Touted as “the world’s first linear algebra book with fully interactive figures,” Immersive Math uses simple games, illustrations, and even ray tracing programs to explain the principles behind this sometimes obtuse branch of mathematics. While the book won’t provide an immediate comprehension of trigonometry, it does a fair job at supplying perspective. In Chapter 2, for example, Breakout is used to show the concept of vectors, one of the most important concepts within linear algebra.

Immersive Math was developed over the span of three years by a three-man team with academic backgrounds in mathematics, computer graphics, and image coding. The team, who worked on the project on a sporadic basis, used HTML5, JavaScript, and MathJax, an open-source library used to display mathematical notations. Additionally, they also developed their own engine for the interactive illustrations that pepper the free e-book, and say that they “could add” WebGL to Immersive Math in the indeterminate future.

Although only four chapters are currently available, there are plans to complete the rest of the volume by summer 2016. While nothing has been finalised just yet, the developers say they hope that their book will be the first in a series. “It would be great if we could invite authors and help write other books with our system,” they said in an e-mail to Ars.

Immersive Math may be the first of its kind, but free online education in general has enjoyed a boom in recent decades, mostly thanks to rapid advancements in technology. Last year, a company named Versal launched an open JavaScript-based interface and a Web-based developer tool, with the intention to create a more interactive learning experience. Meanwhile, others are using the colossally popular sandbox game Minecraft to power innovative learning initiatives such as LearnToMod, an add-on meant to teach programming, and the Mojang-sanctioned MinecraftEdu, a version of the game adapted especially for use in the classroom.