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 301-320 of 471 results.
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ID:
394
Year: 2014
Name: Chris Spicer
Institution: Morningside College
Subject area(s): graph theory
Title of Talk: Cops and Robbers on Oriented Graphs
Abstract: Cops and Robbers is a turn-based game traditionally played on graphs. In this talk, we extend this game to oriented graphs. Although a complete characterization of 1-cop-win graphs is known, there is not yet a corresponding characterization for oriented graphs. Necessary conditions are described for an oriented graph to be 1-cop-win, and several results are provided toward finding sufficient conditions.
Year: 2014
Name: Chris Spicer
Institution: Morningside College
Subject area(s): graph theory
Title of Talk: Cops and Robbers on Oriented Graphs
Abstract: Cops and Robbers is a turn-based game traditionally played on graphs. In this talk, we extend this game to oriented graphs. Although a complete characterization of 1-cop-win graphs is known, there is not yet a corresponding characterization for oriented graphs. Necessary conditions are described for an oriented graph to be 1-cop-win, and several results are provided toward finding sufficient conditions.
ID:
395
Year: 2014
Name: Adam Case
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Algorithmic Information Theory
Title of Talk: Mutual Dimension
Abstract: The mutual (shared) information between two random variables is a well-understood concept in Shannon information theory, but how do we think about mutual information between other kinds of objects such as strings or real numbers? In this talk, we discuss various notions of mutual information from the perspective of algorithmic information theory. First we explore the algorithmic information content of a binary string. We then discuss the notion of the dimension (density of algorithmic information) of a real number. Finally, we explain our recent solution to an open problem: the correct formulation of the mutual information between two real numbers. This is joint work with Jack Lutz. The talk will be accessible to math undergraduates.
Year: 2014
Name: Adam Case
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Algorithmic Information Theory
Title of Talk: Mutual Dimension
Abstract: The mutual (shared) information between two random variables is a well-understood concept in Shannon information theory, but how do we think about mutual information between other kinds of objects such as strings or real numbers? In this talk, we discuss various notions of mutual information from the perspective of algorithmic information theory. First we explore the algorithmic information content of a binary string. We then discuss the notion of the dimension (density of algorithmic information) of a real number. Finally, we explain our recent solution to an open problem: the correct formulation of the mutual information between two real numbers. This is joint work with Jack Lutz. The talk will be accessible to math undergraduates.
ID:
396
Year: 2014
Name: Dave Renfro
Institution: #business/industry/government
Subject area(s): calculus, real analysis
Title of Talk: Calculus Curiosities
Abstract: Over the years I have collected a lot of little-known mathematical curiosities and minutia from various books and journal articles. This talk is intended to be a "show and tell" for some of this material, mostly restricted to things that could be of use in first year calculus courses, or at least to things likely to be of interest to teachers of such courses.
Year: 2014
Name: Dave Renfro
Institution: #business/industry/government
Subject area(s): calculus, real analysis
Title of Talk: Calculus Curiosities
Abstract: Over the years I have collected a lot of little-known mathematical curiosities and minutia from various books and journal articles. This talk is intended to be a "show and tell" for some of this material, mostly restricted to things that could be of use in first year calculus courses, or at least to things likely to be of interest to teachers of such courses.
ID:
397
Year: 2014
Name: Charles Ashbacher
Institution: Upper Iowa University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Teaching Managers to Think Of All Factors When Making Decisions
Abstract: Abstract: Major management decisions are often made without the proper analysis of all the details and consequences of the actions. The current wave known as 'reshoring' is where companies that transferred production facilities to other countries are now returning that production to the United States. This is a consequence of rising costs of labor and materials in other countries coupled with additional factors such as lax IP laws. Proper training of managers includes cost projections that incorporate all factors and two major projects in a management science class at Upper Iowa University where these aspects are included will be presented.
Year: 2014
Name: Charles Ashbacher
Institution: Upper Iowa University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Teaching Managers to Think Of All Factors When Making Decisions
Abstract: Abstract: Major management decisions are often made without the proper analysis of all the details and consequences of the actions. The current wave known as 'reshoring' is where companies that transferred production facilities to other countries are now returning that production to the United States. This is a consequence of rising costs of labor and materials in other countries coupled with additional factors such as lax IP laws. Proper training of managers includes cost projections that incorporate all factors and two major projects in a management science class at Upper Iowa University where these aspects are included will be presented.
ID:
398
Year: 2014
Name: Olena Ostapyuk
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: How can i be more than Imaginary for Future HIgh School Mathematics Teachers
Abstract: High school teachers introduce i as a solution to the equation x^2=-1 without understanding the geometry of complex numbers. This results in students not understanding the role of complex numbers in other contexts. The purpose of this talk is to share an introduction to complex numbers used in a mathematics course for future secondary mathematics teachers to demystify i and provide a rationale for its use in both pure and applied mathematics.
Year: 2014
Name: Olena Ostapyuk
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: How can i be more than Imaginary for Future HIgh School Mathematics Teachers
Abstract: High school teachers introduce i as a solution to the equation x^2=-1 without understanding the geometry of complex numbers. This results in students not understanding the role of complex numbers in other contexts. The purpose of this talk is to share an introduction to complex numbers used in a mathematics course for future secondary mathematics teachers to demystify i and provide a rationale for its use in both pure and applied mathematics.
ID:
399
Year: 2014
Name: Tyler Skorczewski
Institution: Cornell College
Subject area(s): math biology, fluid dynamics
Title of Talk: Toward an integrative model of suction feeding using the immersed boundary method
Abstract: Suction feeding is among the most common forms of aquatic prey capture. During a suction feeding strike a fish rapidly opens its mouth creating a fluid flow that draws in the prey. This is an example of indirect prey capture; the fish does not directly manipulate the prey, but rather the fluid flow around the prey. Previous studies of suction feeding have either studied jaw mechanics or the flow field in isolation, or have only considered rigid jaw motions (think of a fish mouth as a collection of metal plates). In this talk I will describe work in progress to develop a new methodology to study fish suction feeding that relaxes some of these conditions. In particular we will allow for more realistic flexible jaws and examine how the kinematics of the jaw motion affects the resultant flow field and subsequent prey capture.
Year: 2014
Name: Tyler Skorczewski
Institution: Cornell College
Subject area(s): math biology, fluid dynamics
Title of Talk: Toward an integrative model of suction feeding using the immersed boundary method
Abstract: Suction feeding is among the most common forms of aquatic prey capture. During a suction feeding strike a fish rapidly opens its mouth creating a fluid flow that draws in the prey. This is an example of indirect prey capture; the fish does not directly manipulate the prey, but rather the fluid flow around the prey. Previous studies of suction feeding have either studied jaw mechanics or the flow field in isolation, or have only considered rigid jaw motions (think of a fish mouth as a collection of metal plates). In this talk I will describe work in progress to develop a new methodology to study fish suction feeding that relaxes some of these conditions. In particular we will allow for more realistic flexible jaws and examine how the kinematics of the jaw motion affects the resultant flow field and subsequent prey capture.
ID:
400
Year: 2014
Name: Debasis Mandal
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Complexity Theory
Title of Talk: Separation of NP-Completeness Notions
Abstract: Informally speaking, reductions translate instances of one problem to instances of another problem; a problem A is polynomial-time reducible to a problem B if A can be solved in polynomial-time by making queries to problem B. By varying the manner in which the queries are allowed to make, we obtain a wide spectrum of reductions. At one end of the spectrum is Cook/Turing reduction where multiple queries are allowed and the i-th query made depends on answers to previous queries. On the other end is the most restrictive reduction, Karp-Levin/many-one reduction, where each positive instance of problem A is mapped to a positive instance of problem B, and so are the negative instances. This raises the following question: For complexity class NP, is there a Turing complete language that is not many-one complete? The first result that achieves such separation, under a reasonable hypothesis, is due to Lutz and Mayordomo. We show this separation for NP, under a believable worst-case hardness hypothesis. This is a joint work with A. Pavan and Rajeswari Venugopalan.
Year: 2014
Name: Debasis Mandal
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Complexity Theory
Title of Talk: Separation of NP-Completeness Notions
Abstract: Informally speaking, reductions translate instances of one problem to instances of another problem; a problem A is polynomial-time reducible to a problem B if A can be solved in polynomial-time by making queries to problem B. By varying the manner in which the queries are allowed to make, we obtain a wide spectrum of reductions. At one end of the spectrum is Cook/Turing reduction where multiple queries are allowed and the i-th query made depends on answers to previous queries. On the other end is the most restrictive reduction, Karp-Levin/many-one reduction, where each positive instance of problem A is mapped to a positive instance of problem B, and so are the negative instances. This raises the following question: For complexity class NP, is there a Turing complete language that is not many-one complete? The first result that achieves such separation, under a reasonable hypothesis, is due to Lutz and Mayordomo. We show this separation for NP, under a believable worst-case hardness hypothesis. This is a joint work with A. Pavan and Rajeswari Venugopalan.
ID:
401
Year: 2014
Name: Christian Roettger
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Probability
Title of Talk: Visual hypothesis testing - lineups and probability
Abstract: Police use lineups involving one suspect and several 'dummies' to get evidence that a witness can identify the suspect. In an abstract sense, we can form a hypothesis about 'suspect' data and test it in this way: literally have people looking at a lineup of plots with the task of identifying the data plot among the dummies. Repetition with several observers makes this approach surprisingly powerful. It also has potential when comparing the efficiency of different visual representations of the same data. Disclaimer: do not expect analysis of actual police lineups. But we will try out the method on the audience! This is joint work with Heike Hofmann, Di Cook, Phil Dixon, and Andreas Buja. I have investigated the underlying probability distributions. This meant evaluating some multiple integrals, and revising all the tricks from Calculus II.
Year: 2014
Name: Christian Roettger
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Probability
Title of Talk: Visual hypothesis testing - lineups and probability
Abstract: Police use lineups involving one suspect and several 'dummies' to get evidence that a witness can identify the suspect. In an abstract sense, we can form a hypothesis about 'suspect' data and test it in this way: literally have people looking at a lineup of plots with the task of identifying the data plot among the dummies. Repetition with several observers makes this approach surprisingly powerful. It also has potential when comparing the efficiency of different visual representations of the same data. Disclaimer: do not expect analysis of actual police lineups. But we will try out the method on the audience! This is joint work with Heike Hofmann, Di Cook, Phil Dixon, and Andreas Buja. I have investigated the underlying probability distributions. This meant evaluating some multiple integrals, and revising all the tricks from Calculus II.
ID:
402
Year: 2014
Name: Stephen Willson
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Teaching techniques
Title of Talk: Using short "lecture challenge questions" in large lecture courses
Abstract: The talk describes my use of daily "lecture challenges" in large lecture courses such as Calculus or Mathematical Ideas. These "lecture challenges" are one-problem quizzes on material presented in the same lecture. Problems are typically easy problems that might be test questions. There is no partial credit. Students get one point for a wrong answer, two points for a correct answer. Absent students get no points, so students are motivated to attend. The problems are very fast to grade. Students may help and teach each other.
Year: 2014
Name: Stephen Willson
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): Teaching techniques
Title of Talk: Using short "lecture challenge questions" in large lecture courses
Abstract: The talk describes my use of daily "lecture challenges" in large lecture courses such as Calculus or Mathematical Ideas. These "lecture challenges" are one-problem quizzes on material presented in the same lecture. Problems are typically easy problems that might be test questions. There is no partial credit. Students get one point for a wrong answer, two points for a correct answer. Absent students get no points, so students are motivated to attend. The problems are very fast to grade. Students may help and teach each other.
ID:
403
Year: 2014
Name: Brian Diaz
Institution: Cornell College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: An Elementary Solution to a Problem of Ramanujan's Interest
Abstract: In the early 1900's, Srinivasa Ramanujan discovered an intriguing, yet exotic, integral that he believed could have a 'simple', beautiful closed form. However, he never gave a simple solution to this integral. It wouldn't be until the mid-1950's when Russian mathematician V. I. Levin revisited Ramanujan's integral. He used non-elementary calculus techniques to prove that the integral, indeed, had a closed form for a single parameter; however, that parameter was only defined for positive integers. The integral would not be fully explored for the sake of itself until half a century later. Recently, V. Adamchik found that exact same integral that Ramanujan had encountered nearly a century ago. He showed a closed form using methods of Euler sums and related non-elementary techniques. This presentation will show a closed form of the integral does exist, but use only methods of elementary calculus. In addition, these techniques can be used to extend the result to double parameters!
Year: 2014
Name: Brian Diaz
Institution: Cornell College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: An Elementary Solution to a Problem of Ramanujan's Interest
Abstract: In the early 1900's, Srinivasa Ramanujan discovered an intriguing, yet exotic, integral that he believed could have a 'simple', beautiful closed form. However, he never gave a simple solution to this integral. It wouldn't be until the mid-1950's when Russian mathematician V. I. Levin revisited Ramanujan's integral. He used non-elementary calculus techniques to prove that the integral, indeed, had a closed form for a single parameter; however, that parameter was only defined for positive integers. The integral would not be fully explored for the sake of itself until half a century later. Recently, V. Adamchik found that exact same integral that Ramanujan had encountered nearly a century ago. He showed a closed form using methods of Euler sums and related non-elementary techniques. This presentation will show a closed form of the integral does exist, but use only methods of elementary calculus. In addition, these techniques can be used to extend the result to double parameters!
ID:
404
Year: 2014
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Pedagogy/Transition to Proof
Title of Talk: Constructing the Naturals -- An Inquiry-Based Approach
Abstract: The construction of the natural numbers via the Peano Axioms is a strangely neglected backwater of the undergraduate curriculum. It deserves more attention. Meanwhile, although inquiry-based learning has gained some traction, it usually is considered a binary decision, where a course either is or is not taught using an IBL approach. I propose a standalone unit, giving our number systems the foundation they deserve, and offering a "trial size" taste of IBL.
Year: 2014
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Pedagogy/Transition to Proof
Title of Talk: Constructing the Naturals -- An Inquiry-Based Approach
Abstract: The construction of the natural numbers via the Peano Axioms is a strangely neglected backwater of the undergraduate curriculum. It deserves more attention. Meanwhile, although inquiry-based learning has gained some traction, it usually is considered a binary decision, where a course either is or is not taught using an IBL approach. I propose a standalone unit, giving our number systems the foundation they deserve, and offering a "trial size" taste of IBL.
ID:
405
Year: 2014
Name: Ruth Berger
Institution: Luther College
Subject area(s): Geometry
Title of Talk: Conic Sections in Grid City
Abstract: I will present some word problems that can be used at the high school level, or with pre-service teachers, to make students think about the definition of distance and the definitions of the figures known as conic sections in Euclidean Geometry. These real-world problems about distance measurement on a city grid introduce students to Taxicab geometry, an easily accessible topic that can lead to thought provoking questions at many different levels.
Year: 2014
Name: Ruth Berger
Institution: Luther College
Subject area(s): Geometry
Title of Talk: Conic Sections in Grid City
Abstract: I will present some word problems that can be used at the high school level, or with pre-service teachers, to make students think about the definition of distance and the definitions of the figures known as conic sections in Euclidean Geometry. These real-world problems about distance measurement on a city grid introduce students to Taxicab geometry, an easily accessible topic that can lead to thought provoking questions at many different levels.
ID:
406
Year: 2014
Name: Mike Johnson
Institution: Luther College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Missing Avalanche Sizes in the 1 dimensional sandpile model
Abstract: The one-dimensional sandpile model has many interesting connections with number theory. When looking at the size of sandpile avalanches, powers of 2 seem to be mysteriously absent. Using a trough model, we classify avalanches into two categories. The size of each type can be described as either a sum of consecutive integers or a product of two integers with controlled sum. Since powers of two cannot be written as a sum of two or more consecutive positive integers, this explains why powers of two are not common avalanche sizes. We then estimate the minimal sandpile length required to find an avalanche of a given size.
Year: 2014
Name: Mike Johnson
Institution: Luther College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Missing Avalanche Sizes in the 1 dimensional sandpile model
Abstract: The one-dimensional sandpile model has many interesting connections with number theory. When looking at the size of sandpile avalanches, powers of 2 seem to be mysteriously absent. Using a trough model, we classify avalanches into two categories. The size of each type can be described as either a sum of consecutive integers or a product of two integers with controlled sum. Since powers of two cannot be written as a sum of two or more consecutive positive integers, this explains why powers of two are not common avalanche sizes. We then estimate the minimal sandpile length required to find an avalanche of a given size.
ID:
407
Year: 2014
Name: Kenneth Driessel
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): economics, ordinary differential equations
Title of Talk: Business cycles and predator-prey ordinary differential equations
Abstract: Richard M. Goodwin (1913-1996) was an American mathematician and economist. During most of his career he taught at the University of Cambridge. Goodwin studied economic growth and the business cycle. In 1967 he published a paper with title "A Growth Cycle". In this paper he described an economic model consisting of two nonlinear first order ordinary differential equations that exhibits cyclic behavior. This system is similar to the well-known system of predator-prey equations of Lotka and Volterra. Goodwin seems to have had mixed opinions about his system. He writes (in 1967): "Presented here is a starkly schematized and hence quite unrealistic model of cycles in growth rates." He also writes (in 1972): "[These assumptions] were chosen because they represent, in my opinion, the most essential dynamic aspects of capitalism; furthermore, they are factually based, to the order of accuracy implicit in such a model." In this talk, I shall present my version of Goodwin's growth cycle system.
Year: 2014
Name: Kenneth Driessel
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): economics, ordinary differential equations
Title of Talk: Business cycles and predator-prey ordinary differential equations
Abstract: Richard M. Goodwin (1913-1996) was an American mathematician and economist. During most of his career he taught at the University of Cambridge. Goodwin studied economic growth and the business cycle. In 1967 he published a paper with title "A Growth Cycle". In this paper he described an economic model consisting of two nonlinear first order ordinary differential equations that exhibits cyclic behavior. This system is similar to the well-known system of predator-prey equations of Lotka and Volterra. Goodwin seems to have had mixed opinions about his system. He writes (in 1967): "Presented here is a starkly schematized and hence quite unrealistic model of cycles in growth rates." He also writes (in 1972): "[These assumptions] were chosen because they represent, in my opinion, the most essential dynamic aspects of capitalism; furthermore, they are factually based, to the order of accuracy implicit in such a model." In this talk, I shall present my version of Goodwin's growth cycle system.
ID:
408
Year: 2014
Name: Matt Rissler
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Adding Context to Calculus
Abstract: This semester in Calculus I, my students have been doing weekly assignments to help provide them with context for the mathematics they are learning in the rest of the course. These assignments have investigated connections to historical and present day developments in mathematics, as well as to the utility of calculus for problem-solving in students' current lives and future careers. I will discuss what assignments I have done/will do and how students have responded to them.
Year: 2014
Name: Matt Rissler
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Adding Context to Calculus
Abstract: This semester in Calculus I, my students have been doing weekly assignments to help provide them with context for the mathematics they are learning in the rest of the course. These assignments have investigated connections to historical and present day developments in mathematics, as well as to the utility of calculus for problem-solving in students' current lives and future careers. I will discuss what assignments I have done/will do and how students have responded to them.
ID:
409
Year: 2014
Name: Angela Kohlhaas
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Patterns and Perspective: Math in Art and Music
Abstract: During January term at Loras College, we offer various courses which fulfill our mathematical modeling general education requirement as well as our experiential learning J-term requirement. I designed a course in this category which investigates mathematical reasoning underlying perspective art and musical compositions. I will discuss the class structure, activities, and assignments I plan to use when teaching it this January.
Year: 2014
Name: Angela Kohlhaas
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Patterns and Perspective: Math in Art and Music
Abstract: During January term at Loras College, we offer various courses which fulfill our mathematical modeling general education requirement as well as our experiential learning J-term requirement. I designed a course in this category which investigates mathematical reasoning underlying perspective art and musical compositions. I will discuss the class structure, activities, and assignments I plan to use when teaching it this January.
ID:
410
Year: 2014
Name: Jennifer Good
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: What did J.S. Bach know about fractals?
Abstract: The mathematical term 'fractal', coined in the late 20th century, is used to describe detailed mathematical objects with certain repeating patterns. Bach's 3rd cello suite, composed 250 years earlier, contains evidence of a fractal embedded in one of its movements. Come learn about fractals as we see (and hear) how one appears in this famous piece of music!
Year: 2014
Name: Jennifer Good
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: What did J.S. Bach know about fractals?
Abstract: The mathematical term 'fractal', coined in the late 20th century, is used to describe detailed mathematical objects with certain repeating patterns. Bach's 3rd cello suite, composed 250 years earlier, contains evidence of a fractal embedded in one of its movements. Come learn about fractals as we see (and hear) how one appears in this famous piece of music!
ID:
411
Year: 2014
Name: Riley Burkart
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: History of the Iowa Section of the MAA
Abstract: The history of the Iowa Section stretches back to 1915, even predating the foundation of the Mathematical Association of America by a month. In this talk, the speaker will present his research on the history of the Iowa Section from its origin to the present, examining the trends and changes in the organization.
Year: 2014
Name: Riley Burkart
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: History of the Iowa Section of the MAA
Abstract: The history of the Iowa Section stretches back to 1915, even predating the foundation of the Mathematical Association of America by a month. In this talk, the speaker will present his research on the history of the Iowa Section from its origin to the present, examining the trends and changes in the organization.
ID:
412
Year: 2014
Name: Jonas Meyer
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s): functional analysis, complex variables
Title of Talk: Interplay between function theory and Hilbert space
Abstract: Some classic results in Hilbert space theory are best described through the lens of functions of a complex variable, and vice versa. This survey talk will focus on some examples of that interplay, including how invariant subspaces of some operators on Hilbert space can be described using complex functions, and how Hilbert space theory can be used to prove results on interpolation with analytic functions.
Year: 2014
Name: Jonas Meyer
Institution: Loras College
Subject area(s): functional analysis, complex variables
Title of Talk: Interplay between function theory and Hilbert space
Abstract: Some classic results in Hilbert space theory are best described through the lens of functions of a complex variable, and vice versa. This survey talk will focus on some examples of that interplay, including how invariant subspaces of some operators on Hilbert space can be described using complex functions, and how Hilbert space theory can be used to prove results on interpolation with analytic functions.
ID:
417
Year: 2015
Name: Catherine Patterson
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematical biology, applied math, modeling
Title of Talk: Modeling the Effects of Multiple Myeloma Bone Disease
Abstract: Cancer is a lot like a hurricane; you can see it coming, but you don't know exactly where it will go or how much damage it will do. However, by combining a mathematical model with patient data, we can make predictions about the development of a patient's cancer. My research focuses on multiple myeloma, a plasma cell cancer that disrupts the bone remodeling process. In multiple myeloma patients, bone destruction outpaces bone replacement, producing bone lesions. This talk will describe the cell dynamics that regulate bone remodeling and explain how they are impacted by multiple myeloma. I will then discuss techniques used to model this system, including Savageau's power law approximations.
Year: 2015
Name: Catherine Patterson
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s): Mathematical biology, applied math, modeling
Title of Talk: Modeling the Effects of Multiple Myeloma Bone Disease
Abstract: Cancer is a lot like a hurricane; you can see it coming, but you don't know exactly where it will go or how much damage it will do. However, by combining a mathematical model with patient data, we can make predictions about the development of a patient's cancer. My research focuses on multiple myeloma, a plasma cell cancer that disrupts the bone remodeling process. In multiple myeloma patients, bone destruction outpaces bone replacement, producing bone lesions. This talk will describe the cell dynamics that regulate bone remodeling and explain how they are impacted by multiple myeloma. I will then discuss techniques used to model this system, including Savageau's power law approximations.