Start here

So, you want to be a mathematician?

Great! Welcome to the dark side. Here, have a cookie.

This page points to some of my favourite posts from the last decade-and-a-bit of blogging at FCM.

If you’re starting on (or struggling with) your A-level, you might do well to acquire a copy of AS- and A-level Maths For Dummies – it’s written with the old specification in mind, but the maths in it is solid¹.

I suggest using one of the posts below as a jumping-off point. See how you get on!

Skills and knowledge

• How to sketch in 3D
• How can I be neater?
• On not reading carefully
• A curve-sketching masterclass
• Completing the square
• Why the factor and remainder theorem work

Mindset

• When maths gets difficult
• How do I stretch my students?
• What I learnt from a STEP speedrun
• How do I keep my head up?
• The stuckness of Andrew Wiles
• I keep forgetting stuff!
• Should I interrupt?
• Am I smart enough?
• Dealing with panic
• Cambridge!
• The egoless mathematician
• Putting your problems right