Math for Makers: From Formulas to Fabrication

Mathematics does not live only on paper—it comes alive when things are built. Math for Makers: From Formulas to Fabrication bridges the gap between abstract math and hands-on creation, showing how mathematical thinking directly shapes physical outcomes.
This book is written for builders, tinkerers, designers, and engineers who want math to *do* something. It reframes formulas as tools for making decisions about dimensions, motion, strength, efficiency, and precision. Instead of proving theorems, the focus is on applying ideas—turning equations into cuts, curves, joints, and systems that actually work.
Readers learn how geometry guides fabrication, how ratios and scaling prevent failure, how trigonometry controls movement, and how optimization improves designs without overcomplication. Math becomes a partner in creativity rather than an obstacle to it.
This book explores:
• How mathematical ideas translate into physical design
• Why measurement, tolerance, and proportion matter
• How math prevents waste, weakness, and rework
• Why good fabrication starts with good models
• How thinking mathematically improves making
This book is for makers who learn by building and builders who want to think more clearly. If you believe formulas should end in finished objects, this book shows how math moves from the page to the workshop.