Wayward House Mathematics
A series for people who want to understand, not just pass
Most mathematics education answers the question how. This series tries to answer what, why, and where this goes.
It starts where the difficulty usually starts — not at the beginning of mathematics, but at the point where the notation begins to feel like it belongs to someone else. Each volume takes a set of tools, shows what they actually are, and points toward where they’re used in the world.
The series runs from the foundations of arithmetic through to upper-year engineering mathematics. You don’t have to start at Volume 1. Start where you lost the thread.
0.1 The map
Before you begin, it’s worth seeing the whole territory. The wayfinding map shows how the topics connect, which fields they lead to, and how the mathematics opens up as you move through the series.
0.2 The volumes
| Volume | Content | Roughly equivalent to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers and operations | Alberta Gr 7–8 |
| 2 | Patterns and algebra | Alberta Gr 8–9 |
| 3 | Shape and measure | Alberta Gr 9–10 |
| 4 | Functions and change | Alberta Gr 10–11 |
| 5 | Analysis and proof | Alberta Gr 11–12 |
| 6 | Probability and data | Alberta Gr 11–12 |
| 7 | Engineering mathematics | U of A first and second year engineering maths |
| 8 | Upper-year engineering mathematics | U of A years 3 and 4 mathematical methods |
The grade equivalents are approximate and are there for orientation only. They are not labels.
0.3 How to use this series
Each chapter opens with what you need coming in, and closes with what it opens up. The exercises are puzzles, not drills — they’re designed to be interesting rather than repetitive.
If a piece of notation stops you, look for the plain-language reading immediately beside it. Notation is a compression tool, not a gatekeeping device. This series treats it as such.