What a dreadful reputation mathematics has earned itself. With an endless catalog of rules & symbols, notations & theorems, many in this world have come to regard mathematics as a sort of black magic that can only be wielded by the high conjurers of complex science. Jaded by flunked math tests and dismal homework assignments, very few individuals really come to enjoy the art of mathematics at all. Certainly math is useful for science and engineering purposes, and of course for balancing a checkbook, but why else is mathematics important to understand?

As it turns out, mathematics can be a wonderful tool for describing many of the things we encounter in everyday life. Because we are surrounded by these shapes and patterns at every turn, each of us has an innate understanding of a fairly wide range of mathematic concepts. Perhaps we first must understand in our own language, before we can grasp the theorems and equations that are involved. There are many examples of mathematics in nature: The Fibonacci sequence is a numeric pattern that presents itself in countless species of living organisms. Another is the spiral, which appears in both tiny seashells and entire galaxies. Indeed, the very DNA of our own bodies is organized in a double-helix form, a splendid example of mathematics in nature.

On this website, topics of these kind will be presented, with a look at the mathematics behind the scenes. As the author, my objective is to present all ideas in a manner that will be intuitive and easy to understand, while remaining factual and mathematically correct. As you navigate these pages, keep in mind that the website is organized much like a regular book. There are pages and sections, a table of contents, and an appendix. Think of this website as an online text that is being written publicly. I won't claim to be the greatest writer, so it is my hope that visitors will send suggestions, corrections, and related mathematical ideas.

I hope that you find your visit enlightening,
Steven Garner
website administrator