School math. A different way to think.
Watch an idea
become an
understanding.
Explore mathematical ideas with Elya, the AI companion we're building to help your child learn through Russian Math problems and teaching methods.
Scroll to explore. Sound starts only when you turn it on.
“Look for what repeats.”
The answer is just
part of the story.
Inspired by the Russian mathematical tradition, our approach puts reasoning at the center. Look closely, try an idea, and understand why it works.
- 01
Explore.
Start with a question. Watch a pattern or a shape change. Notice something new.
- 02
Explain.
Ask yourself “why?” Put the idea into words, a picture, or a few clear steps.
- 03
Practice.
Work through a related example. Ask for a small hint when you need one.
- 04
Make it yours.
Try a new problem without hints. Find out which ideas you can use on your own.
Seven ways to see
the thinking underneath.
Real problems from our source collection, adapted into English. Scroll through each idea, or use the step controls to explore at your own pace.
Jump to the hundredth.
100 = 25 × 4. The last digit is 6.
- Start small. The first four powers end in 2, 4, 8 and 6.
- Find what repeats. Multiply by 2 again. The last digit returns to 2.
- Jump to the hundredth. 100 = 25 × 4. The last digit is 6.
02 / 07 Algebra & balance
A balance can speak
the language of algebra.
A toy car balances one ball and two identical cubes. The car and one cube balance two balls. How many cubes balance the car?
Join usKeep the balance.
2 cars = car + 5 cubes. Remove one car from both sides.
- Read the two balances. Car = ball + 2 cubes. Car + cube = 2 balls.
- Replace equal with equal. Double the first relation, then substitute the second.
- Keep the balance. 2 cars = car + 5 cubes. Remove one car from both sides.
03 / 07 Geometry & change
Change the shape.
Track the relationship.
One side of a rectangle is increased by 12 cm, making a square. Its perimeter becomes 1.5 times the original perimeter. What is the side length of the square?
Join usBring the shape and numbers together.
Original perimeter 48 cm → square perimeter 72 cm → side 18 cm.
- Look at the boundary. One dimension grows by 12 cm. Two boundary sides get longer.
- Connect the two clues. The extra 24 cm is half of the original perimeter.
- Bring the shape and numbers together. Original perimeter 48 cm → square perimeter 72 cm → side 18 cm.
04 / 07 Combinatorics
Eight people.
More than eight possibilities.
A team at the Archimedes tournament has eight members. In how many ways can it choose a captain and a deputy?
Join usCount systematically.
8 × 7 = 56 ordered pairs. Reversing the roles makes a new outcome.
- Choose the first role. Any of the 8 team members can be captain.
- See the choices left. For each captain, there are 7 possible deputies.
- Count systematically. 8 × 7 = 56 ordered pairs. Reversing the roles makes a new outcome.
05 / 07 Logic & invariants
The contents change.
Something else stays the same.
Two identical cups contain coffee and milk. Transfer one spoonful of coffee into the milk. Then transfer one spoonful of the mixture back into the coffee. Which amount is larger: milk in the coffee cup, or coffee in the milk cup?
Join usNotice what must be equal.
Coffee left in the milk cup = milk now in the coffee cup.
- Move one spoonful. Coffee goes into the milk. The total liquid is conserved.
- Move one spoonful back. Return the same volume of mixture. Each cup has its original volume.
- Notice what must be equal. Coffee left in the milk cup = milk now in the coffee cup.
06 / 07 Probability
Chance has structure.
Let’s make it visible.
A fair coin is tossed ten times. What is the probability that no two consecutive tosses are both heads?
Join usReturn to ten tosses.
144 valid sequences out of 1,024. Probability = 9/64.
- Make the outcomes visible. For 3 tosses, 5 of the 8 sequences contain no HH. This is a smaller example.
- Grow the count. A valid sequence ends in T or in TH. f(n) = f(n−1) + f(n−2).
- Return to ten tosses. 144 valid sequences out of 1,024. Probability = 9/64.
07 / 07 Motion & functions
Two moving people.
One meeting point.
Yura leaves home five minutes after Lena, but walks twice as fast. How many minutes after Yura leaves will he catch up with Lena?
Join usFind where the stories meet.
They meet 10 minutes after Lena leaves: 5 minutes after Yura starts.
- Give the head start a shape. Lena leaves first. Yura starts 5 minutes later.
- Compare rates of change. Yura moves twice as fast. His line has twice the slope.
- Find where the stories meet. They meet 10 minutes after Lena leaves: 5 minutes after Yura starts.
A little encouragement along the way
Meet Elya.
Your companion
in curiosity.
Elya is the AI companion we're building to learn alongside your child. Explore a few prepared explanations here while we get the full experience ready.
You set the pace. Pause, hide Elya, or turn on sound whenever you like.
This page uses prepared examples and optional recordings. Live AI conversations are planned for the full application.
For the grown-ups, too
Room to think.
Support along the way.
We're building an experience where your child can explore an idea, ask for a hint, and explain how they reached an answer.
- Hints that leave room to think
- Space to explain an idea
- A new problem to try independently
Planned learning experienceFrom noticing
to understanding.
An illustration of the approach we're building, not a report on a child's progress.
A few good
questions.
A little more about what comes next.
Who is Russian Math for?
We're building Russian Math for school-age children who want to understand why mathematics works. The approach emphasizes reasoning, patterns, and explaining ideas. We'll share the supported ages and topics before launch.
Do we need to know Russian?
No. The experience is being developed in English. Russian Math refers to an approach to mathematical thinking, not a language requirement.
What happens after I join?
We'll keep your email on the launch list and email you when the service becomes available. Joining the list does not create an account or enroll you in a course.
Will this be an AI companion?
Yes. We're building Elya, an AI companion who will learn alongside your child and help them explore mathematical ideas. The explanations on this landing page are prepared examples; live AI is not connected here.
Is Elya designed for children?
Yes. Elya is being designed for children, with an account for personalized learning. This launch page asks a parent or adult for an email address and does not record conversations. We’ll share the full app’s privacy and safety protections before launch.
Will we need an account?
You do not need an account to join the launch list. The full application will require an account when it launches.
How will my child talk with Elya?
In the full application, your child can use text chat or choose to enable the microphone. Microphone access will be off by default.
What information do you collect?
When you join, we collect your email address so we can let you know when the service launches. We use Cloudflare Web Analytics to measure visits, page views, and page performance. Task answers and hint counts are not sent to analytics. This landing page has no account system or ads. We'll explain the full application's personalization and data handling before launch. Read the privacy information
Is this the Russian School of Mathematics?
No. Russian Math is an independent project. It is not affiliated with the Russian School of Mathematics (RSM) or another tutoring school.
For parents and adult learners
Join us at the beginning.
An AI companion. A thoughtful way to learn mathematics. Leave your email and we'll let you know when Russian Math launches.
We'll use your email to tell you when the service launches.