OnlyMath / Resources
Math resources, organized around your goals.
Compare what each resource offers, who it helps, and where it may fall short.
Not sure where to start? Compare four paths from algebra to derivatives.
AoPS Alcumus
Adaptive problems across algebra, geometry, counting, and probability.
Best for: Strong school-math learners who want challenging nonroutine practice.
Keep in mind: Problems can be much harder than a standard class exercise; an account may be needed to track progress.
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Visit resourceCK-12 FlexMath
Concept-focused school math lessons organized across algebra, geometry, and more.
Best for: Reviewing one school-level concept before moving to harder exercises.
Keep in mind: The broad catalog requires you to choose a specific concept to stay focused.
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Visit resourceCoursera
Math courses from multiple providers in one catalog.
Best for: Comparing course structures and instructors.
Keep in mind: Access and certificate prices vary by course; check before enrolling.
Desmos Graphing Calculator
Interactive graphing for functions, equations, and data.
Best for: Exploring how changing an equation changes its graph.
Keep in mind: A graph can suggest an answer; show your reasoning separately.
GeoGebra
Interactive geometry, algebra, graphing, and other math tools.
Best for: Manipulating constructions and seeing relationships change.
Keep in mind: Choose the app that matches your task; the suite has several tools.
Khan Academy
Short lessons paired with practice questions across school mathematics.
Best for: Rebuilding fundamentals and practicing one skill at a time.
Keep in mind: The lesson order may differ from your class syllabus.
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Visit resourceMath Is Fun: Algebra
Short illustrated explanations of school algebra, from basic notation to functions.
Best for: A quick plain-language explanation before trying a practice set.
Keep in mind: It is a topic index rather than a paced course; choose a specific lesson.
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Visit resourceMathigon Polypad
A digital canvas with shapes, tiles, graphing, and other math manipulatives.
Best for: Testing a geometric or algebraic idea by moving objects yourself.
Keep in mind: Exploration helps intuition; write out the mathematical argument separately.
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Visit resourceMERLOT
An educator-led catalog of learning materials with search and discipline filters.
Best for: Discovering specialized activities or teaching material beyond a standard course.
Keep in mind: It indexes external resources; access terms and quality vary at the destination.
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Visit resourceOpenStax College Algebra 2e
A chapter-based algebra text with examples and exercises on equations, functions, and graphs.
Best for: Learners who want a stable reference alongside a class or self-study plan.
Keep in mind: Starts at college algebra; review earlier algebra skills first if needed.
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Visit resourceOpenStax Precalculus 2e
A structured text beginning with functions and extending into the preparation needed for calculus.
Best for: Following a full precalculus sequence with written examples and exercises.
Keep in mind: The full book is substantial; match chapters to the gaps you actually have.
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Visit resourcePaul's Online Math Notes
Free lecture-style notes with worked examples and practice for algebra and calculus.
Best for: Checking a specific method or working through a solution step by step.
Keep in mind: Calculus notes assume working algebra and trigonometry knowledge.
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Visit resourceCompare specific courses and books
From shaky algebra to your first derivative.
Choose for your current skills first, then your preferred format. These four options serve different stages; you do not need to complete all four.
If equations still feel uncertain, start with Khan Academy for scored practice or OpenStax Elementary Algebra for a paper-and-pencil approach. Once algebra and functions are secure, use OpenStax Calculus for the main explanation and Paul’s notes when you need another worked solution.
Keep the bridge in your plan: factoring, rational expressions, function notation, and graphs; a full calculus course also needs trigonometry, exponentials, and logarithms. Completing Algebra 1 alone does not establish calculus readiness.
See learning paths and readiness checksBuild your algebra foundation
Khan Academy Algebra 1
Choose this if short lessons and scored practice help you keep going.
- Prerequisites
- Our starting recommendation: be able to work with fractions and negative numbers. If these are still difficult, review arithmetic before the equation units.
- Format and sequence
- Videos and articles organized into units, from expressions and linear equations to functions, exponents, and quadratics. This course does not teach derivatives.
- Exercises and answers
- Skill exercises, quizzes, unit tests, and a course challenge. Use the assessments to find gaps rather than only watching videos.
- Feedback
- Answer-based scoring and skill-mastery levels; practice includes hints. This is automated feedback, not a teacher reviewing your written reasoning.
- Cost and access
- Core lessons and practice are free. An account saves progress. Optional Khanmigo tutoring has separate access and subscription terms; it is not needed for this path.
- Our suggested next step
- Start with Algebra foundations, then Solving equations & inequalities. Continue to functions and quadratics before filling precalculus gaps.
Build your algebra foundation
OpenStax Elementary Algebra 2e
Choose this if you want small written steps and room to work on paper.
- Prerequisites
- Builds on prealgebra; Chapter 1 reviews whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals. Use the section readiness questions to decide what to revisit.
- Format and sequence
- A one-semester textbook with worked examples, linear equations, graphs, polynomials, factoring, rational expressions, roots, and quadratics. It stops before calculus.
- Exercises and answers
- Try It questions, section exercises, chapter reviews, and practice tests. The public key covers all Try It questions and odd-numbered exercises and review/test questions.
- Feedback
- Self-check against the answer key and worked examples. The book itself does not score your work or diagnose a wrong algebra step.
- Cost and access
- Web and PDF editions are free; print is a separate purchase. Some instructor-only resources need a verified instructor account.
- Our suggested next step
- Try the readiness questions in §2.1, then solve an odd-numbered set without the key. Return to Chapter 1 if the arithmetic blocks you.
Official sources for this comparison
After algebra and functions
OpenStax Calculus Volume 1
Choose this for a textbook-led first encounter with limits and derivatives.
- Prerequisites
- Our readiness advice: handle function notation, graphs, factoring, and fractions fluently. The full course also uses trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
- Format and sequence
- Chapter 1 reviews functions and graphs; Chapter 2 develops limits; Chapter 3 introduces derivatives. Later chapters cover applications and integration.
- Exercises and answers
- Worked examples, checkpoints, and section exercises. Public answers cover all checkpoints and odd-numbered exercises/review questions, not every problem.
- Feedback
- Self-marking with the answer key and examples. Reading a correct solution will not reveal whether you can reproduce the reasoning independently.
- Cost and access
- Free web/PDF textbook; print costs extra. Instructor answer materials have restricted access. No enrolled course or personal grading is included in the textbook.
- Our suggested next step
- Check §1.1 functions first, study Chapter 2 limits, then use §3.1 to connect a difference quotient with a tangent slope before memorizing rules.
Official sources for this comparison
After algebra and functions
Paul’s Online Math Notes: Calculus I
Choose this for a focused written explanation and step-by-step solutions to practice problems.
- Prerequisites
- The author explicitly assumes working algebra and trigonometry, but no previous calculus. The opening review is a refresher, not a from-zero algebra course.
- Format and sequence
- Lecture-style notes move from a prerequisite review to limits, derivatives, applications, and integrals. Notes and practice pages are separate.
- Exercises and answers
- The derivative-definition practice page links to individual solutions. Choose Practice Problems for self-study; the separate Assignment Problems omit answers.
- Feedback
- Reveal a worked solution and compare each step yourself. The linked notes and practice pages do not automatically grade your attempt.
- Cost and access
- The author provides free online notes and downloadable versions of most pages. Public reading and the linked practice solutions do not require course enrollment.
- Our suggested next step
- After reviewing limits, read The Definition of the Derivative and attempt a few Practice Problems before opening their solutions. If algebra dominates your errors, return to the foundation options.
Official sources for this comparison
Public materials reviewed: (UTC). Based on public course outlines, sample sections, practice pages, and provider documentation. We did not enroll, test account features, or measure learning outcomes. Recommendations are OnlyMath’s editorial judgments. These links lead to English-language resources; access terms can change.
How we choose resources
We check provider pages, then write our own summary of what each resource offers, who it suits, and its limits. Cost refers to online access to the linked material; optional print, accounts, or certificates may differ.