Adding applied math courses is also on the agenda. A new open letter signed by more than 250 company CEOs calls for states to require students to take courses in computer science and artificial ...

Importing real-life examples into calculus is a good idea—one that can inspire students to engage with math, Bonk says. Bringing in basic programming skills into the coursework is also a good idea.

Is Math Real? Eugenia Cheng Basic Books, $30. Every mathematician has a story that goes something like this. You’re at a party, and someone asks what you do for a living.