Submissions

Author Guidelines

Audience and Scope

Mathematics Exchange is a peer-reviewed journal primarily intended for undergraduate students majoring in any of the mathematical sciences.

We welcome articles of interest to mathematics undergraduates, including topics in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, mathematics education, and related fields. Appropriate submissions from other academic departments and institutions are also encouraged.

Articles are typically written by undergraduate students individually, in teams, or in collaboration with faculty members. Occasionally, articles authored solely by graduate students or faculty members may also be considered, provided that the content is accessible and of interest to undergraduate readers.

Manuscript Preparation

Manuscripts should generally be 5–15 pages in length. Shorter or longer submissions may be considered when justified by the nature and scope of the work.

Manuscripts should be prepared using LaTeX and submitted in PDF format for peer review. Upon acceptance, authors will be required to provide the LaTeX source files, including any necessary figures, bibliography files, and other supporting materials, for final publication.

Undergraduate authors must have their manuscripts reviewed by an academic advisor before submission.

Double-Anonymized Peer Review

Mathematics Exchange uses a double-anonymized peer review process, in which the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from one another.

To facilitate this process, authors must prepare the following materials:

1. An anonymized manuscript (PDF)

The manuscript must not contain identifying information, including author names, institutional affiliations, acknowledgments, or other information that could reveal the authors' identities.

2. A Cover Letter

A cover letter must accompany each submission and include:

1. The names and institutional affiliations of all authors.

2. The email address of the corresponding author.

3. The name of one preferred editorial board member whose research expertise best matches the subject of the manuscript. Please consult the journal's Editorial Board page for the list of editors and their research areas.

4. For undergraduate authors, the name and contact information of their academic advisor, who should have reviewed the manuscript before submission.

5. Optional: Authors may suggest 3–5 potential reviewers with expertise in mathematics or closely related mathematical sciences. Please provide their names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses. Suggested reviewers should have no conflicts of interest with the authors. The journal reserves the right to select reviewers independently.

The cover letter must be uploaded separately from the anonymized manuscript. Authors should ensure that the manuscript, including its PDF metadata, contains no identifying information.

The Managing Editor will normally assign the manuscript to the preferred editor but may assign it to another editor when appropriate.

Online Submission

All manuscripts should be submitted through the Mathematics Exchange online submission system.

Authors should register for an account or log in to the journal website, complete the required submission information, and upload an anonymized manuscript (PDF) and a separate cover letter.

The cover letter is intended for editorial use only and will not be shared with reviewers.

Editorial Review and Decisions

Editorial Review and Decisions

All submissions are initially evaluated by the editorial committee for suitability, mathematical quality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's audience. Manuscripts that fall outside the journal's scope or do not meet its editorial standards may be declined without external peer review (desk rejection).

Manuscripts selected for further consideration undergo double-anonymized peer review.

Based on the reviewers' recommendations and editorial assessment, authors may be asked to revise their manuscripts. When revisions are requested, authors should submit a revised manuscript together with a point-by-point response addressing the reviewers' comments and explaining the changes made.

Revised manuscripts are normally returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation. Additional reviewers may be invited when necessary. A request for revision does not guarantee acceptance or publication.

Final publication decisions are made by the editorial committee.

For undergraduate submissions, editorial communication may involve the student's academic advisor when appropriate.

Publication Ethics and Policies

Submitted manuscripts must be original, appropriately acknowledge relevant sources, and comply with applicable publication ethics policies.

For information about copyright, open access, and related publishing policies, please consult the Ball State University Open Journals Policies and the journal's Copyright and Open Access Policy.