Mathematics: Subject Specific GuidanceAn extended essay (EE) in mathematics is intended for students who are writing on any topic that has a mathematical focus and it need not be confined to the theory of mathematics itself.
Essays in this group could belong to one of the following five categories:
the applicability of mathematics to solve both real and abstract problems
the beauty of mathematics—eg geometry or fractal theory
the elegance of mathematics in the proving of theorems—eg number theory
the history of mathematics: the origin and subsequent development of a branch of mathematics over a period of time, measured in tens, hundreds or thousands of years
the effect of technology on mathematics, in forging links between different branches of mathematics, or in bringing about a new branch of mathematics, or causing a particular branch to flourish.
These are just some of the many different ways that mathematics can be enjoyable or useful, or, as in many cases, both. The list above is just for guidance, there is no requirement that essays should fit wholly within one of these categories.
