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 281-300 of 471 results.
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ID:
277
Year: 2010
Name: Scott Searcy
Institution: Waldorf College
Subject area(s): Math Education
Title of Talk: A Survey of Technology Use and District Spending in North Iowa Schools
Abstract: Also presenting: Dr. Jeffrey Biessman. Conventional wisdom holds that technology use in public schools is commonplace and therefore college freshman have wide exposure to and experience with technology. Anecdotal suggest this may not be true. This survey was designed to reveal the extent of technology use in North Iowa school districts. The survey indicates that larger schools are less likely to budget money for technology on a per pupil basis than smaller districts.
Year: 2010
Name: Scott Searcy
Institution: Waldorf College
Subject area(s): Math Education
Title of Talk: A Survey of Technology Use and District Spending in North Iowa Schools
Abstract: Also presenting: Dr. Jeffrey Biessman. Conventional wisdom holds that technology use in public schools is commonplace and therefore college freshman have wide exposure to and experience with technology. Anecdotal suggest this may not be true. This survey was designed to reveal the extent of technology use in North Iowa school districts. The survey indicates that larger schools are less likely to budget money for technology on a per pupil basis than smaller districts.
ID:
276
Year: 2010
Name: Jihyeok Choi
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Graph theory
Title of Talk: Monotonicity of mixed Ramsey numbers
Abstract: For two graphs, G, and H, an edge-coloring of a complete graph is (G;H)-good if there is no monochromatic subgraph isomorphic to G and no rainbow subgraph isomorphic to H in this coloring. The set of number of colors used by some (G;H)-colorings of Kn is called a mixed-Ramsey spectrum. In this talk, we will discuss whether the spectrum is an interval. This is joint work with Maria Axenovich.
Year: 2010
Name: Jihyeok Choi
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Graph theory
Title of Talk: Monotonicity of mixed Ramsey numbers
Abstract: For two graphs, G, and H, an edge-coloring of a complete graph is (G;H)-good if there is no monochromatic subgraph isomorphic to G and no rainbow subgraph isomorphic to H in this coloring. The set of number of colors used by some (G;H)-colorings of Kn is called a mixed-Ramsey spectrum. In this talk, we will discuss whether the spectrum is an interval. This is joint work with Maria Axenovich.
ID:
275
Year: 2010
Name: Irvin Hentzel
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Teaching Calculus
Title of Talk: Ideas and Examples for Calculus
Abstract: We give some non traditional problems from various sources that help with the understanding of the ideas of calculus. We show how the concept of continuity can be used to get a better grasp of a situation and to correct bad judgement. The goal is not to show nice calculations, but to show ways of thinking.
Year: 2010
Name: Irvin Hentzel
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Teaching Calculus
Title of Talk: Ideas and Examples for Calculus
Abstract: We give some non traditional problems from various sources that help with the understanding of the ideas of calculus. We show how the concept of continuity can be used to get a better grasp of a situation and to correct bad judgement. The goal is not to show nice calculations, but to show ways of thinking.
ID:
274
Year: 2010
Name: A. M. Fink
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: A New Look at IQ
Abstract: We will discuss the Isoperimetric Quotient for low order polygons. If time permits, we can illustrate its connection with some linear algebra and markov chains. There are some intriguing geometric open problems.
Year: 2010
Name: A. M. Fink
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: A New Look at IQ
Abstract: We will discuss the Isoperimetric Quotient for low order polygons. If time permits, we can illustrate its connection with some linear algebra and markov chains. There are some intriguing geometric open problems.
ID:
273
Year: 2010
Name: Martha Ellen Waggoner
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s): linear algebra, teaching
Title of Talk: Linear Algebra: When am I ever going to use this?
Abstract: I tell my students that linear algebra is the most useful mathematical subject they will take, and of course, they expect me to support that claim. In this talk I will discuss applications that I use in both Linear Algebra and Mathematical Modeling that require matrix operations. I will focus on the difference between a forward problem and an inverse problem. The subject areas will include games, historical geography, and ray-based tomography.
Year: 2010
Name: Martha Ellen Waggoner
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s): linear algebra, teaching
Title of Talk: Linear Algebra: When am I ever going to use this?
Abstract: I tell my students that linear algebra is the most useful mathematical subject they will take, and of course, they expect me to support that claim. In this talk I will discuss applications that I use in both Linear Algebra and Mathematical Modeling that require matrix operations. I will focus on the difference between a forward problem and an inverse problem. The subject areas will include games, historical geography, and ray-based tomography.
ID:
271
Year: 2009
Name: Aba Mbirika
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Cool combinatorics arising on a cohomology hunt!
Abstract: Can cool combinatorics arise in a hunt for the cohomology ring of a variety? Yes indeed! In 1992, De Mari, Proces, and Shayman introduce Hessenberg varieties. These are a natural generalization of the famed Springer variety. Much is known about the cohomology ring of the Springer variety, but little is known in the case of a general Hessenberg. We provide a step in this direction by inspecting a certain subfamily of Hessenbergs called the Peterson variety. We conjecture that the cohomology ring of a Peterson variety has the presentation of a graded quotient of a polynomial ring modulo a special ideal with very nice combinatorial properties. Along the way, cute combinatorics pops up in the form of Dyck paths, Catalan numbers, etc. We also discuss tantalizing recent work that might help confirm our conjecture.
Year: 2009
Name: Aba Mbirika
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Cool combinatorics arising on a cohomology hunt!
Abstract: Can cool combinatorics arise in a hunt for the cohomology ring of a variety? Yes indeed! In 1992, De Mari, Proces, and Shayman introduce Hessenberg varieties. These are a natural generalization of the famed Springer variety. Much is known about the cohomology ring of the Springer variety, but little is known in the case of a general Hessenberg. We provide a step in this direction by inspecting a certain subfamily of Hessenbergs called the Peterson variety. We conjecture that the cohomology ring of a Peterson variety has the presentation of a graded quotient of a polynomial ring modulo a special ideal with very nice combinatorial properties. Along the way, cute combinatorics pops up in the form of Dyck paths, Catalan numbers, etc. We also discuss tantalizing recent work that might help confirm our conjecture.
ID:
270
Year: 2009
Name: YiLin Cheng
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Classification of Hopf algebras 4p-dimension
Abstract: In recent years, there have been much development on the classification of finite dimensional Hopf algebras over a field of characteristic 0. The 4p-dimensional Hopf algebras when p=3 was classified 10 years ago and there are very few results for classification of nonsemisimple Hopf algebras with the dimension which is a mutiple of 4 during this period. In this talk, I will discuss some progress joint work with Richard Ng about 4p-dimensional nonsemisimple Hopf algebras when the odd prime p is less than or equal to 11.
Year: 2009
Name: YiLin Cheng
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Classification of Hopf algebras 4p-dimension
Abstract: In recent years, there have been much development on the classification of finite dimensional Hopf algebras over a field of characteristic 0. The 4p-dimensional Hopf algebras when p=3 was classified 10 years ago and there are very few results for classification of nonsemisimple Hopf algebras with the dimension which is a mutiple of 4 during this period. In this talk, I will discuss some progress joint work with Richard Ng about 4p-dimensional nonsemisimple Hopf algebras when the odd prime p is less than or equal to 11.
ID:
269
Year: 2009
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Teaching & Learning of Mathematics
Title of Talk: Essay Questions on Calculus Exams?
Abstract: How should a Calculus class be different at a liberal arts college? I present one aspect of my own answer to this question, namely that assessing students
Year: 2009
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Teaching & Learning of Mathematics
Title of Talk: Essay Questions on Calculus Exams?
Abstract: How should a Calculus class be different at a liberal arts college? I present one aspect of my own answer to this question, namely that assessing students
ID:
268
Year: 2009
Name: Corey Gevaert
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Isometries of a Giant Product Space
Abstract: I'll be discussing the isometries of the product space Y which is formed by an infinite amount of hyperbolic plane fibers lined up from 0 to 1. I'll be discussing how the hyperbolic isometries are carried over and the Lebesgue transformations that influence these isometries.
Year: 2009
Name: Corey Gevaert
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Isometries of a Giant Product Space
Abstract: I'll be discussing the isometries of the product space Y which is formed by an infinite amount of hyperbolic plane fibers lined up from 0 to 1. I'll be discussing how the hyperbolic isometries are carried over and the Lebesgue transformations that influence these isometries.
ID:
267
Year: 2009
Name: Martha Ellen Waggoner
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s): Teaching
Title of Talk: Using Toilet Paper to Help Students Make Generalizations
Abstract: When students are given a specific problem to solve, they do not naturally create a general solution method that could be applied in other situations. In this presentation, I will discuss a project that I use to help students learn the value of generalization and give them an introduction to sensitivity testing. The project starts by having students find the number of sheets of paper on a specific sealed roll of toilet paper, but they must take that method and produce a formula that could find the number of sheets of paper on a general roll of perforated paper. They then test the various models created by the class for sensitivity to measurement error to find the
Year: 2009
Name: Martha Ellen Waggoner
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s): Teaching
Title of Talk: Using Toilet Paper to Help Students Make Generalizations
Abstract: When students are given a specific problem to solve, they do not naturally create a general solution method that could be applied in other situations. In this presentation, I will discuss a project that I use to help students learn the value of generalization and give them an introduction to sensitivity testing. The project starts by having students find the number of sheets of paper on a specific sealed roll of toilet paper, but they must take that method and produce a formula that could find the number of sheets of paper on a general roll of perforated paper. They then test the various models created by the class for sensitivity to measurement error to find the
ID:
266
Year: 2009
Name: Theron Hitchman
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): teaching, geometry
Title of Talk: Proof in Geometry: Euclid and a Class Journal
Abstract: I'll discuss how I use Euclid as a text, and a class journal as assessment in a Euclidean Geometry course aimed at pre-service teachers.
Year: 2009
Name: Theron Hitchman
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): teaching, geometry
Title of Talk: Proof in Geometry: Euclid and a Class Journal
Abstract: I'll discuss how I use Euclid as a text, and a class journal as assessment in a Euclidean Geometry course aimed at pre-service teachers.
ID:
265
Year: 2009
Name: Mariah Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s): Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: Mathematics Courses for Prospective Secondary Teachers at Small Colleges
Abstract: At the recent IMSEP Summit for math and science educators in August, it was discussed that faculty should have more opportunities to share with each other what is going on in their classrooms. To in part meet that need, this is a working group session in which participants will discuss a variety of issues around the mathematics courses offered for prospective secondary mathematics teachers at small colleges . Topics may include curriculum, instruction, technology, best practices, challenges, and dilemmas.
Year: 2009
Name: Mariah Birgen
Institution: Wartburg College
Subject area(s): Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: Mathematics Courses for Prospective Secondary Teachers at Small Colleges
Abstract: At the recent IMSEP Summit for math and science educators in August, it was discussed that faculty should have more opportunities to share with each other what is going on in their classrooms. To in part meet that need, this is a working group session in which participants will discuss a variety of issues around the mathematics courses offered for prospective secondary mathematics teachers at small colleges . Topics may include curriculum, instruction, technology, best practices, challenges, and dilemmas.
ID:
264
Year: 2009
Name: Catherine Miller and Megan Balong
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: An overview of Mathematics in the Iowa Core Curriculum
Abstract: Information about the Iowa Core Curriculum's mathematics component will be shared. Focus will be on the grades 9-12 component as it is to be implemented in Iowa classrooms first. We will also discuss some ways in which the Iowa Core Curriculum may affect college mathematics curriculum and instruction.
Year: 2009
Name: Catherine Miller and Megan Balong
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: An overview of Mathematics in the Iowa Core Curriculum
Abstract: Information about the Iowa Core Curriculum's mathematics component will be shared. Focus will be on the grades 9-12 component as it is to be implemented in Iowa classrooms first. We will also discuss some ways in which the Iowa Core Curriculum may affect college mathematics curriculum and instruction.
ID:
263
Year: 2009
Name: Bridgette Stevens
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: Mathematics Courses for Elementary Education Majors
Abstract: At the recent IMSEP Summit for math and science educators in August, it was discussed that mathematics educators should begin a dialogue regarding a set of core competencies (content) for teaching elementary mathematics in the state of Iowa. To in part meet that need, this is a working group session in which participants will discuss a variety of issues around the mathematics courses offered for prospective elementary mathematics teachers at Iowa
Year: 2009
Name: Bridgette Stevens
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: Mathematics Courses for Elementary Education Majors
Abstract: At the recent IMSEP Summit for math and science educators in August, it was discussed that mathematics educators should begin a dialogue regarding a set of core competencies (content) for teaching elementary mathematics in the state of Iowa. To in part meet that need, this is a working group session in which participants will discuss a variety of issues around the mathematics courses offered for prospective elementary mathematics teachers at Iowa
ID:
262
Year: 2009
Name: Louis Kauffman
Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago
Subject area(s): MAA George Polya Lecturer
Title of Talk: Introduction to Knot Theory
Abstract: The theory of knots is a recent part of mathematics. It originated in the tabulation of tables of knots by the mathematicians Tait, Kirkman and Little in the 19th century. These tables were prepared at the behest of Lord Kelvin (Sir William Thompson) who had developed a theory that atoms were three dimensional knotted vortices in the luminiferous aether. Along with these speculations came the development of geometry and topology in the hands of Gauss, Riemann, Poincare and others. As the knotted vortex theory declined (it has never entirely disappeared!), the mathematics of topology ascended, and the theory of knots came into being as part of the study of low dimensional manifolds, using the fundamental group of Poincare and early versions of homology theory. Max Dehn used the fundamental group to show that a trefoil knot and its mirror image are topologically distinct. J. W. Alexander in the 1920's found a polynomial invariant of knots that bears his name to this day. Kurt Reidemeister, in the 1920's, discovered a set of moves on diagrams for knots that made their classification a (difficult) combinatorial problem. In the 1980's there came a rebirth of these combinatorial schemes in the discovery of the Jones polynomial invariant of knots and links (and its relatives and descendants). Along with the new combinatorial invariants came new relationships with physics and with many fields of mathematics (combinatorics, graph theory, Hopf algebras, Lie algebras, von Neumann algebras, functional integration, category theory) and new kinds of mathematics such as higher categories and categorification. This talk will discuss the history of knot theory and then it will concentrate on describing the Jones polynomial, its relationships with physics, and recent developments related to categorification.
Year: 2009
Name: Louis Kauffman
Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago
Subject area(s): MAA George Polya Lecturer
Title of Talk: Introduction to Knot Theory
Abstract: The theory of knots is a recent part of mathematics. It originated in the tabulation of tables of knots by the mathematicians Tait, Kirkman and Little in the 19th century. These tables were prepared at the behest of Lord Kelvin (Sir William Thompson) who had developed a theory that atoms were three dimensional knotted vortices in the luminiferous aether. Along with these speculations came the development of geometry and topology in the hands of Gauss, Riemann, Poincare and others. As the knotted vortex theory declined (it has never entirely disappeared!), the mathematics of topology ascended, and the theory of knots came into being as part of the study of low dimensional manifolds, using the fundamental group of Poincare and early versions of homology theory. Max Dehn used the fundamental group to show that a trefoil knot and its mirror image are topologically distinct. J. W. Alexander in the 1920's found a polynomial invariant of knots that bears his name to this day. Kurt Reidemeister, in the 1920's, discovered a set of moves on diagrams for knots that made their classification a (difficult) combinatorial problem. In the 1980's there came a rebirth of these combinatorial schemes in the discovery of the Jones polynomial invariant of knots and links (and its relatives and descendants). Along with the new combinatorial invariants came new relationships with physics and with many fields of mathematics (combinatorics, graph theory, Hopf algebras, Lie algebras, von Neumann algebras, functional integration, category theory) and new kinds of mathematics such as higher categories and categorification. This talk will discuss the history of knot theory and then it will concentrate on describing the Jones polynomial, its relationships with physics, and recent developments related to categorification.
ID:
261
Year: 2009
Name: Steven Dunbar
Institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: MAA's American Mathematics Competitions: Easy Problems, Hard Problems, History and Outcomes
Abstract: How do you get bright students hooked on mathematics? How do you keep teachers intellectually engaged and pedagogically innovative? A proven way is to involve them both in mathematics competitions with great problems that span the curriculum. The Mathematical Association of America has continuously sponsored nationwide high-school level math contests since 1952. The sequence of contests now has 5 different contests at increasing levels of mathematical sophistication. Students who succeed at the top level on these contests become the team representing the U.S. at the annual International Mathematical Olympiad. I'll showcase some interesting, easy and hard contest problems, and a little bit of history. Along the way, I'll comment about the intersection of these contests with the school mathematics curriculum.
Year: 2009
Name: Steven Dunbar
Institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: MAA's American Mathematics Competitions: Easy Problems, Hard Problems, History and Outcomes
Abstract: How do you get bright students hooked on mathematics? How do you keep teachers intellectually engaged and pedagogically innovative? A proven way is to involve them both in mathematics competitions with great problems that span the curriculum. The Mathematical Association of America has continuously sponsored nationwide high-school level math contests since 1952. The sequence of contests now has 5 different contests at increasing levels of mathematical sophistication. Students who succeed at the top level on these contests become the team representing the U.S. at the annual International Mathematical Olympiad. I'll showcase some interesting, easy and hard contest problems, and a little bit of history. Along the way, I'll comment about the intersection of these contests with the school mathematics curriculum.
ID:
260
Year: 2009
Name: Eric Errthum
Institution: Winona State University
Subject area(s): Number Theory
Title of Talk: A p-adic Euclidean Algorithm
Abstract: A brief introduction to the p-adic numbers will be given. Then a p-adic Division Algorithm and a p-adic Euclidean Algorithm will be defined in such a way that they mimic the classical algorithms. Lastly these methods are used to compute a generalized GCD and a p-adic simple continued fraction.
Year: 2009
Name: Eric Errthum
Institution: Winona State University
Subject area(s): Number Theory
Title of Talk: A p-adic Euclidean Algorithm
Abstract: A brief introduction to the p-adic numbers will be given. Then a p-adic Division Algorithm and a p-adic Euclidean Algorithm will be defined in such a way that they mimic the classical algorithms. Lastly these methods are used to compute a generalized GCD and a p-adic simple continued fraction.
ID:
259
Year: 2009
Name: Christian Roettger
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Algebra, elementary number theory
Title of Talk: Sequences and their annihilators
Abstract: Annihilating polynomials have been widely used in geometry and to study sequences over fields and over the integers Z. We use the same simple ideas to study sequences over Z modulo n. There are surprising difficulties, surprisingly nice results and an open conjecture. We can demonstrate some applications to recurrence sequences like the Fibonacci and Lucas numbers, or discrete dynamical systems. Joint work with John Gillespie. Prerequisites: ring, ideal, quotient ring, Chinese Remainder theorem - suitable for undergraduates with a first course in algebra.
Year: 2009
Name: Christian Roettger
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Algebra, elementary number theory
Title of Talk: Sequences and their annihilators
Abstract: Annihilating polynomials have been widely used in geometry and to study sequences over fields and over the integers Z. We use the same simple ideas to study sequences over Z modulo n. There are surprising difficulties, surprisingly nice results and an open conjecture. We can demonstrate some applications to recurrence sequences like the Fibonacci and Lucas numbers, or discrete dynamical systems. Joint work with John Gillespie. Prerequisites: ring, ideal, quotient ring, Chinese Remainder theorem - suitable for undergraduates with a first course in algebra.
ID:
258
Year: 2009
Name: Eugene Herman
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Hankel Operators and Combinatorial Identities
Abstract: We show that every bounded Hankel operator H on the Hilbert space of square-summable sequences can be factored as H = MM^*, where M maps a space of square-integrable functions to their corresponding moment sequences. By expanding these functions in a Fourier series of orthogonal polynomials, we obtain identities that connect the entries of the Hankel matrices with the orthogonal polynomials.
Year: 2009
Name: Eugene Herman
Institution: Grinnell College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Hankel Operators and Combinatorial Identities
Abstract: We show that every bounded Hankel operator H on the Hilbert space of square-summable sequences can be factored as H = MM^*, where M maps a space of square-integrable functions to their corresponding moment sequences. By expanding these functions in a Fourier series of orthogonal polynomials, we obtain identities that connect the entries of the Hankel matrices with the orthogonal polynomials.
ID:
257
Year: 2009
Name: Michael Hilgemann
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Algebra
Title of Talk: The classification of finite-dimensional Hopf algebras
Abstract: Hopf algebras can be considered generalizations of groups, and group algebras are basic examples of such objects. In recent years there have been developments in the classification of finite-dimensional Hopf algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0, which include many examples which are neither group algebras nor the linear dual of group algebras. In this talk, we will highlight these classification results and some of the useful properties that general finite-dimensional Hopf algebras share with finite group algebras. In particular, we will discuss recent joint work with Richard Ng that completes the classification of Hopf algebras of dimension 2p^2, for p an odd prime.
Year: 2009
Name: Michael Hilgemann
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Algebra
Title of Talk: The classification of finite-dimensional Hopf algebras
Abstract: Hopf algebras can be considered generalizations of groups, and group algebras are basic examples of such objects. In recent years there have been developments in the classification of finite-dimensional Hopf algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0, which include many examples which are neither group algebras nor the linear dual of group algebras. In this talk, we will highlight these classification results and some of the useful properties that general finite-dimensional Hopf algebras share with finite group algebras. In particular, we will discuss recent joint work with Richard Ng that completes the classification of Hopf algebras of dimension 2p^2, for p an odd prime.