Free Online Mathematics Textbooks

I was always fascinated by math. One of the few electives that I took in college was fourth semester Calculus. (Yes, I am a nerd. And, I'm darn proud of it.)

Anyway, learning mathematics is perhaps one of the many academic disciplines where the words an instructor uses to explain a concept can make all the difference whether or not you will grasp that concept. Since the Internet was not available when I was in college, I haunted used book and thrift stores for cast-off copies of calculus, statistics and other math textbooks that could provide me with one more explanation of more complicated concepts. Those extra textbooks saved my GPA more than a few times.

Today's students have a tremendous advantage - the Internet. My pile of 10, 20, 30 and even 40-year old worn out textbooks seems pathetic when compared to the wealth of mathematics-related materials online. Even if your instructor insists on using his or her favorite, and oh-so-expensive, text, the resources listed here will provide you with additional explanations, sample problems and practice exercises.

Math Refresher

Returning students have always faced the challenge of dredging up long-unused mathematical concepts. Now, the online degree or returning student only has to look to the web to find a multitude of textbooks, study guides and tutorials. No longer will they have to waste precious time and money on taking courses a second time, they can study at their own pace or study specific concepts as they encounter them in other courses.

Open Textbook Revolution

Sadly, mathematics is one of those fields where the core material does not change all that often but the textbook companies still are continually releasing "new editions". Would you believe that I found a pair of calculus textbooks from the same publisher but published decades apart that had virtually the same content? While I'm just a little speck in the whole that is the Internet, I hope my efforts in supporting the wonderful educators, who are fighting to end the madness that is textbook sales, will encourage them to offer more and more free, top-quality materials to math students.