Why I Built Magic Internet Math (and Where It’s Going Next)

Why I Built Magic Internet Math (and Where It’s Going Next)

From Fundamentals of Fundamentals by Fundamentals

March 16, 2026 · 44 min · Season 1 · Episode 12

About this episode

The episode explores the creation and future of Magic Internet Math, emphasizing math as a liberal art and detailing its educational resources and inspirations.

In this solo “special” for Episode 5, I step back from our usual co-hosted format with Rob to share the why and how behind Magic Internet Math. I walk through what’s live today—100+ free courses, skill-building games, and several proof‑of‑concept video series—and explain the core idea driving it all: teaching math as a liberal art. I trace the project’s roots through my own journey from actuarial work to quant research, the textbooks and OCW lectures that shaped me, and how cryptography, Bitcoin, and daily study of abstract algebra inform the site’s design. I also preview what’s next: a subscriber-only Basic Algebra heroic‑epic course (with a substantial study guide), more original series and classes inspired by Euclid, Gauss, Steiner, and Satoshi, and a points system that will eventually gate advanced offerings. If you’re curious about the curriculum sources—Strang, Lang, Hungerford, Rosen, Euclid, Priestley, Atlas Shrugged, Satoshi’s forum posts, and more—I’ve linked canonical editions and archives below so you can explore exactly what’s influencing the build. 'Magic Internet Math (site)': https://magicinternetmath.com/ 'MIT OpenCourseWare – 18.06SC Linear Algebra (Gilbert…

People in this episode

Host: Fundamentals

Topics covered

  • math education
  • liberal arts
  • cryptography
  • abstract algebra
  • online learning
  • curriculum development

Keywords

  • Magic Internet Math
  • math courses
  • skill-building games
  • cryptography
  • abstract algebra
  • Euclid
  • Satoshi
  • curriculum sources

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Magic Internet Math, MIT OpenCourseWare

Books & works: A First Course in Abstract Algebra, Atlas Shrugged

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