Hi, I need to find a mathematical expository essay.  However, it can't
be too complicated--something someone with a general understanding of
math could grasp.  I've searched tons of journals, but I can't find
anything that seems to be expository! Can you find any????

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Request for Question Clarification by mathtalk-ga on 30 Sep 2004 07:49 PDT

Hi, tribul-ga:

By "general understanding of math" do you mean a high school level
background in math, or perhaps something at a level either higher or
lower?

Here are some math topics that might appeal to broad audiences:

  - Constructing magic squares

  - Goldbach's conjecture, an unsolved problem

  - How fast can we multiply?

None of the above require calculus for a statement of the topic, and
essays on topics like these can therefore be written at levels ranging
from middle school and up.

What is your audience?

regards, mathtalk-ga

A quarterly publication called "The Mathematical Intelligencer" will
provide a wealth of material.

Here's a pretty neat expository essay on "Möbius knitting":

http://www.math.wayne.edu/~isaksen/Expository/vismath-paper/