Using Generative AI to Learn Mathematics
A student guide to using generative AI as a tool for learning mathematics—without outsourcing the mathematics itself.
Download the current PDF
Discussion draft, September 2026
Questions or comments: yangf@wfu.edu
About this guide
Generative AI can be useful for much more than producing answers. Used carefully, it can help you unpack a difficult definition, diagnose a misunderstanding, get a limited hint, understand the architecture of a proof, connect ideas across subjects, or begin learning a related topic that your course has not reached.
The guide has two parts:
- Part I: Do’s, Don’ts, and Responsibilities. Suggested boundaries for coursework, including verification, disclosure, and responsibility for submitted work.
- Part II: Learn Mathematics with AI. Practical strategies for giving mathematical context, asking neutral questions, checking AI output, working with definitions and proofs, exploring connections, and learning new topics.
The central principle is simple: use AI to create more mathematics that you can understand and do yourself, not more mathematics that merely appears on the screen.
A few themes
- Give the AI your relevant mathematical background and, when appropriate, what has been covered in your course.
- Ask for an assessment rather than building your preferred answer into the prompt.
- Verify mathematical claims, examples, and references; confidence is not evidence.
- For assigned problem-solving, request limited help only within the rules of the course and take the problem back after a hint.
- Use AI to identify structure: how definitions, examples, theorems, proof strategies, and neighboring subjects fit together.
- When exploring a new topic, start from something you know, set a concrete goal, and check the AI’s roadmap against a real mathematical source.
Attribution
This note is loosely based on Abbey Bourdon’s original document, which was adapted from Pavel Etingof’s “Use of AI in mathematical research: A guide for young mathematicians.” The PDF was created with the help of ChatGPT 6 Pro and contains the full references and source acknowledgments.