Internet Resource Guide

A Document for Mathematics Majors

Matthew Lupold
2/7/17
 Table of Contents

1. Front Matter
1.1 Purpose of the Guide 3
1.2 What the Guide Presumes 4
1.3 Tips for Navigating the Guide 4

2. General Mathematical Websites 5

2.1 American Mathematical Society Webpage 6
2.2 Penn State Mathematics Department 7

3. Homework Help 8
3.1 Mathematics Stack Exchange 9
3.2 Wolfram Alpha 10
3.3 Open Math Notes 11

4. U.S. Government Publications 12

4.1 Statistical Abstract of the United States 13
4.1.1 Bachelors Degrees Earned by Field 14
4.1.2 Employment Projections By Industry: 2014 to 2024 15
4.2 Catalog of U.S. Govt. Publications 16
4.2.1 Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, 17
and Mathematics (STEM) in Postsecondary Education

5. Research Information 18
5.1 Minnesota Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics 19
5.2 Ball State Mathematics Exchange 20
5.3 National Science Foundation REUs 21
5.4 MathSciNet 22

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1.1

Purpose of the Guide

This Internet Resource Guide is intended for undergraduate mathematics

majors at the Pennsylvania State University. With sections that provide
general information, resources to help with classwork, and information
related to academic math research, this guide will serve as an asset for
any math major at PSU. While the Homework Help and Research
sections are useful for math majors at any standing, the General
Information section is focused mainly for underclassmen who may not
be familiar with the resources available from PSU and the rest of the
mathematical world. For older students already involved in or interested
in research, the websites in this guide provide a foundation for
understanding theory as well as learning the ins and outs of
mathematical research. For those looking to enter directly into the job
market, appropriate data and resources will be found as well, making
this guide a well-rounded document for any math undergraduate at Penn
State.

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1.2

What this Guide Presumes

While designed to be as unassuming as possible, this guide does make

some simple requests of the reader. Primarily, this guide assumes that
the reader is a mathematics undergraduate student at the Pennsylvania
State University, and it assumes that they have adequate knowledge of
navigating webpages. While assumptions about mathematical
knowledge are scarce throughout the guide, knowing the difference
between applied and pure mathematics is helpful; a basic understanding
of the formal nature of academia and research publishing is convenient,
but certainly not necessary. Finally, but most importantly, this guide
assumes that the reader enjoys and appreciates the mathematical
sciences!

1.3

Tips for Navigating the Guide

This guide is organized by sections based on the main function of the

resource: General Mathematical Websites, Homework Help, U.S.
Government Publications, and Research Information. Although this
guide is designed to be as efficient as possible, there are still a few
pointers that will aid in navigating the guide effectively.

Use the Table of Contents. Each resource is grouped with others of

similar category.
Utilize the Tips section found underneath most resources. These
tips have been discovered through exploration of each resource,
and they consistently prove to be valuable.

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2.

General Mathematical Websites

The following section outlines two of the most important websites in any
math majors toolbox: the American Mathematical Society (AMS)
homepage and the PSU Math Department homepage. As the most
populous collection of mathematicians, the AMS provides valuable
information and resources for undergraduate math majors. The next
website, the homepage for Penn States math department, overviews the
math program and gives links to the numerous resources the university
has to offer its math students.

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2.1

American Mathematical Society Homepage

Website
http://www.ams.org/home

As the leading organization for academic mathematics, the American

Mathematical Society (AMS) provides information and resources for
people of all ages interested in math. This site is also a central location
to read peer-reviewed articles from the multiple journals the AMS
publishes. Math majors can also utilize the site to search for a grant or
fellowship to fund their own research topic. For younger students, the
site is a useful resource to stay informed as to what research is being
done or to explore a specific area of interest. In addition, the website
serves as the hub for all AMS mathematicians, provides notes, resources,
and textbooks for free, as well as offers a paid membership with added
benefits.

Tip: Take advantage of all the resources that the AMS provides in
their website! Especially valuable is their section called Open
Math Notes, which freely publishes lecture notes from virtually
any math class possible. See page 11 for more information on
Open Math Notes.

Tip: At this stage of your mathematical career, I wouldnt

recommend registering for a paid membership. They are usually
purchased only by professors and faculty, and the resources
provided arent relevant to undergraduate students. In turn, take
advantage of the free resources the site has to offer.

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2.2

PSU Mathematics Department Homepage

Website
https://www.math.psu.edu/

This website is the central directory for all things math at PSU. Whether
youre looking for a research opportunity, to find your professors home
pages, or to find out what classes you need to take in the next semester,
the Math Department homepage has it all. This site also contains advisor
information if you need to meet face-to-face with your academic
advisor. Published by the PSU Math Department, its intended audience
includes both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty.
Clicking on the Undergraduate tab at the top of the homepage will
lead to the most relevant information, and surely it will become a
frequently visited site as you progress at Penn State.

Tip: The Undergraduate section of the site will lead you to

valuable information. Especially recommended is the Frequently
Asked Questions section, which answers virtually any question
about scheduling or option requirements.
Tip: Look through the course offering page and get familiar with
some of the upper-level math classes. Taking math elective classes
are the biggest opportunity to expand your knowledge base, and
being familiar with what kinds of classes you want to take in
advance will ensure you dont make the wrong decisions.

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3.

Homework Help

This section is designed to provide resources to assist with classwork,

both lecture material and homework assignments. In addition, some of
these resources can be useful in research settings, as they can provide
background information for the theory necessary to conduct research.

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3.1

Mathematics Stack Exchange

Website
http://math.stackexchange.com

This website is a resource for majors to post homework or theoretical

questions and view others questions/responses. The page is published
by the company Stack Exchange, which offers communities similar to
Math Stack Exchange in all different subjects, including Physics and
Computer Science. It has formed into an online community that works
together to help people of all ages and educational levels to effectively
learn math. The site is free to join and use, and most questions are
answered by math professors or post-graduate assistants. It therefore has
a large audience, a large question base, and proves useful link for math
majors of all skill levels. Everyone gets stuck on assignments or proofs
from time to time, and unfortunately access to help decreases as classes
get harder; hence Math Stack Exchange is one of the most useful
resources available to math majors looking for assistance while working
through assignments.

Tip: Math Stack Exchange has a specific set of rules in regards to

posting and answering questions. In their question, posters must
explain their intuition and the work they have done so far. Simply
posting a question will not yield a response; the focus is on
education and problem solving.

Tip: If you have a question, its more than likely that it has already
been posted and answered. Explore the website via the search bar
and use the tags to narrow down your search.

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3.2

Wolfram Alpha
Website
https://www.wolframalpha.com/

As one of the worlds leading providers of computation, Wolfram Alpha

can solve virtually any computational math problem in mere seconds,
with no charge to the user. While Wolfram Alpha may not give you
complete detailed explanations on how to solve a problem, it is a perfect
tool to check homework problems, as you get instant feedback without
giving the process away. Matrix multiplication, integration, and
graphing functions are especially valuable resources that Wolfram Alpha
provides for math majors at any level.

Tip: Upon visiting the homepage, click on the Mathematics tab

underneath the large search bar. By doing this, you will be able to
perform more advanced searches and be more likely to get the
results you desire.

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3.3

Open Math Notes

Website
https://www.ams.org/open-math-notes

As previously alluded to, Open Math Notes is a free document sharing

service provided by the American Mathematical Society. Although
lecture notes are the most common material found on Open Math Notes,
entire textbooks and research abstracts can be found and downloaded as
well. These documents serve as much-needed supplements for upper-
level math classes, since lectures can be confusing and textbooks not so
helpful. The site contains works in almost any field of mathematics, at
both the undergraduate and graduate level, so it can be used to study
research areas and higher-level classes. In all, Open Math Notes is a
versatile resource for math undergraduates, and the extra clarity it
provides can prove to be the difference between letter grades when
taking challenging math courses.

Tip: This site contains a number of documents at a variety of

difficulty levels. Filtering in only the undergraduate level
documents is recommended, as most undergrads will not have the
mathematical background to effectively use graduate level texts.

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4.

U.S. Government Publications

The following section utilizes two databases published by the U.S

Government. Specifically, both the Statistical Abstract of the United
States and the U.S. Catalog of Government Publications provide
authoritative information about the demographics of college students,
their educational attainment, and job outlooks for degree holders. In
turn, the sample reports given prove useful to math majors as they give a
comprehensive outlook of the major from freshman year to post-
graduation.

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4.1

Statistical Abstract of the United States

Online Dataset Publication
http://statabs.proquest.com/sa/index.html

The Census Bureau is a government sponsored organization that

collects, analyzes, and publishes data about the demographics of the
U.S., including the Statistical Abstract of the United States. It publishes
data on a myriad of topics, such as the economy, personal demographics,
education, and employment. With data taken from the Census, surveys,
and from local and state governments, the Bureau combines the datasets
and publishes reports to the public. In addition to being useful for math
majors looking for data on competitiveness of finding a job or applying
to graduate school, the Statistical Abstract of the United States proves
useful for all people looking for data about a number of subjects. The
following two example reports explicitly display the usefulness of the
Statistical Abstract for undergraduate math majors.

Tip: As of 2012, the Statistical Abstract is published only online.

Therefore, using ProQuest via the PSU Libraries website will
allow you to view the most recent publications. To do this, visit:
https://libraries.psu.edu/databases, log in with your Penn State
WebAccess account, then scroll down and click on Statistical
Abstract of the United States.

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4.1.1

Bachelors Degrees Earned by Field (Table 316)

Sample Report
http://statabs.proquest.com/sa/docview.html?table-no=316&acc-
no=C70951.4&year=2017&z=A600A10B9D8B11AD7B0F732946C08
A226EB02228

Bachelors Degrees Earned by Field (Table 316) is a typical document

found within the Statistical Abstract of the United States, and it proves
to be handy to math majors. The report shows the number of students
nationwide that graduate with a Bachelors Degree in specific fields over
a number of years. With this report, one can look at the trends in job
fields and specifically how the number of math graduates has changed
throughout the past 34 years. More precisely, math majors can use the
information within the table to gauge what kind of competition will arise
when looking for future employment.

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4.1.2

Employment Projections by Industry: 2014 To 2024

(Table 643)
Sample Report
http://statabs.proquest.com/sa/docview.html?table-no=643&acc-
no=C70951.12&year=2017&z=AAB783A14937B9BD032FE8B42667
D6E6D43A1CC0

This report predicts job outlook for many different types of industries,
up until the year 2024. While the occupation mathematician isnt
explicitly on the list, it contains many that math majors frequently hold.
These jobs include: employees working in higher education and
Computer Systems Design specialists. In addition, this report provides
useful insight for math students looking for jobs in competitive fields;
they can also see which occupations are trending upward in demand.
Since mathematics is an expansive field, finding a job as a recently
graduated math major can be a daunting task. However, knowing which
jobs are in the highest demand make the job search a little less scary, and
this report provides that infomation!

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4.2

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

Website
https://catalog.gpo.gov/F?RN=527003097

The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications is a database and search

engine that allows the public to browse through the 500,000+ documents
published by the U.S. Government. It contains highly detailed reports on
nearly every subject, with access available in print and online. In
addition to government reports, the Catalog also contains primary
research published by leading professionals in their fields. This means
that the Catalog contains an abundance of current mathematical
research, allowing math majors to read groundbreaking work in the
mathematical world. And since older documents can be found as well,
the Catalog allows readers to see how a certain theory has progressed
over time, an aspect that generally is overlooked in the classroom. In
addition, the Catalog contains a myriad of data about the demographics
of undergraduate mathematics students, their success rates, and
competitiveness in the job market.

Tip: This database contains an overwhelming number of

documents and information, and its basic search feature leaves
something to be desired. Using the Advanced Search feature
allows you to narrow your search by using keywords/phrases,
restricting the publication years, or choosing to search from
specific subcatalogs.

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4.2.1

Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering,

and Mathematics (STEM) in Postsecondary Education
Sample Report
https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps125761/2009161.pdf

This highly technical document provides a complete overview regarding

undergraduates who major in STEM fields, and it also analyzes the
demographic factors that have a role in determining their success. In
addition, it looks at employment rates of graduates with a Bachelors
Degree in a STEM field, and it also looks at the rates at which STEM
students change out of their program into a non-STEM major. The data
in the report proves useful to any undergraduate math major, as it paints
a broad picture about life as a math major from high school to the years
after graduating. Since the information given is expansive, being aware
of these factors will only lead to further success as a math major at Penn
State.

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5.

Research Information

This section presents resources and journals that advanced math students
can utilize to prepare for a thesis paper or research project. While this
section contains more technical knowledge, emphasis has been given to
ensure that all resources provided will be suitable for undergraduate
math majors. In addition, all journals listed publish both applied and
pure mathematics, so they are ideal for math majors of any interest. In
addition, summer research opportunities for younger undergraduates are
also provided to help those looking to start their first research project.

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5.1

Minnesota Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics

Online/Published Journal
https://mjum.math.umn.edu/index.php/mjum

Of the few existing mathematics journals intended for undergraduates,

the Minnesota Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics is arguably the
best available. Published by the University of Minnesotas math
department, this monthly journal is a perfect entry point for math majors
interested in getting involved in academic research. Since all published
work is done by undergraduates, the journals content is less complex
than a typical academic journal; therefore, it provides a perfect setting
for younger math majors just beginning reading mathematical research.
The journal also provides a stepping stone for upper level math students
looking for a location to publish their first research project or thesis
paper.

Tip: The homepage for the Journal mainly talks about the criterion
for a paper to become published. For those wanting to read the
articles of previous editions, click on the Current tab at the top of
the page.

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5.2

Ball State Mathematics Exchange

Online/Published Journal
http://www.bsu.edu/libraries/beneficencepress/mathexchange/

The Ball State Mathematics Exchange is a mathematical journal aimed

at undergraduates looking to publish original documents, thesis papers,
or other extra-curricular works. It accepts papers in both applied and
pure mathematics, and every paper is brief and at the reading level of an
undergraduate math major. It requires no membership to access and
ambitious students can freely submit their own papers to the Exchanges
editorial board for review. This journal is especially valuable for
undergraduate math majors due to its suitable reading level and easy
access.

Tip: Upon visiting the main page of the Mathematics Exchange,

you will quickly find that the center of the page does not contain
links to any articles. However, links to previous journal issues can
be found in the menu on the left, directly underneath the picture of
the latest edition.

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5.3

National Science Foundation Research Experiences

for Undergraduates
Website
https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp

For an undergraduate math major, developing and starting a research

project may seem out of reach. However, a Research Experience for
Undergraduates (REU) can provide the impetus needed to begin a career
in mathematical research. A REU is an eight to twelve week summer
program hosted by a prestigious university, where students work closely
with professors on a research topic, ranging anywhere from applied
biomathematics to pure mathematical theory; this page serves as the
central resource for mathematic students looking to find a REU. With a
healthy stipend and travel accommodations, the National Science
Foundation and the host university make it easy to focus on a summer of
research. Since finding a research project and advisor can be an uphill
battle for undergraduates, utilizing this site to find a summer research
program is the ideal way to begin a career in mathematical research.

Tip: While some of the programs may seem complicated,

remember that REUs are designed for undergraduate students.
Look into a number of different programs at different universities,
and determine which ones would work the best for you.

Tip: Applying generally requires submitting recommendation

letters from former or current professors. If you plan on applying
for REUs, make sure to think carefully about which professors to
ask, and ask them early! Professors receive numerous requests for
recommendation letters and they have a busy schedule, so make
sure you give them plenty of time to write one for you.

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5.4

MathSciNet
Electronic Periodical Database
http://www.ams.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/mathscinet/index.html

MathSciNet, a journal database published by the American

Mathematical Society, is arguably the worlds most comprehensive
database of mathematical publications. With over 3 million documents
in the index, MathSciNet contains original research, reviews, and
abstracts in any field of mathematics. Their advanced search features
allow you to refine a search based on author, journal, year, and
institution. Since it is the most expansive database available,
MathSciNet is useful for undergraduate math students looking to
supplement research projects or to learn more about a specific theory.
Another extremely useful aspect of this database is that publications are
categorized into 64 different subjects called Mathematical Subject
Classifications (MSC), so readers can hone in on a particular area when
searching for documents. This allows math majors to choose a
mathematical theory and view its evolution.

Tip: Just like with the Statistical Abstract, MathSciNet can be

freely accessed through the PSU Libraries site. To do so, visit:
https://libraries.psu.edu/databases, log in with your PSU
WebAccess Account, and scroll down and click on MathSciNet.

Tip: At the top of the homepage, click on the Free Tools tab.
This allows users to query more specific searches, including those
refined by MSC and by journals that are currently being published.

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