MathFiction: Another New Math (Alex Kasman)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Another New Math (2005)

Alex Kasman
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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A mathematician and his young daughter try to convince a school board to consider teaching advanced mathematics to elementary school children in this short story that appeared in the collection Reality Conditions: short mathematical fiction.

Contributed by Li-Chung

This story shows us that mathematics we have learned in schools might not be in accordance with the real world. Taking LINEARITY as an example, students in math major always begin with linear math (linear algebra, linear differential equations, and linear functional analysis…etc.) and finally little is taught in nonlinear math. However, there are so many things on Earth that are in a sense, nonlinear. The author also mentions a fact about nonlinearity, which is easy to see and quite interesting. Also, It is this fact that plays the role of foreshadowing and concludes this fictional story with a surprising (at least for me) ending.

More information about this work can be found at another page on this Website.
(Note: This is just one work of mathematical fiction from the list. To see the entire list or to see more works of mathematical fiction, return to the Homepage.)

Works Similar to Another New Math

According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:

Young Beaker by J.T. Lamberty, Jr.
Project Flatty by Irving Cox Jr.
Mimsy Were the Borogoves by Lewis Padgett (aka Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore)
Tangents by Greg Bear
Star, Bright by Mark Clifton
Problem Child by Arthur Porges
Plane and Fancy by P. Schuyler Miller
Four Brands of Impossible by Norman Kagan
The Exception by Alex Kasman
Monster by Alex Kasman

Ratings for Another New Math:

Ratings

Have you seen/read this work of mathematical fiction? Then click here to enter your own votes on its mathematical content and literary quality or send me comments to post on this Webpage.

Mathematical Content:
3/5 (1 votes)

Literary Quality:
3/5 (1 votes)

Categories:

Genre	Science Fiction,
Motif	Math Education,
Topic	Algebra/Arithmetic/Number Theory, Mathematical Physics,
Medium	Short Stories,

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Where are the new works of mathematical fiction?: As you can see from this chronological listing, this database includes many works of mathematical fiction for each year from 1990 to 2025. Strangely, only two are listed for 2026, so far. Either less mathematical fiction is being published than in previous years or I'm just having more trouble finding it. If you know of any works of fiction that should be added to this list, especially recently published ones, please let me know. (Keep in mind that I do not include self-published works or children's fiction that just covers elementary mathematical concepts.) Thanks!

(Maintained by Alex Kasman, College of Charleston)