Resources

The Department of Mathematical Sciences is committed to the success of our students and encourage them to take advantage of the many resources available through the department, the university, and in the professional field of mathematical sciences.

CONTACT
Location: Stratton Hall
Phone: 508-831-5241
Fax: 508-831-5824

Academic Resources Undergraduate

Academic Resources Graduate

Calculus for Undergraduates

Computing Resources

Syllabi and Previous Course Materials

WPI Student Groups

Professional Societies and Journals

Mathematical Research Databases

The following resources are available to via Gordon Library.

  • The Electronic Library of Mathematics contains online journals, article collections, monographs, and other resources. All material is in electronic form and access is free with some exceptions.
  • JSTOR helps the scholarly community take advantage of advances in information technologies.
  • MathSciNet is a comprehensive database covering the world's mathematical literature since 1940. It also provides access to the bibliographic data and reviews of mathematical research literature.
  • Project MUSE offers online access to over 200 journals from numerous scholarly publishers through paid institutional subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a proof?
A proof is a rigorous explanation of why a mathematical theorem or principle is true. Each step is completely convincing and based on definitions, theorems, and prior proofs. Bridge to Higher Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics, and Linear Algebra II are several courses that could help one improve their proof writing skills. Additionally, two texts that are very useful for further understanding proof writing are  "How to Read and Do Proofs" by Solow, and "Set Theory and Logic" by Stoll.
 
How do I choose an academic advisor? What is the point of one?
You are automatically assigned an academic advisor as a freshman. The advisor will be a professor in the mathematics department if you are a mathematics major, and you can always request a new advisor if you meet a professor that you are especially comfortable talking with. However it is not something to worry very much about, as you will likely have more than one professor willing to help you in the mathematics department even though they are not your official advisor. Your advisor should be someone knowledgeable about courses to take and academic opportunities and you can contact them through email throughout the school year! The role of the academic advisor is to be your mentor in the department and answer any questions that you may have about courses, degree requirements, graduate schools, jobs, etc. You are always encouraged to contact your advisor and ask any questions you have.  By asking these questions you will not only receive clarification, but will also develop a relationship with your advisor, who may be able to write you letters of recommendation in the future (useful for graduate school applications or REU applications).
 
How do I have a good meeting with a professor?
It's really very easy to meet with a professor. The first step, if you are not coming during prescheduled office hours, is to send them an email. This email should have a greeting line, a body that includes the reason for the meeting, and your availability (always provide the professor with several options!), and a nice sign off, maybe even with a "thank you!" When you go to meet with the professor, you do not need to have every detail of your questions figured out - but do not go empty handed. The more information you can provide to the professor, the better they will be able to help you. Most professors are very easy to talk to and want to do what they can to help. Since everyone has a different idea of what a good meeting is, the best thing is to come prepared knowing what questions you want answered. Your professors would love to hear from you.