“Math Is Fun” is a basic math education site for all grades up to 12th.
Curriculum
What is Math is Fun?
“Math Is Fun” is a basic math education site for all grades up to 12th.
The site’s clean graphics and simple interface make it a fantastic reference for students who may not quite understand explanations given in class or textbooks. The site is run by Rod Pierce, DipCE BEng, who also runs the quiz and game site Mathopolis. You may ask yourself, really, what is Math Is Fun? The answer is that it’s one of the more well-respected instructional math sites that can help viewers of all ages.
Education resources
The URL
A quick note on the URL is necessary to start. While the site is called “Math Is Fun,” the URL is MathsIsFun.com. That extra “s” is there because, as the site notes near the bottom of the homepage, the U.K. uses “maths” while the U.S. uses “math.” The URL MathIsFun.com redirects to the “maths” version as you’d expect, but for U.S. users, the sight of that extra “s” appearing after a redirect may make the page seem initially like a suspect URL. It’s not, of course.
The setup
The main page for Math Is Fun has links to different subjects and topics, including:
- Types of math, such as algebra, calculus, and geometry
- Data
- Physics
- Money
There is a game section, but most sites are dedicated to explanations and examples. A separate index page divides the content by years and then subjects. The site also has links to Common Core standards and a suggested curriculum based on that of the New York State Education Department.
The layout
Each page is extremely “clean.” Subject sections begin with a table-of-contents page with a few graphics at the margins; overall, the pages do not present users with a ton of extra features that could distract them from the site’s main content (visual clutter in the form of ads, extra videos, and other widgets is thankfully absent). The information is well organized into subtopics; for example, the algebra page is divided into subtopics such as “Exponents,” and each subtopic contains additional sections, such as:
- Roots
- Surds
- Fractional exponents
Information is centered and in large font; explanations and examples are simple and go step by step. Each subject page contains a brief quiz or a set of problems for practice. The site also has worksheets and a teacher’s page.
At the bottom of the main page are links to math tools, such as online calculators, and links to other math sites. An illustrated dictionary provides very helpful visual references that children can understand easily.
The reviews
Math Is Fun is one of the main math instructional sites that will appear in a search outside university math department web pages. The Mathematical Association of America allows users to rate different sites, and Math Is Fun gets a numerical average of 3.2 out of 5, with many four ratings. Good Housekeeping reviewed the site back in 2009, complimenting its layout and ease of use, but noting that it may not help more advanced students (the site appears to have expanded its offerings since then).
Remember that the site is meant to supplement in-class texts and lectures. While someone reviewing procedures could use the site alone, those new to a topic would benefit more from attending a math class and using the site as a secondary reference.
The site is geared toward making math as easily understood as possible. It could be helpful for parents who can go over the pages on the site with their children or for students forming study groups outside of class.
Conclusion
Math Is Fun is an excellent choice for teachers, parents, and students who need a secondary source for math learning. The open layout, lack of clutter, and wealth of resources provide a clear path to learning how easy math can be.
