Proposals
Below are some proposals for talks from the past (and current). By clicking on the ID number, more details are shown. By default, these are sorted chronologically (recent first) and by then by last name. The data can be sorted by alternate means by using the links at the top right, each allowing ascending or descending orders.
Displaying 181-200 of 471 results.
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ID:
383
Year: 2014
Name: Mu-Ling Chang
Institution: University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Subject area(s): General
Title of Talk: A "Weird" Limit Representation of Pi
Abstract: It is well known that $e=\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}{\left( 1+\frac{1}{n} \right) }^n$ by mathematicians. Does the irrational number pi have such an unexpected limit representation like e, which can be proved by using only undergraduate mathematical skills? In this talk we will use geometry, trigonometry, mathematical induction, and the concept of limits to prove the existence of such a limit.
Year: 2014
Name: Mu-Ling Chang
Institution: University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Subject area(s): General
Title of Talk: A "Weird" Limit Representation of Pi
Abstract: It is well known that $e=\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}{\left( 1+\frac{1}{n} \right) }^n$ by mathematicians. Does the irrational number pi have such an unexpected limit representation like e, which can be proved by using only undergraduate mathematical skills? In this talk we will use geometry, trigonometry, mathematical induction, and the concept of limits to prove the existence of such a limit.
ID:
382
Year: 2014
Name: a m fink
Institution: none
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: complex roots of polynomials and why it pays to talk mathematics
Abstract: For quadratic polynomials, a negative discriminant is a criteria for non real roots. Is there one for nth degree polynomials? Sure,and I found it because I talked to someone who pointed the way.
Year: 2014
Name: a m fink
Institution: none
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: complex roots of polynomials and why it pays to talk mathematics
Abstract: For quadratic polynomials, a negative discriminant is a criteria for non real roots. Is there one for nth degree polynomials? Sure,and I found it because I talked to someone who pointed the way.
ID:
381
Year: 2014
Name: Robert Todd
Institution: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Subject area(s): knot theory, undergraduate research
Title of Talk: Khovanov Homology: An undergraduate research project
Abstract: Khovanov homology is a sophisticated construction in knot theory, a branch of mathematics which is foreign and mysterious to many undergraduates. However, with only some linear algebra, some computer skills, and a little maturity as prerequisites, Khovanov homology can be used as a context to introduce many important mathematical ideas. I will discuss an on-going undergraduate research project whose goal is to compute the Khovanov homology of some families of knots. Such computations have only been performed for a handful of examples, thus our results will be of interest to researchers in the field. There will be many pictures and examples.
Year: 2014
Name: Robert Todd
Institution: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Subject area(s): knot theory, undergraduate research
Title of Talk: Khovanov Homology: An undergraduate research project
Abstract: Khovanov homology is a sophisticated construction in knot theory, a branch of mathematics which is foreign and mysterious to many undergraduates. However, with only some linear algebra, some computer skills, and a little maturity as prerequisites, Khovanov homology can be used as a context to introduce many important mathematical ideas. I will discuss an on-going undergraduate research project whose goal is to compute the Khovanov homology of some families of knots. Such computations have only been performed for a handful of examples, thus our results will be of interest to researchers in the field. There will be many pictures and examples.
ID:
380
Year: 2014
Name: Russ Goodman
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Planning a Course in Sports Analytics
Abstract: Sports analytics is becoming a popular topic of interest for many, but there are few mathematics courses that tap into this student interest. This presentation will offer the speaker's preliminary work in organizing a spring 2015 one-credit honors seminar in Sports Analytics. Comments, questions, critiques, and perspectives will be sought from the audience, as the planning for the course is ongoing.
Year: 2014
Name: Russ Goodman
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Planning a Course in Sports Analytics
Abstract: Sports analytics is becoming a popular topic of interest for many, but there are few mathematics courses that tap into this student interest. This presentation will offer the speaker's preliminary work in organizing a spring 2015 one-credit honors seminar in Sports Analytics. Comments, questions, critiques, and perspectives will be sought from the audience, as the planning for the course is ongoing.
ID:
379
Year: 2014
Name: Benjamin V.C. Collins
Institution: University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Subject area(s): Recreational Mathematics
Title of Talk: Mathemagic: A Centennial Tribute to Martin Gardner
Abstract: Marting Gardner (1914-2010) was a mathematician and writer who inspired generations of mathematicians through his ``Mathematical Games'' column in Scientific American and other written work. He was also an accomplished magician, and many of his tricks have interesting mathematical underpinnings. In this talk, ``Quinntinnius Maximus'' (otherwise known as Quinn Collins, an eighth grader at Platteville Middle School) will present several of these feats of Mathemagic. If you are lucky, his assistant ``Sabino'' (otherwise known as Ben Collins, a professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville) will explain some of the mathematics underlying them.
Year: 2014
Name: Benjamin V.C. Collins
Institution: University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Subject area(s): Recreational Mathematics
Title of Talk: Mathemagic: A Centennial Tribute to Martin Gardner
Abstract: Marting Gardner (1914-2010) was a mathematician and writer who inspired generations of mathematicians through his ``Mathematical Games'' column in Scientific American and other written work. He was also an accomplished magician, and many of his tricks have interesting mathematical underpinnings. In this talk, ``Quinntinnius Maximus'' (otherwise known as Quinn Collins, an eighth grader at Platteville Middle School) will present several of these feats of Mathemagic. If you are lucky, his assistant ``Sabino'' (otherwise known as Ben Collins, a professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville) will explain some of the mathematics underlying them.
ID:
377
Year: 2014
Name: Jacob Heidenreich
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s): math education
Title of Talk: Toys, Puzzles, and Games: the Importance of Play in the Classroom
Abstract: Much research has been done over the past few decades concerning using games in education. One fruitful line of investigation has been on the importance of play in the learning experience. In this talk, I will discuss college-level educational goals and how they can be served by creating a playful learning environment in the classroom. I will also discuss and demonstrate the toys, puzzles, and games I developed for use in the classroom.
Year: 2014
Name: Jacob Heidenreich
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s): math education
Title of Talk: Toys, Puzzles, and Games: the Importance of Play in the Classroom
Abstract: Much research has been done over the past few decades concerning using games in education. One fruitful line of investigation has been on the importance of play in the learning experience. In this talk, I will discuss college-level educational goals and how they can be served by creating a playful learning environment in the classroom. I will also discuss and demonstrate the toys, puzzles, and games I developed for use in the classroom.
ID:
376
Year: 2014
Name: Kenneth Price
Institution: University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Arrowgrams: Tips and Pointers
Abstract: An arrowgram is a type of puzzle based on the transitive relation, directed graphs, and groups. To solve the puzzle a group element is assigned to each arrow of a directed graph. This is called a grading and the group element assigned to an arrow is called its grade. Grades for some arrows are given. The rest of the arrows are assigned grades using a rule which is based on transitivity. Arrowgrams also contain secret messages. The words are formed by pairs of letters which stand for the arrows. The puzzle is solved when every arrow is graded and the secret message is revealed. We answer some mathematical questions related to constructing and solving arrowgrams. How many arrows have to be given grades? Which arrows can be used? Can the same set of arrows be used for different groups?
Year: 2014
Name: Kenneth Price
Institution: University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Arrowgrams: Tips and Pointers
Abstract: An arrowgram is a type of puzzle based on the transitive relation, directed graphs, and groups. To solve the puzzle a group element is assigned to each arrow of a directed graph. This is called a grading and the group element assigned to an arrow is called its grade. Grades for some arrows are given. The rest of the arrows are assigned grades using a rule which is based on transitivity. Arrowgrams also contain secret messages. The words are formed by pairs of letters which stand for the arrows. The puzzle is solved when every arrow is graded and the secret message is revealed. We answer some mathematical questions related to constructing and solving arrowgrams. How many arrows have to be given grades? Which arrows can be used? Can the same set of arrows be used for different groups?
ID:
375
Year: 2013
Name: Wartburg Students
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Survivor X
Abstract: Based on CBS’s widely-seen show Survivor, the math capstone class project Survivor X will incorporate mini math challenges in search of a final victor. Participants will be split into teams competing together for immunity. Eventually the teams will be merged and the game will turn to an individual competition. But watch out for those voted out, they will decide who is to be given the title of sole mathematical survivor.
Year: 2013
Name: Wartburg Students
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Survivor X
Abstract: Based on CBS’s widely-seen show Survivor, the math capstone class project Survivor X will incorporate mini math challenges in search of a final victor. Participants will be split into teams competing together for immunity. Eventually the teams will be merged and the game will turn to an individual competition. But watch out for those voted out, they will decide who is to be given the title of sole mathematical survivor.
ID:
374
Year: 2013
Name: Matt Rissler
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s): Teaching
Title of Talk: Using Smartpens to Aid Student Learning
Abstract: Smartpens store writing and audio in a digital format that can be converted into various formats. In this talk, I will be discussing how I have used a smartpen to provide students with a variety of aids for learning Mathematics. All with relatively low overhead for the instructor.
Year: 2013
Name: Matt Rissler
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s): Teaching
Title of Talk: Using Smartpens to Aid Student Learning
Abstract: Smartpens store writing and audio in a digital format that can be converted into various formats. In this talk, I will be discussing how I have used a smartpen to provide students with a variety of aids for learning Mathematics. All with relatively low overhead for the instructor.
ID:
373
Year: 2013
Name: Ryan Johnson
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Group Theory
Title of Talk: Some Gauss Sums found in Category Theory
Abstract: I will present a 21st century problem that requires some 18th century mathematics. Fusion categories lie in the intersection of group theory, knot theory, and quantum physics. If one is given a fusion category, a sequence of complex numbers can be computed which are called the Frobenius-Schur indicator. In this talk I will consider a particular subclass of fusion categories whose data is defined using a finite abelian group and a bilinear form on that group. Computing the indicator of these categories requires the use of quadratic Gauss sums. The aim of my research is to show the uniqueness of the indicator on this particular subclass of fusion categories.
Year: 2013
Name: Ryan Johnson
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Group Theory
Title of Talk: Some Gauss Sums found in Category Theory
Abstract: I will present a 21st century problem that requires some 18th century mathematics. Fusion categories lie in the intersection of group theory, knot theory, and quantum physics. If one is given a fusion category, a sequence of complex numbers can be computed which are called the Frobenius-Schur indicator. In this talk I will consider a particular subclass of fusion categories whose data is defined using a finite abelian group and a bilinear form on that group. Computing the indicator of these categories requires the use of quadratic Gauss sums. The aim of my research is to show the uniqueness of the indicator on this particular subclass of fusion categories.
ID:
372
Year: 2013
Name: Christian Roettger
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Number Theory, Diophantine Geometry, L-functions
Title of Talk: Geometric distribution of primes in Z[sqrt(2)]
Abstract: It all starts with the question: what can we say about integers a, b such that a^2 - 2b^2 is a prime? We will show some ways to make this question more precise - in particular, we study the distribution of the corresponding points (a,b) in the plane. The fundamental tool is the ring Z[sqrt(2)], and from there we make connections to analytic number theory (L-functions, Hecke characters) which arise very naturally - this is the context where Hecke invented 'Hecke characters', and they are much easier to understand here than when you read about them in MathWorld.
Year: 2013
Name: Christian Roettger
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Number Theory, Diophantine Geometry, L-functions
Title of Talk: Geometric distribution of primes in Z[sqrt(2)]
Abstract: It all starts with the question: what can we say about integers a, b such that a^2 - 2b^2 is a prime? We will show some ways to make this question more precise - in particular, we study the distribution of the corresponding points (a,b) in the plane. The fundamental tool is the ring Z[sqrt(2)], and from there we make connections to analytic number theory (L-functions, Hecke characters) which arise very naturally - this is the context where Hecke invented 'Hecke characters', and they are much easier to understand here than when you read about them in MathWorld.
ID:
371
Year: 2013
Name: Dave Renfro
Institution: ACT, Inc.
Subject area(s): real analysis
Title of Talk: The Upper and Lower Limits of a Function and Semicontinuous Functions
Abstract: A function is continuous on an interval exactly when the function agrees with its "limit function" on the interval, by which we mean the limit (when it exists) of the function at each point. In looking at some examples, we find that limit functions tend to be nicely behaved even when the functions are not. For example, Thomae's function is continuous on a dense set of points and discontinuous on a dense set of points, and yet its limit function is a constant function (identically equal to 0). Of course, the limit function of a function is not always defined, but by considering upper and lower limits (limsup and liminf), we get the upper and lower limit functions of a function. These also tend to be nicely behaved, as is illustrated by the characteristic function of the rationals (discontinuous at every point), whose upper and lower limit functions are constant functions. We will investigate how badly behaved the upper and lower limit functions of a function can be. This will lead to an investigation of semicontinuous functions, which are amazingly ubiquitously omnipresent throughout pure and applied mathematics. This talk should be accessible to most undergraduate math majors, although there will likely be aspects of it that are unfamiliar to nonexperts.
Year: 2013
Name: Dave Renfro
Institution: ACT, Inc.
Subject area(s): real analysis
Title of Talk: The Upper and Lower Limits of a Function and Semicontinuous Functions
Abstract: A function is continuous on an interval exactly when the function agrees with its "limit function" on the interval, by which we mean the limit (when it exists) of the function at each point. In looking at some examples, we find that limit functions tend to be nicely behaved even when the functions are not. For example, Thomae's function is continuous on a dense set of points and discontinuous on a dense set of points, and yet its limit function is a constant function (identically equal to 0). Of course, the limit function of a function is not always defined, but by considering upper and lower limits (limsup and liminf), we get the upper and lower limit functions of a function. These also tend to be nicely behaved, as is illustrated by the characteristic function of the rationals (discontinuous at every point), whose upper and lower limit functions are constant functions. We will investigate how badly behaved the upper and lower limit functions of a function can be. This will lead to an investigation of semicontinuous functions, which are amazingly ubiquitously omnipresent throughout pure and applied mathematics. This talk should be accessible to most undergraduate math majors, although there will likely be aspects of it that are unfamiliar to nonexperts.
ID:
370
Year: 2013
Name: Dave Renfro
Institution: ACT, Inc.
Subject area(s): real analysis
Title of Talk: The Upper and Lower Limits of a Function and Semicontinuous Functions
Abstract: A function is continuous on an interval exactly when the function agrees with its "limit function" on the interval, by which we mean the limit (when it exists) of the function at each point. In looking at some examples, we find that limit functions tend to be nicely behaved even when the functions are not. For example, Thomae's function is continuous on a dense set of points and discontinuous on a dense set of points, and yet its limit function is a constant function (identically equal to 0). Of course, the limit function of a function is not always defined, but by considering upper and lower limits (limsup and liminf), we get the upper and lower limit functions of a function. These also tend to be nicely behaved, as is illustrated by the characteristic function of the rationals (discontinuous at every point), whose upper and lower limit functions are constant functions. We will investigate how badly behaved the upper and lower limit functions of a function can be. This will lead to an investigation of semicontinuous functions, which are amazingly ubiquitously omnipresent throughout pure and applied mathematics. This talk should be accessible to most undergraduate math majors, although there will likely be aspects of it that are unfamiliar to nonexperts.
Year: 2013
Name: Dave Renfro
Institution: ACT, Inc.
Subject area(s): real analysis
Title of Talk: The Upper and Lower Limits of a Function and Semicontinuous Functions
Abstract: A function is continuous on an interval exactly when the function agrees with its "limit function" on the interval, by which we mean the limit (when it exists) of the function at each point. In looking at some examples, we find that limit functions tend to be nicely behaved even when the functions are not. For example, Thomae's function is continuous on a dense set of points and discontinuous on a dense set of points, and yet its limit function is a constant function (identically equal to 0). Of course, the limit function of a function is not always defined, but by considering upper and lower limits (limsup and liminf), we get the upper and lower limit functions of a function. These also tend to be nicely behaved, as is illustrated by the characteristic function of the rationals (discontinuous at every point), whose upper and lower limit functions are constant functions. We will investigate how badly behaved the upper and lower limit functions of a function can be. This will lead to an investigation of semicontinuous functions, which are amazingly ubiquitously omnipresent throughout pure and applied mathematics. This talk should be accessible to most undergraduate math majors, although there will likely be aspects of it that are unfamiliar to nonexperts.
ID:
369
Year: 2013
Name: Joy Becker
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s): Mathematics education
Title of Talk: Student vs. Instructor Expectations: Can we bridge the gap?
Abstract: Students and instructors often come into a course with expectations that don’t necessarily agree. These different sets of expectations can impact the learning environment in a negative way for students, as well as instructors. One way to bridge the gap between these multiple sets of expectations is to openly communicate with students about the variety of expectations, including giving students opportunities to voice their own expectations. Narrowing the gap between student and instructor expectations can lead to increased student engagement and a more positive learning environment.
Year: 2013
Name: Joy Becker
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s): Mathematics education
Title of Talk: Student vs. Instructor Expectations: Can we bridge the gap?
Abstract: Students and instructors often come into a course with expectations that don’t necessarily agree. These different sets of expectations can impact the learning environment in a negative way for students, as well as instructors. One way to bridge the gap between these multiple sets of expectations is to openly communicate with students about the variety of expectations, including giving students opportunities to voice their own expectations. Narrowing the gap between student and instructor expectations can lead to increased student engagement and a more positive learning environment.
ID:
368
Year: 2013
Name: Kenneth Driessel
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): mathematical economics
Title of Talk: Declining Marginal Utility Is Not Ordinal - an inconsistency in microeconomics.
Abstract: Economists like to confine their attention to ordinal properties of utility functions. But, the often-quoted principle of declining marginal utility is not ordinal. This situation seems incongruous/inconsistent. I shall carefully define mathematically the following phrases: "utility function", "declining marginal utility" and "ordinal property" in the setting of microeconomics. I shall then show that declining marginal utility is not ordinal.
Year: 2013
Name: Kenneth Driessel
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): mathematical economics
Title of Talk: Declining Marginal Utility Is Not Ordinal - an inconsistency in microeconomics.
Abstract: Economists like to confine their attention to ordinal properties of utility functions. But, the often-quoted principle of declining marginal utility is not ordinal. This situation seems incongruous/inconsistent. I shall carefully define mathematically the following phrases: "utility function", "declining marginal utility" and "ordinal property" in the setting of microeconomics. I shall then show that declining marginal utility is not ordinal.
ID:
367
Year: 2013
Name: Ruth Berger
Institution: Luther College
Subject area(s): Geometry
Title of Talk: Taxicab Geometry
Abstract: Making a small change in how distance is measured has a huge effect on the geometry of the plane. Circles now look like squares, Pi is an integer, and many other familiar objects have very unfamiliar shapes. Tilting a segment changes its size! Working in this geometry reinforces important skills that every math major needs to have: carefully read definitions and not make any assumptions based on intuition or previous experience. In this talk I will present some of the findings that my geometry students are expected to come up with.
Year: 2013
Name: Ruth Berger
Institution: Luther College
Subject area(s): Geometry
Title of Talk: Taxicab Geometry
Abstract: Making a small change in how distance is measured has a huge effect on the geometry of the plane. Circles now look like squares, Pi is an integer, and many other familiar objects have very unfamiliar shapes. Tilting a segment changes its size! Working in this geometry reinforces important skills that every math major needs to have: carefully read definitions and not make any assumptions based on intuition or previous experience. In this talk I will present some of the findings that my geometry students are expected to come up with.
ID:
366
Year: 2013
Name: Steve Butler
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Combinatorics
Title of Talk: 291 decillion ways to tile with Tetirs
Abstract: We look at the problem of finding the number of ways to tile a board using tetronimoes (i.e., Tetris pieces). In particular, we show how to transform tiling problems into problems of counting walks. Using this approach we were able to get the exact number of ways to tile the 10x20 board.
Year: 2013
Name: Steve Butler
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Combinatorics
Title of Talk: 291 decillion ways to tile with Tetirs
Abstract: We look at the problem of finding the number of ways to tile a board using tetronimoes (i.e., Tetris pieces). In particular, we show how to transform tiling problems into problems of counting walks. Using this approach we were able to get the exact number of ways to tile the 10x20 board.
ID:
365
Year: 2013
Name: Chris Schultz
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Developmental Math
Title of Talk: Remedial Mathematics at Iowa State University
Abstract: Success in a developmental math course is not truly measured until the student success rate in the downstream class is measured. Iowa State University’s Department of Mathematics has started such a study and would like to share our preliminary data for discussion. Concern is often also expressed that students who start in developmental math classes will never graduate and we have gathered 2 years’ worth of data addressing this concern. The format of our developmental course, Math 10, will be shared as well as the data described above.
Year: 2013
Name: Chris Schultz
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Developmental Math
Title of Talk: Remedial Mathematics at Iowa State University
Abstract: Success in a developmental math course is not truly measured until the student success rate in the downstream class is measured. Iowa State University’s Department of Mathematics has started such a study and would like to share our preliminary data for discussion. Concern is often also expressed that students who start in developmental math classes will never graduate and we have gathered 2 years’ worth of data addressing this concern. The format of our developmental course, Math 10, will be shared as well as the data described above.
ID:
364
Year: 2013
Name: Charles Ashbacher
Institution: Independent
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Are Drug Tests As a Precondition for Welfare Receipt Cost-Effective?
Abstract: Recently some states have implemented a program where an applicant for welfare must take and pass a drug test in order to receive benefits. Using the current law regarding how testing can be performed and some fact-based assumptions, a model for how cost-effective this program is can be developed. This model has been used as an exercise in a management science class as it can be applied to both public and corporate policies.
Year: 2013
Name: Charles Ashbacher
Institution: Independent
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Are Drug Tests As a Precondition for Welfare Receipt Cost-Effective?
Abstract: Recently some states have implemented a program where an applicant for welfare must take and pass a drug test in order to receive benefits. Using the current law regarding how testing can be performed and some fact-based assumptions, a model for how cost-effective this program is can be developed. This model has been used as an exercise in a management science class as it can be applied to both public and corporate policies.
ID:
363
Year: 2013
Name: Mariah Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s): Geometry, Analysis, Undergraduate Research, Summer Camp
Title of Talk: Math Summer Camp for Professors
Abstract: This summer I spent three weeks at the Park City Mathematics Institute as an Undergraduate Faculty Participant. The focus was on the interaction between Geometry and Analysis, but in reality, this turned out to be General Relativity. As Undergraduate Faculty they brought us up to speed academically on this cool topic, but they also depended on us to be the glue to get the other participants communicating with each other. This talk will address how the mathematics institute works and why you should find a way to attend this fabulous experience.
Year: 2013
Name: Mariah Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s): Geometry, Analysis, Undergraduate Research, Summer Camp
Title of Talk: Math Summer Camp for Professors
Abstract: This summer I spent three weeks at the Park City Mathematics Institute as an Undergraduate Faculty Participant. The focus was on the interaction between Geometry and Analysis, but in reality, this turned out to be General Relativity. As Undergraduate Faculty they brought us up to speed academically on this cool topic, but they also depended on us to be the glue to get the other participants communicating with each other. This talk will address how the mathematics institute works and why you should find a way to attend this fabulous experience.