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.
3Blue1Brown
Visual explanations of mathematical ideas and intuition.
Best for: Understanding why an idea works before formal practice.
Keep in mind: Pair videos with exercises for procedural fluency.
Coursera
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.
edX
Online math courses from universities and other providers.
Best for: Learners who want a guided course format.
Keep in mind: Audit access and paid options depend on the course.
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.
Information checked:
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 resourceMIT OpenCourseWare
University course materials, including lectures and assignments where available.
Best for: Independent learners ready for a university course.
Keep in mind: Materials vary by course and may require strong prerequisites.
OpenStax Calculus Volume 1
A first calculus text covering functions, limits, derivatives, and integration.
Best for: Reading a complete explanation after an introductory video or lecture.
Keep in mind: Comfort with algebra and trigonometry makes the early chapters much easier.
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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 resourceProfessor Leonard
Long-form classroom-style math lectures.
Best for: Following a structured explanation from start to finish.
Keep in mind: Lectures are long; plan time for notes and practice.
Compare 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.