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20 Best Gifts for Mathematicians (in 2024)
Last updated: September 15th, 2024
It can take some time to find the right gift for a Mathematician. They tend to want things that are practical yet unique and a little nerdy. Being an engineer and math lover myself, I wanted to assemble what I think are the best gift ideas for a math major or mathematician. This collection will show them that you understand their love of math and support them in their passions.
This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!
1. Pi Plate
You've come to the right place if you're seeking for the most effective gift to make your mathematician laugh out loud. This Pi Plate may be used for more than just pie, and guests will know that any food served on it, whether it's vegetables or dessert, will be brain food. Made from microwave and oven-safe glazed stoneware, this plate features the first 100 digits of Pi on the outside lip, which mathematicians will surely appreciate. It's perfect for anyone who likes math, a good chuckle, and pie!
Check the price on Amazon.
2. Mathematics Word Magnets
To have some fun, we designed a set of magnetic poetry word magnets specifically for mathematics fans! These make for a funny math-themed gift for the mathematician in your life that they can stick on their filing cabinets or office refrigerator for some laughs on the coffee break.
Also now available on Amazon.
3. The Moscow Puzzles: 359 Mathematical Recreations
This classic mathematics brain teaser book makes for a perfect coffee table addition for a mathematician or math major. The short puzzles are typically written as charming stories (from the lens of a Soviet citizen) and they don't require any advanced mathematics to solve.
Books like this help me to take "creative breaks" - where your brain needs a rest from the difficult problem at hand but scrolling through your phone isn't going to help. It may even trigger some lateral thinking that leads to a breakthrough in the project they are stumped on!
Check the price on Amazon.
4. Mathematics Infinity Scarf
Women in mathematics love to geek out over math fashion like this mathematics-themed infinity scarf. This lovely scarf allows the math enthusiast in your life to flaunt their passion with a simple and tasteful accessory.
Check the price on Amazon.
5. Rocketbook Core Digitally Connected Reusable Notebook
Mathematics is one of those fields that is still best worked out by hand. It may be the last to truly go digital. Unfortunately, some of their most brilliant notebook work can easily get lost, damaged, or stolen. I've seen a coffee spill wipe out 2 weeks of intense proof work.
Thankfully, Rocketbook can help bridge the gap between handwritten notes and digital safekeeping. The page markings and the app help scan and quickly organize your notebook pages right after you finish a page to prevent lost work. The Rocketbook Core is my favorite because it's also reusable! The pages can be cleaned and reused dozens of times so it makes for a nice sustainable gift as well.
6. Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
This is by far my favorite author in the "productivity" space. Cal Newport has refreshing takes that get away from the "hustle" culture often promoted online by young guys trying to grind their way to success.
As a professor of Computer Engineering who deals with complex math himself, he knows what it takes to build a successful career in academia. And it's not cruising through 100 emails every morning!
His newest book "Slow Productivity" mixes his own experiences with stories of the greatest minds in human history (think Curie, Feynman) to show that great achievements often happen slowly. I enjoyed reading this one at about one chapter a week to remind myself to focus on the "slow, deep work" and fit everything else around it.
7. Fibonacci Golden Ratio Spiral Necklace
Any mathematician who loves nerdy jewelry will be overjoyed to have the "Golden Ratio" as a necklace! The Golden Ratio is known as the universe's most beautiful number. It’s loved by engineers, architects and mathematicians because it’s pervasive in nature, geometry and even the human body! This is a terrific gift and statement piece for the mathematician in your life, and it's made from environmentally responsible materials!
Check the price on Amazon.
8. Prime Climb: Mental math-based board game
This is a brilliant math-based board game that has many layers which makes it fun for different age groups in different ways. The key is the color-coded circles - the colors correspond to the numbers which multiply to make that number! So even if the kids can't match the mathematician's mental math, the colors serve as a guide to reinforce the building blocks of each number.
You basically start at 0 and work your way up to 101 by rolling two 10-sided die. You can move by adding, multiplying, dividing, or subtracting the numbers you rolled while trying to bump off opposing players! So, there's a ton of strategy available in deciding how to use your dice rolls but it can be as simple as addition and subtraction depending on the levels playing.
Being a PhD-level mathematician doesn't make this game boring. The gameplay is excellent no matter how good you are at math, but mathematics lovers will just enjoy it a little more!
9. Math Symbols Poster
Most high level mathematicians should already have the calculus symbols on this chart memorized, but nonetheless many math lovers I know would love to have this sort of artwork decorating their office.
For college-level math majors, this chart can be a great handy reference until they know these symbols by heart. Most of the symbols are introduced in Calculus 1-3, and a few come in at the very end of Calc 4. Either way, the wood frame and UV-resistant canvas make it a great way to add some color to a desk or dorm room that the mathematician may otherwise be leaving pretty dull!
10. Working Sundial and Compass Replica
For a mathematician who also loves history and vintage items, there's no better fusion than a real working sundial clock. It takes a bit of practice, but the sundial will let you tell the time and the included compass can be useful in its own right. It's essentially an exact replica of what a sailor from 1000 years ago would use to navigate the high seas!
11. SMATH Math Learning Game for Kids
Just like Scrabble makes you connect words while enforcing spelling, SMATH is a game of assembling tiles in ways that follow the rules of mathematics! Meant for kids, this game is a great for a mathematician who wants to get their budding young STEM minds involved in a bit more of their passion. The best part is that it makes learning math interactive and fun, compared to boring lectures. This is made for Ages 6+ and for 2-4 players at a time.
Check the price on Amazon.
12. Subscription to AI-powered Research and Writing Software (SciSpace)
Mathematicians and mathematics grad students have to keep track of a HUGE amount of information to complete their research and write new papers. Luckily, AI is now ready to help! SciSpace is a new software tool that combines AI search engines with reference/bibliography management to quickly get answers to highly technical questions - all sourced from peer-reviewed journals.
The Copilot feature is my favorite! It can scan those clunky PDF files to make summaries and even pull tables out into an editable format! That would have saved me hundreds of hours in grad school...The other neat thing is that it lets you take notes on every journal article, link it to that file, and search your notes later with the AI engine.
The best move here is to gift them a 1-year subscription! Make sure to use my ambassador code “DEREK40” to save 40% on the first year. Just create an account here with your email, and then print out the login details to put into a gift box for the big day! They can move the account to their email address right after.
13. Math Equations Novelty Necktie
This mathematics necktie is the ideal finishing touch for a subtle nerdy work outfit, allowing your favorite mathematician to sport the unique blend of math and fashion that they've been dying for. This fun gift for math geeks has math equations and symbols and can be worn for nearly any occasion. Crafted in 100% premium microfiber, you can be certain that this mathematics necktie will integrate well with any outfit.
Check the price on Amazon.
14. Pi Earrings
These earrings in the shape of the Pi symbol will resonate with a mathematician and make a funny present. They're unique, adorable, and small enough to wear to work while still looking stylish. They’re made of stainless steel that is lead and nickel free and hypoallergenic. It’s a beautiful gift for a math love who wants to add some subtle nerdiness to their outfit.
Check the price on Amazon.
15. Pi Symbol Cookie Cutter
This Pi-shaped cookie cutter is a must-have gift for a math nerd in your life who also loves to bake. It's made of food-grade stainless steel, so it'll last a long time! Break it out to celebrate Pi Day or the achievements of the math wiz in your life. Now they can bake delicious Pi cookies and share them with other math lovers!
Check the price on Amazon.
16. Graphing Calculator Hard Protective Carrying Case
Calculators are a mathematician’s best friend.. Even though they could, it would be a waste of their time to do it by hand. One of the math geeks’ problems are missing calculators or scattered pens, to help them organize their math tools, this graphing calculator case is the perfect utilitarian gift. For a great finish and protection, this graphing calculator case is composed of the latest ballistic polyester material. It's not only useful for storing calculators, but also for storing USB cables, AC adapters, pens, rulers, and other small items.
If they don’t have a graphic calculator yet and are going into advanced math, the best and only option to last them a lifetime is the TI-89 graphing calculator, which will also fit in this case.
Check the price on Amazon.
17. Aluminum alloy chalk holder
If your mathematician or math professor ever comes home with chalk on their clothes, you know they're serious about sketching out their proofs to the classroom.
Math professors and TAs use more chalk than any other human I've ever known, so a fancy little chalk piece holder makes for a unique, relevant gift they can show off at work. It will also keep their hands a big cleaner after each lecture!
Check the price on Amazon.
18. Klein Bottle 3D Printed Vase Mathematics Art
Some 'toys' have profound mathematical meaning. They're items to put on a shelf and stare at, contemplate over, and show off to friends. This Klein Bottle 3D Printed Vase is a great example of this. The Klein bottle is a single-sided surface with no defined boundaries and a lot of mystery, a well-known concept among advanced mathematicians. With its open-cut lattice form, this decorative piece emphasizes the mathematical shape even more. This fusion of math and art is manufactured of high-quality PLA plastic, which makes it sturdy, long-lasting, and light. It's a thoughtful present that any mathematician will appreciate.
Check the price on Amazon.
19. Oloid - Desktop Sculpture Influenced by Perfect Mathematical & Geometric Design
The Oloid is a combination desk sculpture, conversation starter, and stress reliever that will relax the mind and impress friends. It's yet another work of mathematical art for your life's favorite mathematician. It's a stunning geometric shape invented in 1929 by mathematician and architect Paul Schatz. This Oloid from Ronin Factory is handcrafted from solid molten stainless steel and will last forever. It’s a design element, a desktop ornament, a coffee table conversation starter, or a therapeutic object to hold during periods of intense concentration!
Check the price on Amazon.
20. Best books for mathematicians to read for pleasure (not textbooks!)
Every mathematician will enjoy a good book, but there are so many to pick from. What about a puzzle book? Is there a well-known math biography? Or something more difficult? It’s important to occasionally break that cycle and dive into a book for pleasure. Below are a few of our favorite math-related books that will be an enjoyable pleasure read for a mathematician.
Adventures of a Mathematician
Anyone interested in Math, Physics, or scientific breakthroughs from the 1930s to the 1980s would enjoy Adventures of a Mathematician. It's a fantastic account of Stanislaw Ulam's life, as well as the lives of many other outstanding thinkers of his period. He was one of the first to push for the use of computers in scientific study, came up with ideas for nuclear propulsion for spacecraft, and contributed to many of today's most difficult mathematical problems. This book definitely deserves time and attention!
Check the price on Amazon.
Math Art: Truth, Beauty, and Equations
Math Art: Truth, Beauty, and Equations is an intriguing primer on a variety of mathematical concepts. It does a fantastic job at illustrating mathematical principles through art. The explanations are very succinct and reasonable in relating art/math details. The colors are vibrant and stunning, and the artwork chosen is diverse and eye-catching, making this a terrific coffee table book.
Check the price on Amazon.
Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World
Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in Real World is a book on how mathematics affects our lives on every level, from the code that runs a website to the equations that allow buildings and bridges to be designed. The book takes us on a journey through moments when math, engineering, and programming have gone horribly wrong, resulting in tragic or occasionally hilarious outcomes. The book examines a wide spectrum of blunders, including bridge collapses, space exploration mishaps, game show cheating, rogue financial algorithms, and much more. This is a book that mathematicians would adore!
Check the price on Amazon.
Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe
Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Universe's Secrets is an excellent calculus book. It's a mix of the history of calculus' creation, applications, and intuitive explanations of its strength, with delightfully intuitive explanations that will either refresh or provide an alternative way of understanding what you've already learned. This book is a must-read for anybody interested in the beauty of mathematics and nature.
Check the price on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What's a good gift for a mathematician?
Anything that's practical, functional or can help them show their love for mathematics. Here are our favorites:
- Mathematics Word Magnets
- Pi Plate
- The Moscow Puzzles: 359 Mathematical Recreations
- Mathematics Infinity Scarf
- Cognitive Surplus Deluxe Pi Mathematics Wax Seal Kit
- Rocketbook Matrix cloud-connected reusable paper notebook
- Fibonacci Golden Ratio Spiral Necklace
- Math Equations Novelty Tie Necktie
- Prime Climb: Mental Math-based board game
- Pi Earrings
- Pi Symbol Cookie Cutter
- Graphing Calculator Hard Protective Carrying Case
- Klein Bottle 3D Printed Vase Mathematics Art
- Oloid - Desktop Sculpture Influenced by Perfect Mathematical & Geometric Design
- Adventures of a Mathematician
- SMATH math learning game for kids
- Math Art: Truth, Beauty, and Equations
- Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World
- Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe
- Aluminum Alloy Chalk Holder
- Rocketbook Core Digitally Connected Reusable Notebook
- Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
- Math Symbols Poster
- Working Sundial and Compass Replica
- Subscription to AI-powered Research and Writing Software (SciSpace)
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