Life

Elon Musk I didn't read actually very many general business books, but I like biographies and autobiographies, I think those are pretty helpful. Actually, a lot of them aren't really business. [...] Isaacson's biography on Franklin is really good. Cause he was an entrepreneur and he sort of started from nothing, actually he was just like a run away kid, basically, and created his printing business and sort... (Source)

Brandon Stanton The [biography of Benjamin Franklin] I read. (Source)

The Biography of a Dangerous Idea

Charles Seife | 4.53

Alex Bellos Unlike Ifrah, Charles Seife is a brilliant popular science writer who has here written the ‘biography’ of zero. And even though he doesn’t talk that much about India, it works well as a handbook to Ifrah’s sections on India. Because Seife talks about how zero is mathematically very close to the idea of infinity, which is another mathematical idea that the Indians thought about differently. Seife... (Source)

Bryan Johnson Chronicles how hard it was for humanity to come up with and hold onto the concept of zero. No zero, no math. No zero, no engineering. No zero, no modern world as we know it... (Source)

Never at Rest

A Biography of Isaac Newton

Richard S. Westfall | 4.48

William Newman It’s a magisterial book. It’s the only treatment of Newton that really tries to give a detailed study of the totality of his science alongside his religion and his work on alchemy, which covered more than 30 years. (Source)

The Wright Brothers

David McCullough | 4.48

Ed Zschau A fabulous book. (Source)

Paul Halmos

Celebrating 50 Years of Mathematics

John Ewing, F.W. Gehring | 4.47

How to Change Your Mind

What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

POLLAN MICHAE | 4.47

Daniel Goleman Michael Pollan masterfully guides us through the highs, lows, and highs again of psychedelic drugs. How to Change Your mind chronicles how it’s been a longer and stranger trip than most any of us knew. (Source)

Yuval Noah Harari Changed my mind, or at least some of the ideas held in my mind. (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson How we get locked into viewing the world, ourselves, and each other in a certain way, and then finding it difficult to relate to alternative perspectives or seeing other angles. Studying philosophy, psychology, and sociology is a way to break those rigid frames we all build over time. But that’s still all happening at a pretty high level of perception. Mind altering drugs, and especially... (Source)

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth

Chris Hadfield | 4.44

James Altucher And while you are at it, throw in “Bounce” by Mathew Syed, who was the UK Ping Pong champion when he was younger. I love any book where someone took their passion, documented it, and shared it with us. That’s when you can see the subleties, the hard work, the luck, the talent, the skill, all come together to form a champion. Heck, throw in, “An Astronaut’s Guide to Earth” by Commander Chris... (Source)

Chris Goward Here are some of the books that have been very impactful for me, or taught me a new way of thinking: [...] An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. (Source)

Simon Carley Also love the idea of being a zero. Totally agree that some of my finest colleagues are that. I’m fact the doc I want to look after me in resus is defo a zero. (Read the book to find out why). (Source)

My Family and Other Animals (Corfu Trilogy #1)

Gerald Durrell | 4.44

M G Leonard It’s a real work of genius and needs to be kept on every child’s bedside table. (Source)

Women in Science

50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World

Rachel Ignotofsky | 4.43

The Ghost Map

The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic—and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World

Steven Johnson | 4.42

Seth Mnookin The Ghost Map is a book that I oftentimes give to people to show them how cool and exciting and accessible and gripping stories about scientific discoveries can be. (Source)

Alison Alvarez I read the Ghost Map, a book about 1854 London Cholera outbreak. The outbreak was stopped because of a map created by Dr. John Snow. You can see hints of this map in some of our customer discovery tools because it was such an effective way of pinpointing a solution to a seemingly insurmountable problem. (Source)

Stephen Evans Johnson looks at London during a specific moment in time, August 1854, and focuses on a particular incident, an outbreak of cholera in Soho, in Central London. (Source)

Katherine Johnson

Thea Feldman and Alyssa Petersen | 4.42

The Innovators

How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution

Walter Isaacson | 4.41

Chris Fussell The history of how great ideas evolve. (Source)

Brian Burkhart This book is essentially a biography of all the people who’ve led to the technology of today—it’s fascinating. The most important point of the book is everything is one long, connected chain. There isn’t just one person or one industry that makes anything happen—it all goes way back. For example, the communication theory I have espoused and taught throughout my career is from Aristotle, Socrates,... (Source)

Sean Gardner @semayuce @MicrosoftUK @HelenSharmanUK @astro_timpeake @WalterIsaacson Yes, I agree: "The Innovators" is a great book. I loved it too. (Source)

I Want to Be a Mathematician

An Automathography

P.R. Halmos | 4.41

Human Computer

Mary Jackson, Engineer

Andi Diehn and Katie Mazeika | 4.41

My Brain is Open

The Mathematical Journeys of Paul Erdős

Bruce Schechter | 4.38

Mathematicians Are People, Too

Stories from the Lives of Great Mathematicians, Volume 1

DALE SEYMOUR PUBLICATIONS | 4.38

Reaching for the Moon

The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson | 4.37

A Mind at Play

How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age

Jimmy Soni, Rob Goodman | 4.37

Erik Rostad Here is something that recently helped me. It comes from the book A Mind at Play by Jimmy Soni & Rob Goodman. I'll quote the passage directly and then describe how it helped me: "What does information really measure? It measures the uncertainty we overcome. It measure our chances of learning something we haven't yet learned. Or, more specifically: when one thing carries information about... (Source)

Bryan Johnson [Bryan Johnson recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

The Facebook Effect

The Inside Story of the Company That is Connecting the World

David Kirkpatrick | 4.37

Dustin Moskovitz [Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book during a Stanford lecture.] (Source)

Craig Pearce If you read to maintain motivation and be entertained, I recommend a few books that in addition to telling great stories, also contain lessons and learnings. You won’t gain many step-by-step type lessons from these books but you will come away realizing that not all startups, regardless of what stage they are in, are as well polished as they make you think. You will realize that they make... (Source)

Angela Pham The Facebook Effect by David Kirkpatrick made me a fan of Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg years ago. I didn’t hesitate to take my current role at Facebook because I feel so strongly about their integrity and leadership, no matter the negative sentiments and media narratives the company has endured recently. (Source)

The Life and Science of Richard Feynman

James Gleick | 4.36

Naval Ravikant I’ve been reading Perfectly Reasonable Deviations, and I’ve also been rereading Genius. (Source)

Failure Is Not an Option

Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond

Gene Kranz | 4.36

Dominic D'agostino Gene Kranz has always been a huge inspiration. Just finished his book "Failure is not an option". The level of detail he goes into describing mission control is fantastic. https://t.co/ii5UpJBKty https://t.co/wPc9anl07C (Source)

Fate Is the Hunter

Ernest K. Gann | 4.35

William Dunham | 4.35

Women in Mathematics

The Addition of Difference

Claudia Henrion | 4.34

Computer Decoder

Dorothy Vaughn, Computer Scientist

Andi Diehn and Katie Mazeika | 4.34

An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants

John Drury Clark, Isaac Asimov | 4.34

Elon Musk There is a good book on rocket stuff called Ignition! [An informal history of liquid rocket propellants] by John Clark, that’s a really fun one. (Source)

The Cuckoo's Egg

Clifford Stoll | 4.33

Rick Klau @AtulAcharya @stevesi Same. Read it in college, realized I was more excited about the tech than what I was studying -- and Cliff did such a great job helping you understand what was going on. Such a great book. (Source)

James Stanley "The Cuckoo's Egg" by Clifford Stoll is another great book. I believe it's the first documented account of a computer being misused by a remote attacker. It talks about how Clifford attached physical teleprinters to the incoming phone lines so that he could see what the attacker was actually doing on the computer, and how he traced the attacker across several countries. (Source)

Bitcoin Billionaires

A True Story of Genius, Betrayal, and Redemption

Ben Mezrich | 4.33

Kim Dotcom The Winklevoss brothers mailed me this awesome must-read book #bitcoinbillionaires with a really nice personal note. Thank you @winklevoss and @tylerwinklevoss. Facebook was stolen from you but what you’ve created since then is even more impressive. Crypto is the future. https://t.co/iAkfU1Dm65 (Source)

Bill Lee Thank you @tylerwinklevoss @winklevoss for sending me the must read @benmezrich book with the nice signed note. You guys are ushering in the crypto revolution and have captured lightning in a bottle again. #respect #BitcoinBillionaires https://t.co/QNaJLkQPJa (Source)

Leonhard Euler

Mathematical Genius in the Enlightenment

Ronald S. Calinger | 4.33

Robin Wilson Ron (Source)

DK Life Stories

Ebony Joy Wilkins and Charlotte Ager | 4.32

Prime Obsession

Bernhard Riemann and the Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics

John Derbyshire | 4.32

The Undoing Project

A Friendship That Changed Our Minds

Michael Lewis | 4.31

Doug McMillon Here are some of my favorite reads from 2017. Lots of friends and colleagues send me book suggestions and it's impossible to squeeze them all in. I continue to be super curious about how digital and tech are enabling people to transform our lives but I try to read a good mix of books that apply to a variety of areas and stretch my thinking more broadly. (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson Michael Lewis is just a great storyteller, and tell a story in this he does. It’s about two Israeli psychologists, their collaboration on the irrationality of the human mind, and the milestones they set with concepts like loss-aversion, endowment effect, and other common quirks that the assumption of rationality doesn’t account for. It’s a bit long-winded, but if you like Lewis’ style, you... (Source)

Francisco Perez Mackenna ​This summer, Mackenna is learning more about the birth of behavioral economics, the psychology of white collar crime, and the restoration of American cities as locations of economic growth. (Source)

NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson

Heather E. Schwartz | 4.31

American Prometheus

The Triumph & Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin | 4.31

David Blaine One of the more fascinating men that I’ve read about. (Source)

Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution

Neil deGrasse Tyson, Vikas Adam, et al | 4.31

A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery

Scott Kelly | 4.31

Eric Ries Kelly spent a record-breaking year in space and this book is a fascinating account of that time and what he learned about humanity and himself. (Source)

Anoop Anthony Reading Endurance puts things in perspective; some of us have callings with remarkable purpose — the very future of humankind — at significant risk to one's own life and creature comforts. It may sound corny, but it makes one wonder: can the work we do in our industries and businesses have a higher purpose than just commercial success? (Source)

Thunderstruck

Erik Larson | 4.31

Timothy J. Jorgensen I chose this book because radio waves are a type of radiation. (Source)

Margot Lee Shetterly | 4.31

Based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award–nominated movie, author Margot Lee Shetterly and illustrator Laura Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space to picture book readers!

Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were good at math… really good.

They participated in some of NASA's greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America's first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black...

They participated in some of NASA's greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America's first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black and a woman limited what they could do. But they worked hard. They persisted. And they used their genius minds to change the world.

In this beautifully illustrated picture book edition, we explore the story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA, known as "colored computers," and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career.

"Finally, the extraordinary lives of four African American women who helped NASA put the first men in space is available for picture book readers," proclaims Brightly in their article "18 Must-Read Picture Books of 2018." "Will inspire girls and boys alike to love math, believe in themselves, and reach for the stars."

Rocket Boys (Coalwood #1)

Homer Hickam | 4.30

Women Who Count

Honoring African American Women Mathematicians

Shelly M. Jones | 4.30

Hidden Valley Road

Inside the Mind of an American Family

Robert Kolker | 4.30

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope

William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer | 4.30

Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America

Christopher Wylie | 4.30

Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla

Biography of a Genius

Marc Seifer | 4.30

Black Pioneers of Science and Invention

Louis Haber | 4.28

Hope Jahren | 4.28

Lost in Math

How Beauty Leads Physics Astray

Sabine Hossenfelder | 4.28

Barbara Kiser This is a firecracker of a book—a shot across the bows of theoretical physics. Sabine Hossenfelder, a theoretical physicist working on quantum gravity and blogger, confronts failures in her field head-on. (Source)

Love and Math

The Heart of Hidden Reality

Edward Frenkel | 4.27

The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

Dava Sobel, Neil Armstrong | 4.26

Richard Branson Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. (Source)

Alan Turing

Andrew Hodges, Douglas Hofstadter | 4.26

George Dyson Alan Turing was born exactly 100 years ago, [editor’s note: this interview was done in 2012] and died aged 41. In those 41 years he led an amazing life that is covered with extraordinary grace, complexity and completeness by Andrew Hodges in this biography. It was first published in 1983 and remains in print. (Source)

Ghost in the Wires

My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker

Kevin Mitnick, Steve Wozniak, William L. Simon | 4.25

If they were a hall of fame or shame for computer hackers, a Kevin Mitnick plaque would be mounted the near the entrance. While other nerds were fumbling with password possibilities, this adept break-artist was penetrating the digital secrets of Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment Corporation, Nokia, Motorola, Pacific Bell, and other mammoth enterprises. His Ghost in the Wires memoir paints an action portrait of a plucky loner motivated by a passion for trickery, not material game. (P.S. Mitnick's capers have already been the subject of two books and a movie. This first-person account is...

If they were a hall of fame or shame for computer hackers, a Kevin Mitnick plaque would be mounted the near the entrance. While other nerds were fumbling with password possibilities, this adept break-artist was penetrating the digital secrets of Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment Corporation, Nokia, Motorola, Pacific Bell, and other mammoth enterprises. His Ghost in the Wires memoir paints an action portrait of a plucky loner motivated by a passion for trickery, not material game. (P.S. Mitnick's capers have already been the subject of two books and a movie. This first-person account is the most comprehensive to date.)

Richard Bejtlich In 2002 I reviewed Kevin Mitnick's first book, The Art of Deception. In 2005 I reviewed his second book, The Art of Intrusion. I gave both books four stars. Mitnick's newest book, however, with long-time co-author Bill Simon, is a cut above their previous collaborations and earns five stars. As far as I can tell (and I am no Mitnick expert, despite reading almost all previous texts mentioning... (Source)

Antonio Eram This book was recommended by Antonio when asked for titles he would recommend to young people interested in his career path. (Source)

Nick Janetakis I'm going to start reading Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick this week. I used to go to 2600 meetings back when he was arrested for wire fraud and other hacking related shenanigans in the mid 1990s. I'm fascinated by things like social engineering and language in general. In the end, I just want to be entertained by his stories. For someone who is into computer programming, a book like this... (Source)

My Inventions

The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla | 4.25

Elon Musk I didn't read actually very many general business books, but I like biographies and autobiographies, I think those are pretty helpful. Actually, a lot of them aren't really business. [...] I think it's also worth reading books on scientists and engineers. Tesla, obviously. (Source)

My Stroke of Insight

A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey

Jill Bolte Taylor | 4.24

Maya Zlatanova [One of the books that had the biggest impact on Maya.] (Source)

Why Fish Don't Exist

A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life

Lulu Miller | 4.24

Angles of Reflection

Joan L. Richards | 4.23

Men of Mathematics

E.T. Bell | 4.23

A Mathematician's Apology

G. H. Hardy, C. P. Snow | 4.23

Marcus du Sautoy Yes, it really appealed to me when I read it as a kid because I was interested in music, I played the trumpet, I loved doing theatre, and somehow GH Hardy in that book revealed to me how much mathematics is a creative art as much as a useful science. In fact he probably goes further, he really revels in the beauty of the subject and says he’s not particularly interested in the applications. That... (Source)

Plague of Corruption

Restoring Faith in the Promise of Science

Kent Heckenlively | 4.23

One Scientist's Intrepid Search for the Truth about Human Retroviruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Autism, and Other Diseases

Kent Heckenlively | 4.22

Abel's Proof

An Essay on the Sources and Meaning of Mathematical Unsolvability

Peter Pesic | 4.22

Beyond Banneker

Black Mathematicians and the Paths to Excellence

Erica N. Walker | 4.22

Mathematicians are People, Too

Stories from the Lives of Great Mathematicians (Volume Two)

Luetta Reimer, Wilbert Reimer, et al. | 4.18

God Created the Integers

The Mathematical Breakthroughs That Changed History

Stephen Hawking | 4.18

The Clockwork Universe

Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World

Edward Dolnick | 4.17

Remarkable Mathematicians

From Euler to Von Neumann

Ioan James | 4.17

A Mathematician Grappling with His Century

Laurent Schwartz and S. Schneps | 4.17

Adventures of a Mathematician

S. M. Ulam, Daniel Hirsch, et al. | 4.16

The Random Walks of George Polya

George Pólya and Gerald L. Alexanderson | 4.15

Uncanny Valley

Anna Wiener | 4.14

Can Duruk Interesting thread about @annawiener’s book. I’d like us, as the tech industry, to move past framing every single criticism or commentary on our work as “anti tech screed”. Seems like books like this are key, but it requires an open and inquisitive mind more than anything. https://t.co/OCCgGyScwQ (Source)

Kara Swisher @AmyAlex63 @GuardianUS Agreed but it is a great book and very sly (Source)

Robert Went Great book! Uncanny Valley author @annawiener on the stories tech companies tell themselves. My hope is to provide an ordinary employee’s perspective, which is one that for many different reasons is harder for a lot of people to share publicly https://t.co/sUzc5wJeCk (Source)

Code-Breaker and Mathematician Alan Turing

Heather E. Schwartz | 4.14

More Mathematical People

Donald J. Albers, Gerald L. Alexanderson, Constance Reid | 4.13

Prisoner's Dilemma

William Poundstone | 4.13

Constance Reid | 4.13

How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry--and Made Himself the Richest Man in America

Stephen Manes, Paul Andrews | 4.12

Returning to Earth

Buzz Aldrin | 4.12

Summary and Analysis of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

Based on the Book by Margot Lee Shetterly

Worth Books | 4.10

Maurice Mashaal and Anna Pierrehumbert | 4.09

The Mathematician's Shiva

Stuart Rojstaczer | 4.09

Mathematical Apocrypha Redux

More Stories and Anecdotes of Mathematicians and the Mathematical (Spectrum)

Steven Krantz | 4.07

Einstein's Italian Mathematicians

Ricci, Levi-Civita, and the Birth of General Relativity

Judith R. Goodstein | 4.07

John Von Neumann

Norman MacRae | 4.06

Out of the Mouths of Mathematicians

Rosemary Schmalz | 4.05

Mathematical People

Profiles and Interviews

Donald Albers, Gerald L. Alexanderson | 4.04

Math Equals

Biographies of Women Mathematicians+related Activities

Teri Perl | 4.04

Alan M. Turing

Sara Turing | 4.02

Edmund Morris | 4.02

Norbert Wiener--A Life in Cybernetics: Ex-Prodigy: My Childhood and Youth and I Am a Mathematician

The Later Life of a Prodigy

Norbert Wiener and Ronald R. Kline | 4.00

Mathematicians

An Outer View of the Inner World

Mariana Cook | 4.00

The Man Who Knew The Way to the Moon

Todd Zwillich | 3.98

Exploring Mathematical Identities Through Autobiographies

Everyone has a "math story".

Updated January 23, 2024

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In my discipline, Sociology, analyzing autobiographies, or life histories, has a rich foundation. Such narrative analysis enables us to gain insight into the phenomenological life worlds of both self and others. The quintessential example of a classic sociological study employing the use of autobiographical data is The Polish Peasant in Europe and America by W.I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki (1918). Their analysis of familial letters exchanged between new immigrants to the U.S. and their family members in Poland shed light on the effects of immigration, industrialization, disintegration, and reorganization. Of course Sociology does not solely lay claim to utilizing the method of autobiographical analysis. Many disciplines – and not just in the social sciences – recognize the value of autobiographies in understanding subjective experiences in a holistic and reflective manner.

Recent collaborations with my colleague Carmen Latterell, who is in the field of Math Education , have demonstrated that math autobiographies can be used by researchers to better understand current and future teachers’ approaches to the study and teaching of mathematics. Researchers who have collected math autobiographies from current teachers as well as from both preservice elementary and secondary teachers have shown that individuals’ written narratives of their experiences with mathematics provide a window to their mathematical identities while also describing experiences with, and feelings toward, math that shape how they approach the teaching of the subject matter in their own classrooms. Mixes of positive and negative experiences with math are revealed in individuals’ math autobiographies. Not surprisingly, one’s teachers and family members have a large effect on one’s attitudes about math. With respect to former teachers, both good and bad experiences shape attitudes about and approaches toward math. While having had good teachers in the past provides future teachers excellent role models and are an inspiration, having had bad teachers also serves as a motivator – in particular, future teachers note that they will be sure not to repeat some of the poor practices and approaches they had to endure from some of their former teachers.

Math autobiographies provided by research participants highlight both minor and major setbacks – in some cases, the writers of the autobiographies express that they sought out alternative methods for learning the material outside of what was being done in the classroom; in other cases, individuals report simply giving up. Sadly, amongst those in the latter group, any sense of self-efficacy with respect to math was lost. Narratives also demonstrate the difference that particular branches of math can make in one’s interest and confidence level. For instance, some individuals indicate that they absolutely loved algebra but hated geometry, or vice versa.

Math is ubiquitous. We don’t need to be math teachers or working in a field that draws heavily from math, such as engineering, to recognize the relevance and daily necessity of mathematical properties. Whether we are measuring ingredients for a meal we are preparing, figuring out the best deal on an item in the store, counting beats as we practice our musical instrument, or computing the number of calories we are burning during our exercise regimen, we are inevitably relying upon our understanding of math. In this sense, each one of us has a math autobiography ; each of us has a math identity . As noted, researchers have collected the math autobiographies of current and future teachers. In the interest of broadening the scope, please share your math autobiography (whether through the comments function on this site or by sending me an email). In essence, describe how you identify yourself mathematically, including how particular people, events, and experiences have shaped who you are mathematically from as early as you remember until now. What is your math story?

Drake, C. (2006). Turning points: Using teachers’ mathematics life stories to understand the implementation of mathematics education reform. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 9, 579-608.

Ellsworth, J. Z., & Buss, A. (2000). Autobiographical stories from preservice elementary mathematics and science students: Implications for K-16 teaching. School Science and Mathematics, 100(7), 355-364.

Guillaume, A. M., & Kirtman, L. (2010). Mathematics stories: Preservice teachers’ images and experiences as learners of mathematics. Issues in Teacher Education, 19(1), 121-143.

Latterell, C.M. & Wilson, J.L. (in press).

McCulloch, A., Marshall, P. L., DeCuir-Gunby, J. T., & Caldwell, T. S. (2013). Math autobiographies: A window into teachers’ identities as mathematics learners. School Science and Mathematics, 113(8), 380-389.

Thomas, W. I. & Znaniecki, F. (1918-1920). The Polish peasant in Europe and America. (5 volumes). Boston: Gorham Press.

Janelle Wilson, Ph.D., is a professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

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Discovering Each Teacher's "Math Autobiography"

What are the most powerful memories you have about learning math? Did it always feel fun and easy, supported by parents and teachers who gave you confidence? Was it generally enjoyable, but marred by a few bad experiences, like mean teachers, critical parents, and traumatic life events that impacted school? Or has math long felt like a struggle - one where you never received support?

These home and school experiences shape the way we each think about our abilities - and thus, how much we gravitate to, persevere at, and ask for help with our school subjects. They are especially impactful in math, where students may hear the phrase "I'm not a math person" - which conveys the common erroneous belief that math is something you either "get" or you don't. These experiences are a part of each person's "math identity". To support students to be successful mathematicians, teachers must understand the math identities their students bring to the classroom, and commit to being a positive force in shaping them for the future.

Hear Dr. Kim Melgar talk about Preventing and Overcoming Math Trauma on the Mindful Math podcast.

But first, teachers must understand their own math identities. Only by exploring their experiences can they identify how they may replicate their own traumas and biases - or, conversely, re-create the fun, engaging math classrooms and mentor relationships they remember. This is true whether you're a high school calculus teacher or an elementary school teacher who dislikes math. Those for whom math has always "come easily" may need to learn more diverse strategies for breaking down concepts and remaining patient as learners struggle through a task. Those who had punishing or demeaning adults in their lives, or had teachers who simply did not know how to break down a problem, may need to relearn their own confidence and acquire math pedagogy skills. For all groups, remembering the caring, patient, and supportive adults they still cherish, is a welcome reminder of just how much impact one teacher can make.

In our Relay teacher preparation curriculum for math teachers, we start by asking Relay students to write their own math autobiography. The exercise works like this:

• Relay students read this article by North Carolina State University researchers Allison W. McCulloch, Patricia L. Marshall, Jessica T. DeCuir-Gunby and Ticola S. Caldwall
• Relay students write their own math autobiography as well as a reflection on it, answering these questions:
• ~Consider the beliefs you named in the pre-work about what it means to teach math, who can learn math, and how math should be taught. How have your experiences with math informed how you currently think?
• ~ What do you want all students to believe about math based on their experience with you this year?
• ~What, if anything, do you need to change about your beliefs and mindsets in order to help all students believe this?
• ~What support might you need to shift these beliefs and mindsets?
• Relay students then share portions of their autobiographies and reflections in class as the basis of discussion, connection, and greater self-understanding

During this exercise, we often hear Relay students say things like, “I feel affirmed” or “Wow, I thought math just wasn’t for me, but I see now how I was taught that”, or “I didn’t realize that this previous experience caused trauma for me in math”. Students may describe how it felt to be the only person of color in advanced math classes, or other experiences related to how their identity - from race, to gender, disability, sexuality, religion, nationality, perceived family income, and more - led others to make assumptions about them and either limit or support their math confidence. For many, it is the first time really confronting the idea of trauma within school, and how they still carry the negative experiences today. But nearly everyone can also remember a teacher, parent, or mentor who connected with them, supported them, and turned them on the path to teaching. These are the "aha" moments that will shape teachers' classrooms for years to come.

If you are a school or school system leader and want to learn more about enrolling prospective teachers or currents in a teacher residency and/ or masters degree program, start on our Locations page to see the programs available in your state.

Dr. Kim Melgar

Kim Melgar is the Department Chair, Mathematics at Relay Graduate School of Education. This is her 15th year in what she describes as the best field - education. Kim taught middle school math and science and served as an instructional coach in the South Bronx before joining Relay, where she has also taught aspiring teachers as an adjunct and assistant professor. Kim is passionate about all things math, including how to create inclusive math classrooms through UDL, support multilingual learners, and help teachers and students see themselves as “math people.”

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Math is for everyone

Mathematical, autobiography.

This math autobiography is the story of who I am as a mathematician. Everyone has a math journey, but every journey is unique. My math journey has had a profound impact on my identity — chance is that yours has too. When we share, we can better understand each other. 

Before birth

That's my grandma. My mom is wearing pigtails, and next to her is my aunt. I come from a line of driven and entrepreneurial women. My mom graduated from college in Southern California and started her own business with my aunt. They owned a card shop for 14 years. 

Meet my dad - he plays the guitar and likes to ride his bike. My brother and I are three years apart. Growing up I loved helping my brother with his math homework because people told me I was good at it. We went to the same K - 8 school in California. The teachers gave my brother  points  for acting out. He hated school. 

Middle School

Gina and Audrey were my two closest friends in middle school. That's us! I was one of only two girls tracked for advanced math. I was proud, but embarrassed. What did I do? Did I deserve to be there more than my friends? They worked just as hard as I did — plus, they were way more popular than I. Th oughts from my middle school diary...

High School

This is my high school AB Calculus class. I took the class when I was a senior. I don't remember very much about Calculus, but I remember how the class made me feel. We were a community; evidently we took pictures together. We had fun solving problems. And our teacher encouraged us, gave us time, and validated our efforts. College math and pre-med track, here I come! 

I graduated from college in 2014! Though the degree I'm holding is not the one you'd expect —  Bachelor of Science in Anthropology. My first year of college courses was stacked - Chemistry, Chemistry Lab, Calc I, Calc 2, Biology. Then I failed my first chem exam. And then another. My confidence plummeted. I compared myself to others and decided that I wasn't smart enough. I am not a math person, I told myself. I was ready to get out of town and start something new.

New York City

New York City is where I learned courage, perseverance, and resilience.  Before graduating college I applied for a position at Cornelia Connelly Center (CCC), an all-girls school in the Lower East Side that champions under-resourced students. I learned of the position from a high school alumni job alert. I interviewed, got the job, and a few months later, I moved to NYC.  I'd serve as an Americorps Resident Teacher and I'd be teaching...math! CCC is not only where I rediscovered my love for math, but also discovered my love for teaching it!

Graduate School

I decided that I owed it to myself and to my students to learn how to teach math the right way. There's no  right way, but while attending Fordham's Graduate School of Education I learned that math is about problem solving, using your brain, building up confidence, overcoming challenges, and ensuring equity.  I was living and breathing math — it was awesome. 

There is much to do to achieve justice.  What can I do? What can I give?     We all have gifts and talents to contribute, and this is mine. Teaching math is about breaking down systems that undermine equality and promoting confidence and compassion. It's a math revolution that's changing the world!

 MacTutor

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Dr. Valerie Camille Jones

More than a worksheet: the math autobiography project.

Looking for a fun way to get to know your new students this year? You could always take attendance and ask them to write out what they did over their summer vacation… Or you could try this super creative math autobiography project!

GET THIS PROJECT PLAN BY CLICKING HERE!

Let them introduce themselves with a burst of creativity and pride that will instantly abolish the notion that “math is boring.” In the mathematical autobiography project, students are given creative freedom in describing their formative experiences, favorite memories, and overall attitudes about math- both inside and outside the classroom. This is demonstrated in three parts:

Live Presentation

This is where each student’s creativity and personality has the opportunity to really shine beyond the confines of a poster board! Students can choose the most meaningful form of expression and tell their story in their own unique style. This could take the form of a rap , a poem , the construction of a model, or even a funny skit . Students can perform live in class or alternatively, they can record a video or audio clip to share in class, which can help empower introverted students without the pressure of an in-person performance. The student decides what, why, where, when, and how to present their math autobiography to the class. And yes, creativity counts! ( Click HERE to get the rubric for this project! )

Written Explanation

In addition to the class presentation, students compose a one-page written explanation of their math autobiography. Students can mix and match from a list of sample questions or create their own questions and answers to help them chronicle their math journey (whether fairytale, horror story, or thriller!) Some of the sample questions provided include:

When do you first remember doing math?

What is your proudest math moment?

What is your most embarrassing math moment?

What are your math experiences, both good and bad?

How do you feel about math and why?

How do you think math will affect you in your future profession?

Visual Depiction

The third and final piece of the math autobiography is a visual depiction of the student engaged in some sort of mathematical activity . This could be an illustration, photograph, or even a video clip. But more important than choosing the media, is the student’s analysis of all the tasks in which they personally (and probably unknowingly) utilize classroom math concepts in their every day lives . I dare you to find a student who doesn’t have an interest in SOMETHING that utilizes math! From cooking to music, athletics to video gaming, your students are using math, not just on paper, but in real life! Helping them to recognize their use of math and the mastery they already possess can boost their mathesteem for the next challenge they will master!

With the new school year upon us, why not take this first easy step toward a more project-based approach? Starting the year off with the math autobiography can help you empower your students as stakeholders in their own learning. There is increasing evidence to support the effect of providing choices upon student motivation . A project-based approach that accommodates different learning styles, provides choices, and teaches to the student’s strengths has been shown to not only reduce procrastination in junior high math students, but also leave a lasting impact on their intrinsic motivation! Can a worksheet do that? Another great way to show that math is " More than a Worksheet ."

https://www.education.com/reference/article/motivation-affects-learning-behavior/

http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jrme/papers/Vol-7%20Issue-5/Version-2/L0705026770.pdf

http://pubs.sciepub.com/education/5/1/14/index.html

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Math Autobiography: Example, Format, Writing Guide

If you have never heard of a mathematical autobiography before, you might be surprised once you get such an assignment. However, don’t worry too much – it’s easier than it sounds.

This type of assignment usually isn’t assessed traditionally. Good news: no F-grade is awaiting! Most likely, it’s your tutor who wants to find out some essential information about you. They can ask you to describe your relationships with Math, your strong and weak points, etc.

Probably, your tutor will keep your writings just to reflect on them together at the end of a course. Check what we’ve got here for you!

📍 Math Autobiography Explained

• ✍️ Writing a Math Autobiography Assignment

➗ Math Autobiography Example

Even though a math autobiography is a sheer getting-to-know-you activity, you have to know its essence and basic writing rules.

Below, we will provide you with such vital information.

What Is a Mathematical Autobiography?

A mathematical autobiography is a presentation of you as a math learner . It can describe your attitude to math, your thoughts, and your expectations. This assignment aims to let your tutor know about your experience with math.

Although the math autobiography task is relatively conventional, there might be some peculiarities. Thus, you should take into account your teacher’s requirements.

✍️ How to Write a Math Autobiography Assignment

You might get a task to write a math autobiography in middle school or college. We have researched and collected helpful information on this assignment’s points for any education level.

Let’s figure out how to write a good math autobiography now!

Math Autobiography Outline

An outline of a math autobiography doesn’t look exactly like an outline of a traditional essay. However, we offer you to use the classical structure. Divide your text into three parts: introduction, central part, and conclusion.

Will you agree that a well-curated text is always more pleasant and straightforward than just a bunch of passages?

An intro of a math biography can answer the following questions:

• Who are you? (Basic information)
• What is your major? (If you attend a university or college. If you write a math autobiography in high school, talk about your desired major)
• What are your interests and hobbies?
• How can you describe your relationships with math?
• What contributed to this or that kind of attitude to mathematics?
• Do you have a natural aptitude for math?

The central part, or a body, should include deeper insight into the subject:

• Why do you love/hate math?
• What grades have you been getting throughout the course?
• Did you have teachers who motivated you to study math ?
• Did you have such teachers who, on the opposite, demotivate you from going into math?
• Which topics do you find most challenging?
• Which ones are simple for you?
• What hacks did you use to accomplish your math goals?

To conclude it all, first, restate your main idea – you can use our free rephrasing tool; then answer these questions:

• What are your expectations from a course?
• What results would you like to reach in math?
• What blind spots do you want to eliminate?

You can also mention reasons why a person should start taking math seriously.

Top 7 Math Autobiography Assignment Tips

Before you start exploring our math autobiography example, we suggest that you look through some tips!

They will help you build up a consistent structure of your math autobiography.

• Study your tutor’s assignment and make sure you understand it perfectly well. If you have questions, ask them before you start writing.
• Brainstorming: take time to reflect on your remarkable experience with math – since elementary school (or earlier) till now.
• Be honest if you have been getting all Cs or Fs in math. A tutor will most likely sympathize with you and want to help then.
• Remember: it’s a get-to-know activity. That means each answer is correct. Stick to your personal story.
• Be precise: why exactly do you dislike math? It’s more fruitful to name particular points and make them clear to your readers.
• If you’re a total mess in math, let your tutor know that you are ready to work. In any case, your relationships will be better if you show your interest.
• Outline: although it’s not an actual essay, make sure your text is structured and proofread.

We have something else in store for you – a great example of a math autobiography that can navigate you through writing.

My Math Autobiography

The best thing to start with is that my major is medieval literature. I guess it gives a hint on my relationships with mathematics. Math has seldom been easy for me. Only in elementary school, when the tasks were basic, could I accomplish them successfully and without much struggle. I have never thought math is essential to me and my life. Besides, I also never considered myself having a natural aptitude for math. I’ve had too many other interests like learning foreign languages, studying literature, and music. As it can be seen, everything is far from math. It’s not that I despise math. I just think it’s beyond my understanding. Sometimes, I find a task unsolvable, while my peers get it easy and fast. It gets me down every time, and I just don’t know how to overcome it. When I entered the 5th grade, I struggled with geometry which I found overwhelming. My school teachers weren’t supportive, they just gave us a lot of worksheets to fulfill, so I had to take up extra classes with a private tutor. That helped me go through the school projects and get decent grades. However, I still didn’t come to terms with math. College math seems even more frustrating to me. But I find it a great challenge and opportunity to master math at last. I realized it’d be hard to live without math because I need it even in my music classes. So, I am ready to put all my efforts into improving my math results. I think I just need some extra help. Hopefully, I won’t remember that I ever had such issues at the end of the course.

Was this an informative guide?

Our team has worked hard to help you. Feel free to ask any questions if you still have them. And don’t forget to check our blog. It is full of helpful articles for students, and we update it regularly.

Famous Mathematicians

Mathematicians who changed history.

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Katherine Johnson

Benjamin Banneker

Kelly Miller

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More mathematicians.

.css-43q7z5{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Gilroy-roboto,Gilroy-local,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#ffffff;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-43q7z5:hover{color:link-hover;}} The Solar Eclipse That Made Albert Einstein a Star

22 Famous Scientists You Should Know

Charles Babbage

Blaise Pascal

Ada Lovelace

Valerie Thomas

What Is an Autobiography?

What to Consider Before You Start to Write

• Writing Research Papers
• Writing Essays
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

Your life story, or autobiography , should contain the basic framework that any essay should have, with four basic elements. Begin with an introduction that includes a thesis statement , followed by a body containing at least several paragraphs , if not several chapters. To complete the autobiography, you'll need a strong conclusion , all the while crafting an interesting narrative with a theme.

Did You Know?

The word autobiography  literally means SELF (auto), LIFE (bio), WRITING (graph). Or, in other words, an autobiography is the story of someone's life written or otherwise told by that person.

When writing your autobiography, find out what makes your family or your experience unique and build a narrative around that. Doing some research and taking detailed notes can help you discover the essence of what your narrative should be and craft a story that others will want to read.

Research Your Background

Just like the biography of a famous person, your autobiography should include things like the time and place of your birth, an overview of your personality, your likes and dislikes, and the special events that shaped your life. Your first step is to gather background detail. Some things to consider:

• What is interesting about the region where you were born?
• How does your family history relate to the history of that region?
• Did your family come to that region for a reason?

It might be tempting to start your story with "I was born in Dayton, Ohio...," but that is not really where your story begins. It's better to start with an experience. You may wish to start with something like why you were born where you were and how your family's experience led to your birth. If your narrative centers more around a pivotal moment in your life, give the reader a glimpse into that moment. Think about how your favorite movie or novel begins, and look for inspiration from other stories when thinking about how to start your own.

Think About Your Childhood

You may not have had the most interesting childhood in the world, but everyone has had a few memorable experiences. Highlight the best parts when you can. If you live in a big city, for instance, you should realize that many people who grew up in the country have never ridden a subway, walked to school, ridden in a taxi, or walked to a store a few blocks away.

On the other hand, if you grew up in the country you should consider that many people who grew up in the suburbs or inner city have never eaten food straight from a garden, camped in their backyards, fed chickens on a working farm, watched their parents canning food, or been to a county fair or a small-town festival.

Something about your childhood will always seem unique to others. You just have to step outside your life for a moment and address the readers as if they knew nothing about your region and culture. Pick moments that will best illustrate the goal of your narrative, and symbolism within your life.

Consider Your Culture

Your culture is your overall way of life , including the customs that come from your family's values and beliefs. Culture includes the holidays you observe, the customs you practice, the foods you eat, the clothes you wear, the games you play, the special phrases you use, the language you speak, and the rituals you practice.

As you write your autobiography, think about the ways that your family celebrated or observed certain days, events, and months, and tell your audience about special moments. Consider these questions:

• What was the most special gift you ever received? What was the event or occasion surrounding that gift?
• Is there a certain food that you identify with a certain day of the year?
• Is there an outfit that you wear only during a special event?

Think honestly about your experiences, too. Don't just focus on the best parts of your memories; think about the details within those times. While Christmas morning may be a magical memory, you might also consider the scene around you. Include details like your mother making breakfast, your father spilling his coffee, someone upset over relatives coming into town, and other small details like that. Understanding the full experience of positives and negatives helps you paint a better picture for the reader and lead to a stronger and more interesting narrative. Learn to tie together all the interesting elements of your life story and craft them into an engaging essay.

Establish the Theme

Once you have taken a look at your own life from an outsider’s point of view, you will be able to select the most interesting elements from your notes to establish a theme. What was the most interesting thing you came up with in your research? Was it the history of your family and your region? Here is an example of how you can turn that into a theme:

"Today, the plains and low hills of southeastern Ohio make the perfect setting for large cracker box-shaped farmhouses surrounded by miles of corn rows. Many of the farming families in this region descended from the Irish settlers who came rolling in on covered wagons in the 1830s to find work building canals and railways. My ancestors were among those settlers."

A little bit of research can make your own personal story come to life as a part of history, and historical details can help a reader better understand your unique situation. In the body of your narrative, you can explain how your family’s favorite meals, holiday celebrations, and work habits relate to Ohio history.

One Day as a Theme

You also can take an ordinary day in your life and turn it into a theme. Think about the routines you followed as a child and as an adult. Even a mundane activity like household chores can be a source of inspiration.

For example, if you grew up on a farm, you know the difference between the smell of hay and wheat, and certainly that of pig manure and cow manure—because you had to shovel one or all of these at some point. City people probably don’t even know there is a difference. Describing the subtle differences of each and comparing the scents to other scents can help the reader imagine the situation more clearly.

If you grew up in the city, you how the personality of the city changes from day to night because you probably had to walk to most places. You know the electricity-charged atmosphere of the daylight hours when the streets bustle with people and the mystery of the night when the shops are closed and the streets are quiet.

Think about the smells and sounds you experienced as you went through an ordinary day and explain how that day relates to your life experience in your county or your city:

"Most people don’t think of spiders when they bite into a tomato, but I do. Growing up in southern Ohio, I spent many summer afternoons picking baskets of tomatoes that would be canned or frozen and preserved for cold winter’s dinners. I loved the results of my labors, but I’ll never forget the sight of the enormous, black and white, scary-looking spiders that lived in the plants and created zigzag designs on their webs. In fact, those spiders, with their artistic web creations, inspired my interest in bugs and shaped my career in science."

One Event as a Theme

Perhaps one event or one day of your life made such a big impact that it could be used as a theme. The end or beginning of the life of another can affect our thoughts and actions for a long time:

"I was 12 years old when my mother passed away. By the time I was 15, I had become an expert in dodging bill collectors, recycling hand-me-down jeans, and stretching a single meal’s worth of ground beef into two family dinners. Although I was a child when I lost my mother, I was never able to mourn or to let myself become too absorbed in thoughts of personal loss. The fortitude I developed at a young age was the driving force that would see me through many other challenges."

Writing the Essay

Whether you determine that your life story is best summed up by a single event, a single characteristic, or a single day, you can use that one element as a theme . You will define this theme in your  introductory paragraph .

Create an outline with several events or activities that relate back to your central theme and turn those into subtopics (body paragraphs) of your story. Finally, tie up all your experiences in a summary that restates and explains the overriding theme of your life. 

• How to Write a Personal Narrative
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Meet caleb williams’ girlfriend alina thyregod after red carpet debut at 2024 nfl draft.

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Caleb Williams stirred buzz when he and his girlfriend, Alina Thyregod, made their red carpet debut at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit in April 2024.

The former USC quarterback — whom the Bears selected with the No. 1 pick in the draft — was seen leaving his hotel with the blonde beauty on one arm and his mother, Dayna Price, on the other.

Williams, 22, posed for photos with his girlfriend and mother on the red carpet before they sat together and played cards in the green room.

The couple shared a sweet embrace when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called his name as the first overall pick in the draft.

The first pick is in! Caleb Williams, YOU are a Chicago Bear. 🐻 @CALEBcsw | @ChicagoBears 📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC 📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/O7D6ZIZspL — NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2024

Learn more about Williams’ girlfriend as the couple prepares for this exciting new chapter.

Williams and Thyregod coordinated their outfits at the 2024 NFL Draft

Williams wore a Chrome Hearts custom suit to match his girlfriend’s silver dress by the same designer, which featured a halter neck, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Prior to the draft, Williams said he would have his right pinkie nail painted silver to match his outfit and his girlfriend’s dress.

Thyregod posted a ‘GRWM’ video with Williams ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft

She shared a TikTok that showed the couple getting ready in their hotel room, which was captioned: “Draft day.”

@alinaaaaa.a.aa Draft day ♬ suit and tie by gtweens – ʚ Ley ɞ

Williams appeared on Thyregod’s social media prior to the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2022 Heisman Trophy Winner was seen  in a TikTok video  on Thyregod’s page in January 2024, which showed the two goofing around.

Williams jumped on her back and nearly knocked them over while they were dressed in swimwear.

@alinaaaaa.a.aa ♬ original sound – The Relationship Hub

“Welcome to Chicago!” one TikTok user posted.

Another added, “Let Caleb know he is now my king.”

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A man plunged to his death in front of me. I can’t get it out of my mind.

Since that horrible day, i’ve learned how trauma can upend your life.

One day last spring as I was driving to work in downtown Atlanta, a man plunged headfirst from a highway overpass and landed in the lane next to my car.

Traffic suddenly slowed, and, moments later, I saw him lying motionless on the asphalt. Other drivers sped up to put the dreadful scene behind them, but I steered my car into the right emergency lane and, phone in hand, walked briskly toward the man’s crumpled body.

As I started to call for help, a police officer arrived and blocked one lane of traffic with his cruiser. Then, a firetruck pulled up and maneuvered to block other lanes. The officer paced uncertainly for a moment, then began shouting at people walking on the overpass: “Did you see anything? Did someone push him?” No one had pushed him, I later learned.

With first responders on the scene, there was nothing for me to do but return to my car, which I’d forgotten to turn off. Easing back into traffic, I called my wife. My voice cracked as I relayed what I had seen, and then I cried. In my rearview mirror, an impatient driver shook his fist. I wasn’t going fast enough for him.

Since that horrible day, I’ve learned a lot about trauma and how it can affect your life. I’ve found out that the response of the drivers who sped off after the incident wasn’t unusual.

“The normal reaction is like a dog shaking his head,” said Charles Figley, a professor and psychologist in the Tulane University School of Social Work. “There is a lot of shaking off that all of us do. That willful blindness is the way we can live with horrific, hellish, terrible things.”

But I have not been able to shake this off, which Figley said also happens. “Not being able to let it go is common,” he said. He also noted that although I was traumatized, I wouldn’t develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Living through trauma does not always cause PTSD , but it can.

Emotional and physical effects

Trauma can result in both emotional and physical reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Anxiety, irritability, inability to concentrate, loss of appetite, headaches and sleep disruption are common.

In my case, I ruminated obsessively over what I had seen, and my anxiety spiked, as I approached the same overpass four days a week. When I looked further into the incident, I found out that the man had jumped from the overpass and that he died days later. Learning more about him only deepened my despair.

Primary trauma comes from a direct brush with a traumatic experience. It’s what I’m living with.

“When you are directly impacted, all the senses come alive,” said Figley, who is also director of Tulane’s Traumatology Institute , which conducts research and education. “When people see someone in distress, they wonder afterwards: What was the so-called ‘right response’? You do what you did. You wait with the body until a cop or someone of authority shows up and you’re, in effect, dismissed.”

Then, the internal questions begin.

“We’re debriefing ourselves, thinking it through and wondering if there is anything I could have done, asking, ‘Did I do the right thing? Am I a good person?’” he said.

The questions are an important part of moving on, Figley said. Avoiding them isn’t healthy. People coping with trauma should “talk to someone, friends or family, and if that doesn’t work, see someone like a therapist,” he added.

In my case, the trauma on the highway was the first in a cascade of bruising events that pushed me back into therapy 35 years after my father died of cancer. They included managing my mother’s worsening dementia and suffering a near-fatal “ widowmaker” heart attack .

One day, seemingly out of the blue, I asked my therapist, “Did I ever tell you about the body in the road?” I said it almost as an aside, but the concern that washed over her face made clear I had buried that trauma under an avalanche of other worries.

“Hearing that you experienced that was shocking,” she told me later. “Sometimes, it will take a long time for people to open up about traumatic things that have happened. … There is also the experience where people do not recognize something as trauma that has impacted them.”

In treating clients, Figley has found that progress comes slowly sometimes and that positive results are almost immediate other times. It depends on how willing a client is to accept the truth of what they have experienced. “Men are very good at pushing things aside, holding problems at arm’s length. Some drink — they get an immediate relief. They start breathing and sighing and creating a separation between themselves and what is troubling them.”

Appropriate self-care can take the form of doing something relaxing: going to a movie, taking a walk or reading a book, Figley said. “Writing about what’s bothering you can also be very therapeutic,” he added.

I’ve found that long, solitary walks along a nearby river are restorative, but I’ve also learned a movie can be an unforeseen trigger. Gory roadside violence depicted in “Ferrari” jolted me and prompted a vivid flashback to last spring.

More media exposure, more toxicity

Doctor, nurses, first responders and therapists can suffer from what is known as secondary trauma.

“Often, they feel guilty that they haven’t suffered as much as the person they are treating,” Figley said. “They don’t have the vivid memories of what took place to contend with. They ask themselves, ‘Who am I to lose sleep over this?’”

Even those who follow violent or upsetting news on their phones or other media can fall victim to secondary trauma.

Roxane Cohen Silver, a professor of psychological science at the University of California at Irvine, has extensively studied mass violence and its effects on those who watch coverage live or over and over again.

Three major findings have emerged from her research.

“With increasing exposure, and this can be the number of hours people stay immersed in the story, the more they exhibit mental health symptoms, symptoms of acute stress and post-traumatic stress,” Silver said. “And in some of our studies, we have seen effects on physical health such as cardiovascular outcomes like hypertension.”

Silver called the second important finding “quite unexpected.” In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing , people who immersed themselves in several hours of media coverage of the attack had worse symptoms than those who had been at the marathon.

“Repeated hours of media exposure had more potent effects than having actually been at the marathon oneself,” she said.

The third finding was that more media exposure was associated with greater distress and worry over time, and greater distress and worry led to more media exposure.

Set limits, don’t doom-scroll

There are steps you can take to limit your exposure to violent imagery, Silver and Figley said.

“I encourage people to monitor the amount of time they’re exposed to graphic images,” Silver said. Avoid doom-scrolling or repeatedly engaging with bad news. “One can stay up on the news without immersing oneself in gruesome images,” she added.

Figley concurred. “That’s why there is an off button.”

Of course, sometimes there is no off button. I still think about that cruel spring morning and that dying man I never knew but cannot forget. In my mind, his tragedy often resurfaces unexpectedly, like a ghost, unbidden and forlorn. And that’s the thing about trauma.

“It eats at us,” Figley said. “We keep thinking about it. That’s what therapy is about.”

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

How good is that smartphone deal really? Use this free spreadsheet to do the math

Smartphone manufacturers and mobile carriers are natural partners, with a shared interest in selling you stuff. The mobile carriers advertise big discounts and even claim they'll give you a new phone "on us." But are those deals legit or too good to be true? That can be impossible to figure out without an advanced accounting degree.

As I wrote earlier this month , there are lots of gotchas hidden in these deals.

I regret to inform you that you did not win the lottery, and your mobile carrier is not doing this out of the goodness of its giant corporate heart. This is a business deal, and you can bet that somewhere on the top floor of that carrier's headquarters there's a spreadsheet that shows exactly how much profit they stand to make off you. ... In my experience, carriers go out of their way to make these deals complicated, and you need to look carefully to see if there are any hidden gotchas.  

That post includes seven questions to ask up front to make sure you don't get tripped up by one of those sneaky requirements.

My real-world example 

My iPhone 12 Pro Max will be four years old later this year. It's still got excellent battery life, but I would love to take advantage of some of the camera improvements in Apple's latest model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max . With 512 GB of storage, that phone sells for $1399.

Also:  The best phones to buy in 2024

I could just go to Apple's website and buy the latest model for cash, trading in my old phone for a relative pittance, $370. The total price after trade-in and before sales tax would be $1,029. Apple will happily let me pay off that phone over 24 months, at 0% interest, for a payment of $42.87 per month.

But Apple's website also offers an alternative, in the form of deals from its partners at the three major US carriers.

These all look like such good deals.

Apple says Verizon will give me $830 for my old phone. At Verizon's website, I'm offered a $1000 trade-in credit. Meanwhile, my carrier, T-Mobile, is stingier, offering only $800. And those cheapskates at AT&T are obviously out of the running with their measly $700 trade-in allowance. But all of those offers have lower monthly payments than Apple is asking, so they must be better deals, right?

Well, not exactly.

Also: 6 ways to save money on TV streaming without losing shows you love

That T-Mobile offer turns out to be the clear winning deal for me, with Apple a close second. If I take my business to AT&T or Verizon, by contrast, I will wind up paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars more than if I had just bought the phone with Apple, at 0% interest.

Read the 'deal details'

The only way I know that is because I clicked those little links that say "See deal details," and then I did the math. Or, to be more precise, I created a spreadsheet that helped me figure out the true cost of a smartphone deal.

You can see all the details for my deal here:  Smartphone cost comparison

Also:  I changed these 10 iPhone settings and improved battery life dramatically

Over the course of three years at Verizon, I would pay $2,919 for that $1399 phone. At AT&T, I'd pay $1,851.

Yikes! What happened to all those sizzling deals? Blame the fine print -- specifically, the part that requires you to "connect on an eligible rate plan" to qualify for the full discount. The monthly payments quoted in those tempting deals are only for the device. The bill you actually pay each month also includes your wireless service plan. And that's where things can get very expensive.

At T-Mobile, my monthly bill for two lines of unlimited service is $90 a month, with no additional taxes or fees. That's on a legacy Magenta Max 55+ plan , which the company no longer offers. If I upgrade to the newer Go5G Plus 55 plan for an extra $10 a month ($5 per line), I qualify for that $800 discount, or $33.33 per month. Over the course of two years, even with the pricier plan, those discounts save me $190 over what I would pay if I bought the phone from Apple directly and stuck with my old plan.

At AT&T and Verizon, the math is not so kind. To get those promised discounts, I need to sign up for the most expensive unlimited plans the two companies offer. At Verizon, that's $160 a month (after discounts for autopay and paperless statements) for two lines on the Unlimited Ultimate plan . Over at AT&T, I would pay $122, after discounts, for two lines on the Unlimited Premium PL plan . And the monthly bill at either of those carriers would be about $13 higher after adding taxes and fees.

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If I'm willing to switch carriers to get those discounts, I'm going to pay an extra $45 to $83 every month for three years just for the wireless service plan. And I need to keep my line active for three full years if I want to receive all the bill credits that are included in the deal. That's why the supposedly discounted device actually winds up costing so much.

What if I'm ready to change carriers, even if it means paying extra for a new plan? In that case, I might be better off buying that phone directly from Apple online and then taking advantage of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) discounts from my new carrier. At Verizon, that's $30 a month for two lines, for three years; at AT&T the BYOD discount would be $20 a month. In either case, I would pay less for the phone in the long run and I wouldn't be locked to my carrier for 36 months to collect those bill credits.

ZDNET's Smartphone Deal Calculator

You can do these same calculations with deals from other smartphone makers, including Google and Samsung.

Your mileage may, of course, vary. If you sign up for four lines on an unlimited plan at Verizon or AT&T, for example, you'll get a much better deal than if you have two lines like me. Every situation and every smartphone offer is different; that's why I've shared a copy of this spreadsheet, so you can make your own calculations using your own numbers.

The link is here: ZDNET's Smartphone Deal Calculator

Note: It's a read-only document, so you'll need to click File > Make a copy and save it in your own Google Drive to enter your data.

You can compare up to four scenarios. Enter a value in each column on the rows that are shaded in yellow, and be sure to include the cost of your monthly plan at the top.

For trade-ins, some carriers provide some trade-in value as an instant credit that comes off the cost of the new phone, with the remainder set as bill credits. Make sure to enter these values as negative numbers (with a minus sign in front) so that they're calculated correctly.

After years of studying these offers, I've found that truly good deals are hard to come by, but they are out there, and it pays to keep looking. Happy hunting!

The best AT&T phone deals right now

One of the best cheap cell phone plans is somehow even cheaper now, i've tried many smart locks, but the one i keep on my door is $150 on amazon.

Fairfax Co. high schoolers compete for $20K in international math competition

Nick Iannelli | [email protected]

April 27, 2024, 5:36 AM

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A team of high school students from Fairfax County, Virginia, will soon be heading to New York City with the hopes of winning $20,000 for their work in an international math competition.

The students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology are among six teams that made it to the finals in the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge.

“We will definitely be very excited,” said Rishabh Prabhu, president of the Virginia team. “We’re going to go in confident and ready to do well.”

Overall, more than 600 teams in the U.S. and the U.K. submitted papers. The object was to lay out various ways lawmakers could potentially monitor and address the dual problems of homelessness and lack of affordable housing.

While the top team gets a $20,000 prize, no one at this point will walk away empty-handed. The team from Thomas Jefferson will get at least $5,000 for making it all the way to the finals.

They will present their findings Monday to a panel of professional mathematicians in New York.

“You can interact with all the other finalists,” said Laura Zhang, another student on the Thomas Jefferson team. “It’s really cool and eye-opening to see how other teams address this issue, since we had our own take on it.”

Using mathematical modeling, the students had to come up with solutions to real-world questions, putting together a 20-30 page paper detailing their process, models and analysis.

Specifically, the students were tasked with studying two major cities in the U.S. — Seattle, Washington, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.goo

They worked on models predicting the housing supply and homeless population and turned their predictions into a public policy tool that lawmakers could use as a guide for where and how affordable housing should be constructed in those cities moving forward.

The students were even told to account for other factors such as a natural disaster or an influx of migrants.

“We brainstorm what models we should use and we collaborate together,” Prabhu said. “We had to adapt our models to fit these different scenarios.”

The competition is a program from the Philadelphia-based Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and is sponsored by MathWorks.

It spotlights applied mathematics as a problem-solving tool and motivates students to consider careers in applied math, computational and data sciences, and technical computing, according to their website.

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Nick Iannelli can be heard covering developing and breaking news stories on WTOP.

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Are you losing your hair? A dermatologist breaks down some FAQs.

If you’ve noticed an excessive amount of hair shedding , a receding hairline, or that the hair on the crown of your head becoming increasingly sparse, you’re probably experiencing a form of hair loss. Losing your hair can be a distressing experience, but you’re not alone.

Understanding the underlying cause of your hair loss is absolutely necessary in determining the best approach to halt and reverse any further damage to your hair and scalp. Individualized treatment is key, and to break down the reasons you might be experiencing hair loss, USA TODAY spoke with Dr. Oma Agbai , MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of Multicultural Dermatology and Hair Loss Disorders at UC Davis.

Why am I losing my hair?

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s completely normal to shed anywhere between 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. However, if you’ve noticed more strands falling out of your head than normal, you may be experiencing alopecia , the medical term for hair loss. Common diagnoses include androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and lymphocytic scarring alopecia, Agbai tells USA TODAY.

There are several reasons why you might be losing your hair. According to Agbai, genetics, hormonal shifts, stress, underlying medical conditions, nutritional deficiencies, and scalp inflammation are notable factors. 

What is baldness?

Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern or female pattern baldness, is one of the most common types of hair loss, Agbai says. “The term ‘baldness’ implies that hair has thinned to the point of having an abnormally-visible scalp.” she says. “Not everyone with hair loss experiences baldness,” but “baldness can occur in severe cases.”

Baldness is often hereditary, and is activated by a shift in your hormones. If you’re experiencing elevated levels of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), your body will respond by shrinking your hair follicles and reducing the length of the hair growth cycle, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Agbai further explains that the “miniaturization” of hair follicles contributes to the “thinning of the hair shaft and eventual hair loss.” Male pattern baldness is typically characterized by a receding hairline, and the thinning of hair on the crown. People experiencing female pattern baldness may also notice a general thinning of hair on the top of your head, but hair loss typically won’t occur on the front of your scalp, per Harvard Health. 

What other common types of hair loss are there?

According to Healthline, other common types of alopecia include traction alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), and lichen planopilaris (LPP). 

Traction alopecia is the result of environmental factors, such as wearing your hair in tight hairstyles, Agbai says. Telogen effluvium refers to the excessive shedding of hair follicles, and it occurs when hair follicles prematurely skip to the end of the hair growth cycle, she adds. 

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that is characterized by “round patches of hair loss on the scalp,” although it can occur elsewhere on the body, Agbai says. While the exact reason for this type of hair loss is unknown, it is generally understood that “the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, leading to hair loss,” she adds.

CCCA and LPP fall under the umbrella of lymphocytic scarring alopecia. The telltale signs of  these conditions are chronic inflammation of the scalp and the scarring of hair follicles, which can result in irreversible hair loss, Agbai notes.  

How do I know which type of hair loss I have?

Hair loss is often the result of both genetic and environmental factors, so “understanding the complexities of hair loss means realizing the different types of hair loss may not fit neatly into categories,” Agbai says. It’s also possible to experience two forms of alopecia at the same time. “Each type of hair loss needs its own diagnosis and treatment, even if they're happening in the same person.”

Got thin hair? You're not alone. A primer on how to get thicker hair.

On the whole, it’s important that you speak with your doctor about any symptoms you’re experiencing. A dermatologist can provide a proper diagnosis, and select a personalized treatment that will help restore health to you hair and scalp.