Frequently Asked Questions - Blue Series
Find here the answers to most questions concerning Math Mammoth Blue series (the topical worktexts). For starters, the video below explains a brief overview (basics) of these books.
1. Is the Blue series a complete curriculum?
2. Do the Blue and Light Blue have the same material?
3. Are tests included in the Blue Series books?
4. Do all the Blue Series books come with answer keys?
6. Can I go paperless and fill in the PDF on a computer or tablet device (iPad, Android, etc.)?
7a. Can I buy the Blue Series books as hardcopies (print versions)?
7c. I hesitate to buy MM because I can't print in color. Any suggestions?
8. In which order should I study the Blue Series books?
9. I'm confused and at a loss as to where to start my kids. Do you have placement tests?
10. What is the copyright notice or license when using these books?
12. Does it work on a Mac, Linux computer, or Chromebook?
1. Is the Blue series a complete curriculum?
The Blue Series books have not been written to be a complete curriculum as such. Math Mammoth Light Blue series is the complete curriculum. The Blue Series does not contain tests or cumulative reviews, nor is it organized to go by grade levels.
However, it is possible to use the Blue Series books and "piece together" a math curriculum. This will cover all the necessary topics for grades 1-8.
Please keep in mind that many books in the Blue Series cover material for several grade levels in one book. The series is NOT organized exactly by grade levels.
2. Do the Blue and Light Blue have the same material?
Yes. Both series have the same lessons (the same pages, just organized differently).
3. Are tests included in the Blue Series books?
No. However, if you get the Math Mammoth Review Workbooks bundle, you can use the tests in it, which come from the Light Blue series chapter tests.
4. Do all the Blue Series worktexts come with answer keys?
Yes. In the Blue Series books, the answers are appended to the main worktext.
5. Does the Blue Series come with a teacher manual or at least have something to explain how to do the problem?
The explanations of the concepts are right there in the Blue Series worktexts. There are no separate teacher manuals. Please look at the sample pages on this page: Math Mammoth Fractions 1. The lessons generally start out with the explanations and then continue with the problems. With the fraction lessons, sometimes it asks the student to try something first, such as adding something or thinking about some particular problem, and then goes on to explain it.
6. Can I go paperless and fill in the PDF on a computer or tablet device (iPad, Android, etc.)?
Yes, you can. One easy way to do it is to take a screenshot and then write/draw on it.
Another way is that the student can fill in Math Mammoth PDF files using the comment/annotation tools present in many PDF apps. These tools typically allow you to add text and to draw lines, circles, and other shapes.
One app that is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux desktops is Xournal++. For other options:
- For Windows desktop, check out the PDF tools present in the Edge browser. To do that, open the Math Mammoth PDF in Edge.
- For iPad, there exist several PDF apps that have annotating tools and work well for Math Mammoth files: PDF Expert (free), Goodreader, iAnnotatePDF, and Notability.
- On a Mac, the default app for PDF files is called Preview. That app does have annotation tools and you can fill in the PDF using those. However, some users find that Mac's Preview does not display all the images in the Math Mammoth files. Besides Preview, Notability is a PDF app available for Macs.
- For Android devices, check out Xodo PDF Reader & editor.
Yet another option is to fill in the PDF file using online tools, such as DocHub.com or Kami. Kami also works for PDF files inside Google Classroom.
7a. Can I buy the books as hardcopies (printed versions)?
Yes. The Blue Series books are available as printed books through Lulu.com's storefront for Math Mammoth. At each book's webpage you will find a direct link to the corresponding printed version at Lulu.
7b. Can we buy the downloads and then take them to a Kinko's or Staples type place to have the book printed up and bound nicely?
Yes. The copyright notice that is printed on page 2 specifically allows the person who purchases the book(s) to make copies — whether by Kinko's or their own printer — to his or her students, but not to other teacher's students.
You can also use online printing services such as Mimeo.com or Bestvaluecopy.com. The Homeschool Printing Company have the best pricing I've seen. Here's one other company with decent pricing: Family Nest Printing.
You are NOT allowed to use services that are meant for self-publishing, such as xpress.lulu.com or press.barnesandnoble.com. Those services are meant for publishing/printing a book that YOU have written and that YOU own a copyright to.
7c. I hesitate to buy MM because I can't print in color. Any suggestions?
1) Print in b&w, but let the child color the boxes the problems are in, using crayons.
2) Utilize the online games recommended in the notes for each chapter for the "color" (so to speak). It works for some!
8. In which order should I study the Blue Series books?
Please see my suggestion for the order of study for the Blue Series books .
9. I'm confused and at a loss as to where to start my kids. Do you have placement tests?
I do not have placement tests specifically for the Blue Series. However, I have written Blue Series placement advice concerning the various addition, subtraction, multiplication & division books in the Blue Series.
You can also use the placement tests for the Light Blue series. Once you have the results from the test, you can email them to me, and I can help you pick books from the Blue Series that would best suit your needs.
10. What is the copyright notice or license when using these books?
The copyright license is for a single teacher use. One teacher (owner of the materials) is allowed to print and copy the materials to his/her students, however many those might be. In a family situation, the parent is naturally considered to be this teacher.
Sharing between teachers is not allowed. Each teacher/parent should buy his/her own copy. Also, you are not allowed to upload the files to any website for the purpose of sharing with others (not even with your students or parents).
School licensing or other similar situations: please ask.
Here's the copyright notice as it is found in the books:
Copying permission: Permission IS granted to reproduce this material to be used with one (1) teacher's students by virtue of the purchase of this book. In other words, one (1) teacher MAY make copies of these worksheets to be used with his/her students. Permission is not given to reproduce the material for resale. Making the file(s) available on any website for the purpose of sharing is strictly prohibited. If you have other needs, such as licensing for a school or tutoring center, contact the author at
www.MathMammoth.com/contact.
11. How many word problems are in your materials? From the samples it seems most pages don't have any word problems.
I feel I have put lots of word problems into my Blue Series books. They tend to be on the last page of a lesson, and not on the first page of the lesson (the lessons are typically 2-4 pages long) - and for the samples, I usually tend to use the first page of a particular lesson since it shows how the concept is taught. So, that is why the samples do not really show many of the word problems.
12. Does it work on a Mac, Linux computer, or Chromebook?
Yes. The actual files you get (whether from a download or on a CD) are PDF or html files so Math Mammoth is compatible with Mac, Linux, Chromebook, and any other operating system where you can open PDF files.
However, you may need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files correctly. For example, I've had some customers tell me that Mac's native PDF viewer shows black boxes in the files, or that many of the graphics are missing. Similarly in Linux, some images will likely be missing or messed up if you use other PDF viewers. I don't at this time have experience or feedback from Chromebook users.
For certain Math Mammoth products, you will also (just initially) need a program or app that handles zip files. A zip file is like a "package" that you will need to open in order to access the PDF files inside it. On Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, you simply right-click the zip file, and choose "Extract" or "unzip". On a Chromebook, please see http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-simple-ways-zip-unzip-files-chromebook/
Please note that the bonus software "Soft-Pak" is Windows software only. However, Soft-Pak is not a part of the actual curriculum and is not needed when using Math Mammoth — it is only an additional bonus.
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