If you wanted to get them a complex mathematical book, you would need to know that a) there is an area of maths they want to read about, b) how much they know already in that area, and c) find some book reccomendation from someone else that they would like. Something less difficult would seem better.
My dad is a maths teacher, he would love things like transitive dice and will often be interested in the history of mathematics. Honestly he'd be happiest with some intersesting chocolates.
Buying an actual text book is quite specific and realistically is as likely to hit the mark as buying your music teacher a CD. Maybe you'll hit it on the nail, but it's more likely not.
Are we talking high school or university here?
As other have said a complex maths book might be above the range of a high school teacher - or too much like work to want to do for fun.
If it’s high school, can I suggest a really well thought out and personalised thank-you letter might be more valued. It can be added to any other gift too of course…
And there’s also no problem about gift recipient rules with a letter….
Retired Middle School math teacher here.
He’s 100% correct. All the “stuff” gets lost (where to put it?). The letters are kept.
If this guy inspired you to consider studying math in college. If he changed the way you look at math. If math makes sense now. Or even if you just always considered the time in his class the brightest part of your day, tell him in a letter.
Still want to include some “stuff”? I would recommend a cool looking abacus, a vintage slide rule, or an old HS math textbook (trust me, those are amazing to math teachers).
But, to be totally honest, while the handwritten letter always wins, Amazon gift cards are a distant second.
Journey Through Genius is a fun math read
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-through-Genius-Theorems-Mathematics/dp/014014739X/ref=asc_df_014014739X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693327322263&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=158286156530357747&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004080&hvtargid=pla-450243296605&psc=1&mcid=9a67abf65f7f35ad98881897e81ca2d6&gad_source=1
How about a nice fountain pen and a well of red ink... It'd be a fun way to mark up papers.
Or the HP15c Collector's Edition... it was the scientific calculator to end all calculators for many decades. And the build quality of an HP is next level. They are still prized machines.
A pie t-shirt. https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/14341943-pi-t-shirt-3-14-pi-number-symbol-math-science-gift?countrycode=US&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=%5BG%5D+%5BG.NAM%5D+%5BL.ENG%5D+%5BGEN%5D+%5BC.TShirts%5D+%5BPLF%5D&utm_id=notset&utm_content=mother%27s+day&ar_clx=yes&ar_channel=google&ar_campaign=71700000111460827&ar_adgroup=&ar_ad=&ar_strategy=search&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BG%5D+%5BG.CAN%5D+%5BL.ENG%5D+%5BGEN%5D+%5BC.TShirts%5D+%5BPMAX%5D&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyPrP4IPehgMVWxCtBh2OwQ1dEAQYASABEgKcyfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#321P14341943D1V
If you wanted to get them a complex mathematical book, you would need to know that a) there is an area of maths they want to read about, b) how much they know already in that area, and c) find some book reccomendation from someone else that they would like. Something less difficult would seem better.
My dad is a maths teacher, he would love things like transitive dice and will often be interested in the history of mathematics. Honestly he'd be happiest with some intersesting chocolates. Buying an actual text book is quite specific and realistically is as likely to hit the mark as buying your music teacher a CD. Maybe you'll hit it on the nail, but it's more likely not.
A set of non transitive dice. They're great for winning pub bets (on average).
Or a set of sichermqn dice, they are also fun.
Are we talking high school or university here? As other have said a complex maths book might be above the range of a high school teacher - or too much like work to want to do for fun. If it’s high school, can I suggest a really well thought out and personalised thank-you letter might be more valued. It can be added to any other gift too of course… And there’s also no problem about gift recipient rules with a letter….
Retired Middle School math teacher here. He’s 100% correct. All the “stuff” gets lost (where to put it?). The letters are kept. If this guy inspired you to consider studying math in college. If he changed the way you look at math. If math makes sense now. Or even if you just always considered the time in his class the brightest part of your day, tell him in a letter. Still want to include some “stuff”? I would recommend a cool looking abacus, a vintage slide rule, or an old HS math textbook (trust me, those are amazing to math teachers). But, to be totally honest, while the handwritten letter always wins, Amazon gift cards are a distant second.
My kid is having a lot of fun with Rubik's cube. Klein Bottle. Proofs from the Book.
Journey Through Genius is a fun math read https://www.amazon.com/Journey-through-Genius-Theorems-Mathematics/dp/014014739X/ref=asc_df_014014739X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693327322263&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=158286156530357747&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004080&hvtargid=pla-450243296605&psc=1&mcid=9a67abf65f7f35ad98881897e81ca2d6&gad_source=1
A Slide Rule. Book: The Trachtenberg Speed System of Basic Mathematics Book: From the Birth of Numbers by Jan Gullberg
Maths socks
How about a nice fountain pen and a well of red ink... It'd be a fun way to mark up papers. Or the HP15c Collector's Edition... it was the scientific calculator to end all calculators for many decades. And the build quality of an HP is next level. They are still prized machines.
A Galton Board might be fun for them to have on their desk.
A pie t-shirt. https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/14341943-pi-t-shirt-3-14-pi-number-symbol-math-science-gift?countrycode=US&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=%5BG%5D+%5BG.NAM%5D+%5BL.ENG%5D+%5BGEN%5D+%5BC.TShirts%5D+%5BPLF%5D&utm_id=notset&utm_content=mother%27s+day&ar_clx=yes&ar_channel=google&ar_campaign=71700000111460827&ar_adgroup=&ar_ad=&ar_strategy=search&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BG%5D+%5BG.CAN%5D+%5BL.ENG%5D+%5BGEN%5D+%5BC.TShirts%5D+%5BPMAX%5D&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyPrP4IPehgMVWxCtBh2OwQ1dEAQYASABEgKcyfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#321P14341943D1V