One of the reasons that I wanted to start this blog–perhaps even the primary reason–was to talk about mathematics and how I made the transition from mildly math-phobic to mathematician. I’d like to be able to take those who care to read such posts on a journey through the fundamental theorems of arithmetic, algebra and calculus. What’s more is that I’d like to do it in a way that doesn’t require a lot of previous knowledge about math to follow along.

There are a lot of reasons why math would be a reason for me to blog. One of them is that I have some very specific ideas about the pedagogy of mathematics and why so many people leave primary and secondary school with so many hangups about math and such a paucity of mathematical skill and knowledge. Another is that I enjoyed my journey through undergraduate mathematics so much that I’d like to take another trip past the now-familiar “landmarks” of major results and theorems. A third reason is that it gives me a chance to solidify the ideas in my own thinking as I ponder the right ways to explain them to non-mathematicians.

One reason that isn’t a reason to study or talk about math is “what it’s used for.” I’d go so far as to say that I hate that expression. There’s no use for climbing mountains. You climb a mountain to test your will and endurance, and to enjoy the view from the top. You get a different perspective of the world from a high place. Mathematics is like that for me. I exercise my brain, test my will to comprehend difficult concepts, and enjoy the broadened understanding of the world of numbers that I experience in the high places of math.

I aim to climb that mountain again–at a leisurely pace–and anyone who cares to read my posts is welcome to follow along.