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A Guide to Mathematics Resources

Recommended resources for Mathematics and Statistics

Browse Mathematics Books by Call Number

To browse books on subjects in mathematics, use the links below to go to the page in the catalog on which a subclass begins. Due to restrictions on linking to a range of different call numbers in the Classic Catalog, you may have to scroll down to find the first book on a given subject.

What Are Call Numbers?

WashU Libraries uses the Library of Congress Classification System (LC) to group books according to subject on library shelves. Each book has a unique call number, which acts as the book's address - it tells you exactly where to find the book on the shelf.

Most books in Mathematics (QA) will be found on Level B of the Olin Library.

What Do Call Numbers Mean?

LC call numbers divide books into classes, subclasses, topics, and subtopics.

For example, Fermat's enigma : the epic quest to solve the world's greatest mathematical problem by Simon Singh has the call number: QA244 .S55 1997.

On the book spine, the call number would appear like this:

QA
244
.S55
1997

 

QA

is the class and subclass. Q is Science and QA is Mathematics.

  • Read the first line in alphabetical order: When there are two letters, Q comes before QA, which comes before QC, etc.
244

is the classification number for the subject. 244 is Higher congruences, residues. Fermat's Theorem.

  • Read the second line as a whole number: 80 comes before 793, for example.
.S55

is a combination of letters and numbers that usually represents the author or publisher's name.
It may also represent a more narrow topic or the author. In this case, .S55 represents the author, Simon Singh.

  • Read the letter alphabetically but read the number as a decimal. So .P43 comes after .P422
1997

is the year of publication, and identifies separate editions of a text.

  • Read in chronological order.