YouTube has become an invaluable resource for math students of all ages and skill levels. Whether you‘re struggling with a concept from class, prepping for an exam, helping your child with homework, or just want to explore higher-level math for fun, there are tons of great YouTube channels offering math video content.
I‘ve compiled this list of the 10 best math YouTube channels that deliver high-quality lessons, insightful explanations, and real-world examples that make math approachable and even enjoyable. From elementary school arithmetic to graduate level concepts, these math channels feature experienced, engaging instructors tackling math topics in ways that stick.
1. Khan Academy
With over 10 million subscribers and thousands of videos on every math topic imaginable, Khan Academy is likely the most comprehensive free online math resource ever created. Salman Khan‘s passion for making math visual, intuitive, and focused on mastery has created an unparalleled virtual math classroom. From basic addition to advanced calculus and everything between, if you have a math question, Khan Academy almost certainly has you covered.
2. PatrickJMT
Like Khan Academy, PatrickJMT is led by the passion of one instructor, Patrick, who opened his YouTube channel as an outlet for helping students visualize and master concepts from his actual classroom lessons. With over 1.3 million subscribers, Patrick‘s straight-to-the-point, step-by-step explanations of algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and other high school/university math have become invaluable for confused math learners. His math test prep videos are among the most helpful on YouTube.
3. professor Leonard
A mainstay name in online math courses, professor Leonard has an extensive YouTube channel with over 850 video lectures covering nearly every math subject from basic math and algebra to multivariable calculus and differential equations. His lectures mirror an actual in-person math course – complete with quick recap quizzes along the way – allowing self-learners to truly master college-level math in an accessible format.
4. blackpenredpen
For bite-sized lessons focusing primarily on algebra, trigonometry and calculus examples and solutions, blackpenredpen delivers quality content. The videos tackle the step-by-step solutions to the kinds of problems students are likely to encounter in high school/college math assignments and tests. With over 1 million subscribers, this no-frills channel cuts straight to serving up the math help learners are searching for.
5. 3Blue1Brown
One of the most popular math channels on YouTube, 3Blue1Brown sets itself apart through its visually striking animated lessons. Grant Sanderson‘s videos bring advanced mathematical concepts like linear algebra, calculus, cryptography, and neural networks to life in ways rarely seen in math lectures. For visual learners especially, this channel‘s creative approach can spark epiphany moments.
6. MATLAB
While MATLAB is actually a mathematical computing software system, the creators at MathWorks leverage their YouTube channel to help learners grasp how to use MATLAB for analyzing data, developing algorithms, and even building apps. For those interested in applied math, science, and engineering, this channel covers intriguing real-world examples of mathematical computing power in action across many industries.
7. Tipping Point Math
Geared specifically towards middle school and high school math learners, Tipping Point Math features short, targeted video lessons explaining mathematical rules, properties, formulas and concepts in Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Trigonometry. The channel is searchable by specific math topic so students can efficiently find the exact lessons they need to fill in their knowledge gaps or refresh their skills.
8. Mashup Math
For a fun, outside-the-box approach to middle school math lessons that emphasizes visual models over rote memorization, Mashup Math delivers. Animated sketches, real-world math connections, and a sense of humor makes topics like ratios & proportions, area models, and unit rates less intimidating. Creator Pranav Bakhshi‘s passion is getting kids to see math as creative and enjoyable versus dry and difficult.
9. Mathologer
Number theory, abstract algebra, infinity, pi, prime numbers, fractals – if you have an inclination towards theoretical mathematics, Mathologer is the math channel for you. Professional mathematician Burkard Polster explores deeper mathematical ideas and how they connect to philosophy, culture and history in ways math textbooks scarcely acknowledge. Math enthusiasts will find plenty of mind-bending math perspectives here.
10. Eddie Woo
If you‘re looking for a high school math teacher who makes algebra, geometry, trigonometry and even basic arithmetic feel exciting, check out Eddie Woo. His energetic, sometimes musical explanations of foundational math concepts are beloved by students who find math intimidating or mundane in the classroom. Eddie‘s passion about inspiring kids to see math differently completely comes through in his unique YouTube videos.
While YouTube has no shortage of channels posting math lessons, only a small percentage provide the right combination of comprehensive quality content presented by experienced, gifted math instructors. The channels featured on this list have these attributes that set them apart:
Personable Instructors – Math can feel intensely impersonal when taught out of context by disengaged teachers. These YouTube educators break that mold through their passion, humor, and ability to empathize with confused learners. Their content feels like a virtual conversation versus sterile lecture.
Purposeful Visuals – Many of these channels move beyond a "talking head" lecturing on camera by incorporating useful visual elements like on-screen text annotations, quick sketches, animations and graphics. These enhancements help simplify complex mathematical ideas.
Concise Clarity – Whether covering basic arithmetic for young students or post-grad level theoretical math, these channels take care to provide clear explanations in digestible pieces. Bite-sized videos keep viewers engaged.
Problem Solving Focus – Many lessons revolve around walking step-by-step through solving the kinds of challenging quantitative problems math students will face on tests and in the real world. This practical approach sticks better than mere formula memorization.
Passion + Skill – At their foundation, these YouTube math superstars simply love math and want viewers to share their enthusiasm. Their skill in communicating that passion online is a winning formula that leaves learners actually enjoying math too.
YouTube offers math students some unique advantages for strengthening skills and confidence:
Convenience – Short, narrowly focused math video lessons can fit into tiny gaps of free time in a busy student‘s schedule. YouTube is always available on any device for quick micro-learning.
Self-Pacing – Struggling with a concept? Replay all or part of the video as many times as needed to achieve that "aha" moment. YouTube puts the control in the student‘s hands unlike a rigid classroom lecture.
Varied Teaching Styles – Each YouTube educator has a slightly different tone, language and analogy preference for explaining mathematical ideas. Being able to sample numerous teaching perspectives facilitates learning.
Interactive Features – Comment sections below videos allow students to ask clarifying questions and even get personal responses in some cases. The best channels also link to quizzes, worksheets and other supplemental materials for retaining knowledge.
Engaging Visual Medium – Today‘s internet-native students are accustomed to receiving information quickly through visual mediums. YouTube‘s mix of motion, sound and imagery can penetrate math confusion in ways static textbooks cannot.
YouTube will never replace the value of an in-person math instructor that can adapt lessons in real-time based on student feedback. However, these top-notch YouTube channels provide powerful, targeted support for deepening mathematical competency. They make an excellent companion resource for advancing through math curriculum.
With the overwhelming amount of math content on YouTube, it can get confusing sorting through it all to find channels delivering quality tutorials at the appropriate skill level. Keep these tips in mind when evaluating a channel:
Define Your Goal – Are you looking to strengthen arithmetic skills? Refresh high school algebra concepts? Learn higher level math just for fun? Understanding the purpose narrows the search.
Vet the Instructor – What are their math credentials? Do they have classroom teaching experience? Can they simplify complex ideas well? An engaging personality helps too.
Check Production Quality – High view counts and subscriber numbers imply good content, but invest some time sampling lesson videos. Evaluate the audiovisual execution and clarity of explanations.
Match Your Level – Scan several full lesson videos to determine if the math covered matches your background knowledge and won‘t be too advanced or remedial. Stay in your ZPD (zone of proximal development)!
Explore Support Resources – The best channels provide handouts, quizzes, extended examples and other supplemental materials to drive home concepts. These extras boost retention.
Evaluating math channels on the criteria above will help identify your perfect math teacher match on YouTube suitable for your needs and learning preferences.
What is the best YouTube channel to learn math basics?
For fundamental math skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals and percentages, Khan Academy has the most comprehensive, well-structured video lesson library.
Which math YouTube channel is best for SAT/ACT test prep?
PatrickJMT and Tipping Point Math are most directly focused on helping high schoolers master the quantitative reasoning concepts emphasized on college admission standardized exams.
What YouTube channel is best for learning calculus?
Both Khan Academy and Professor Leonard have extensive multi-video calculus courses teaching all essential AP and university-level calculus topics in great depth.
Which math YouTube channel is completely free with no paid content?
All channels featured on this list offer 100% free math video content supported by ads and viewer donations rather than paywalls or subscription fees. Khan Academy is also notable for having translated lessons into dozens of languages for global free access.
What is the most entertaining YouTube channel for math?
3Blue1Brown is renowned for creatively animated lessons that make advanced math visualization beautiful. Eddie Woo also delivers high school math lessons with an unusually high-energy, humorous style.
Which YouTube channel is best for learning math foundations?
Khan Academy spans early math skills like counting and arithmetic all the way through high school level math, making it the top choice for systematically developing mathematical competence from the ground up.
The beauty of YouTube for math learning is that the ultimate "best" channels come down to an individual student‘s unique needs and preferences. With this list as a starting point, find the instructor and video lesson style that clicks with your goals, background and learning style. Math mastery awaits!
