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 21-40 of 471 results.
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ID:
67
Year: 2004
Name: Bernadette Baker
Institution: Drake University
Subject area(s): Teaching and Learning (College Algebra)
Title of Talk: DOES TEACHING FUNCTIONS BASED ON TRANSFORMATION OF BASIC FUNCTIONS WORK?
Abstract: One typical pre-calculus approach introduces students to transformations of basic functions to help them develop a better understanding of functions. There is no research focusing on how or if this type of course achieves its goal. The present study addresses this issue as well as the difficulties students face when working with the concept of transformations of functions. This research attempts to explain, in terms of APOS (Action, Process, Object, Schema) theory, the difficulties that students exhibited in one particular course and to gain insights into why many students were not as successful as expected. Through the analysis of detailed interviews with 24 students, this study describes students
Year: 2004
Name: Bernadette Baker
Institution: Drake University
Subject area(s): Teaching and Learning (College Algebra)
Title of Talk: DOES TEACHING FUNCTIONS BASED ON TRANSFORMATION OF BASIC FUNCTIONS WORK?
Abstract: One typical pre-calculus approach introduces students to transformations of basic functions to help them develop a better understanding of functions. There is no research focusing on how or if this type of course achieves its goal. The present study addresses this issue as well as the difficulties students face when working with the concept of transformations of functions. This research attempts to explain, in terms of APOS (Action, Process, Object, Schema) theory, the difficulties that students exhibited in one particular course and to gain insights into why many students were not as successful as expected. Through the analysis of detailed interviews with 24 students, this study describes students
ID:
68
Year: 2004
Name: Alexander Kleiner
Institution: Drake University
Subject area(s): Analysis, History
Title of Talk: "Summing" Unbounded Sequences: Some History Preliminary Report
Abstract: The question of which, if any, unbounded sequences were summed by regular methods of summation was considerd repeatedly. This talk will show how these questions were answered (over and over).
Year: 2004
Name: Alexander Kleiner
Institution: Drake University
Subject area(s): Analysis, History
Title of Talk: "Summing" Unbounded Sequences: Some History Preliminary Report
Abstract: The question of which, if any, unbounded sequences were summed by regular methods of summation was considerd repeatedly. This talk will show how these questions were answered (over and over).
ID:
69
Year: 2004
Name: Perry Keely
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Multivariable Calculus
Title of Talk: "Fill 'er Up!" -- Packing a VW Beetle with Ping-Pong Balls
Abstract: Ever wonder how people guess how many jelly beans are in a jar, or say, ping pong balls in a car? Using calculus, of course! (OK, well most of the time it
Year: 2004
Name: Perry Keely
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Multivariable Calculus
Title of Talk: "Fill 'er Up!" -- Packing a VW Beetle with Ping-Pong Balls
Abstract: Ever wonder how people guess how many jelly beans are in a jar, or say, ping pong balls in a car? Using calculus, of course! (OK, well most of the time it
ID:
70
Year: 2004
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Undergraduate Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: Some Research-based Results on Technology and Visualization in Multivariable Calculus
Abstract: This talk will summarize some results of a multi-year study on the effects of technology use in multivariable calculus classes. The research focused especially on some differences in visualization skills between students who used computer algebra systems and others who did not.
Year: 2004
Name: Jonathan White
Institution: Coe College
Subject area(s): Undergraduate Mathematics Education
Title of Talk: Some Research-based Results on Technology and Visualization in Multivariable Calculus
Abstract: This talk will summarize some results of a multi-year study on the effects of technology use in multivariable calculus classes. The research focused especially on some differences in visualization skills between students who used computer algebra systems and others who did not.
ID:
71
Year: 2004
Name: Irvin Hentzel
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The mathematics of navigation in aviation
Abstract: We explain the how and why of Compass errors and how to work around them. We discuss the NDB (non-directional beacon) and the geometry behind its use for navigation. We mention the Precision approach. And we present some contradictions from explaining lift by using Bernoulli's theorem.
Year: 2004
Name: Irvin Hentzel
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: The mathematics of navigation in aviation
Abstract: We explain the how and why of Compass errors and how to work around them. We discuss the NDB (non-directional beacon) and the geometry behind its use for navigation. We mention the Precision approach. And we present some contradictions from explaining lift by using Bernoulli's theorem.
ID:
72
Year: 2004
Name: Daniel Alexander
Institution: Drake University
Subject area(s): History of mathematics
Title of Talk: Stefan Banach During World War II
Abstract: There is virtually no mention in mathematical literature of Stefan Banach's experience during World War II. This is unfortunate because not were his experiences fairly dramatic, but they are part of a greater story of the Polish Resistance during World War II. This presentation will discuss how Banach survived the Nazi occupation despite Nazi plans to annihilate the Polish intelligentsia. It will also discuss the role of a relatively unknown "Schindleresque"factory owner, Rudolf Stefan Weigl.
Year: 2004
Name: Daniel Alexander
Institution: Drake University
Subject area(s): History of mathematics
Title of Talk: Stefan Banach During World War II
Abstract: There is virtually no mention in mathematical literature of Stefan Banach's experience during World War II. This is unfortunate because not were his experiences fairly dramatic, but they are part of a greater story of the Polish Resistance during World War II. This presentation will discuss how Banach survived the Nazi occupation despite Nazi plans to annihilate the Polish intelligentsia. It will also discuss the role of a relatively unknown "Schindleresque"factory owner, Rudolf Stefan Weigl.
ID:
73
Year: 2004
Name: Joel Haack
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): history
Title of Talk: Mechanically finding Fourier coefficients
Abstract: In the era before oscilloscopes and computers, how did acousticians analyze sound waves? One way was to use the Henrici Harmonic Analyzer. The presentation will discuss how and why it works, including video and still shots of using it recently at the University of Iowa.
Year: 2004
Name: Joel Haack
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): history
Title of Talk: Mechanically finding Fourier coefficients
Abstract: In the era before oscilloscopes and computers, how did acousticians analyze sound waves? One way was to use the Henrici Harmonic Analyzer. The presentation will discuss how and why it works, including video and still shots of using it recently at the University of Iowa.
ID:
74
Year: 2004
Name: Rick Spellerberg
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Capstone Course In Mathematics. Components For Success.
Abstract: In the fall of 1998, the Simpson College Mathematics Department started offering a capstone course in mathematics called Senior Seminar. This talk will focus on the evolution of this course and what has taken place that has made this course the success it is today.
Year: 2004
Name: Rick Spellerberg
Institution: Simpson College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Capstone Course In Mathematics. Components For Success.
Abstract: In the fall of 1998, the Simpson College Mathematics Department started offering a capstone course in mathematics called Senior Seminar. This talk will focus on the evolution of this course and what has taken place that has made this course the success it is today.
ID:
75
Year: 2004
Name: Stephen Willson
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): graph theory
Title of Talk: Building supertrees using distances
Abstract: Suppose that a family of rooted phylogenetic trees Ti with different sets Xi of leaves is given. A supertree for the family would be a single rooted tree T whose leaf set is the union of all the Xi, such that the branching information in T corresponds to the branching information in all the trees Ti. This talk proposes a polynomial-time method BUILD-WITH-DISTANCES that makes essential use of distance information provided on the trees Ti to construct a rooted tree T. When a supertree containing also the distance information exists, then the method produces a supertree T. This supertree often shows increased resolution over the trees found by methods that utilize only the topology of the input trees.
Year: 2004
Name: Stephen Willson
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): graph theory
Title of Talk: Building supertrees using distances
Abstract: Suppose that a family of rooted phylogenetic trees Ti with different sets Xi of leaves is given. A supertree for the family would be a single rooted tree T whose leaf set is the union of all the Xi, such that the branching information in T corresponds to the branching information in all the trees Ti. This talk proposes a polynomial-time method BUILD-WITH-DISTANCES that makes essential use of distance information provided on the trees Ti to construct a rooted tree T. When a supertree containing also the distance information exists, then the method produces a supertree T. This supertree often shows increased resolution over the trees found by methods that utilize only the topology of the input trees.
ID:
93
Year: 2004
Name: Stephanie Kleven
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s): graph theory or coding theory
Title of Talk: Perfect Codes on Odd Dimension Sierpinski Graphs
Abstract: Sierpinski graphs are built by an iterative construction from a complete graph on d vertices.
Year: 2004
Name: Stephanie Kleven
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s): graph theory or coding theory
Title of Talk: Perfect Codes on Odd Dimension Sierpinski Graphs
Abstract: Sierpinski graphs are built by an iterative construction from a complete graph on d vertices.
ID:
94
Year: 2004
Name: Russell Goodman
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s): Calculus and Writing
Title of Talk: Using Letter-Writing to Enhance a Calculus Course
Abstract: In this talk, the presenter will describe the experience he is having with letter-writing in a first-semester calculus course. In particular, the presenter has his students write letters to family members, friends, or others in order to communicate what they are experiencing in their calculus class. The presenter will discuss his original goals for this activity, along with the procedural details he set forth. In addition, there will be examples of student letters along with a discussion of what the presenter might want to do differently the next time he runs this activity
Year: 2004
Name: Russell Goodman
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s): Calculus and Writing
Title of Talk: Using Letter-Writing to Enhance a Calculus Course
Abstract: In this talk, the presenter will describe the experience he is having with letter-writing in a first-semester calculus course. In particular, the presenter has his students write letters to family members, friends, or others in order to communicate what they are experiencing in their calculus class. The presenter will discuss his original goals for this activity, along with the procedural details he set forth. In addition, there will be examples of student letters along with a discussion of what the presenter might want to do differently the next time he runs this activity
ID:
95
Year: 2004
Name: Al Hibbard
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s): Statistics
Title of Talk: Introduction to the statistical software Fathom
Abstract: This talk wiill give a brief introduction to how and why to use the Fathom software. If you are familiar with Geometer's Sketchpad, this produced by the same company and is similar in its ease of use
Year: 2004
Name: Al Hibbard
Institution: Central College
Subject area(s): Statistics
Title of Talk: Introduction to the statistical software Fathom
Abstract: This talk wiill give a brief introduction to how and why to use the Fathom software. If you are familiar with Geometer's Sketchpad, this produced by the same company and is similar in its ease of use
ID:
102
Year: 2005
Name: Joel Haack
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): History of math, fourier series
Title of Talk: The Henrici Harmonic Analyser
Abstract: The mathematical basis for analysis of a periodic function was provided by J. B. J. Fourier in Paris in 1822 in the form of a series expansion. Calculations, however, were very tedious. Several ingenious mechanical devices to perform the analysis were devised in the late 19th Century and perfected in the early 20th Century. An important example is the Henrici analyzer, a working version of which is housed in the Department of Speech and Audiology at The University of Iowa. The mathematical background of the device will be described, and videos will be shown of the authors using the Iowa Henrici to analyze a waveform. Pictures and descriptions of another device at the Science Museum in South Kensington, London will also be presented.
Year: 2005
Name: Joel Haack
Institution: University of Northern Iowa
Subject area(s): History of math, fourier series
Title of Talk: The Henrici Harmonic Analyser
Abstract: The mathematical basis for analysis of a periodic function was provided by J. B. J. Fourier in Paris in 1822 in the form of a series expansion. Calculations, however, were very tedious. Several ingenious mechanical devices to perform the analysis were devised in the late 19th Century and perfected in the early 20th Century. An important example is the Henrici analyzer, a working version of which is housed in the Department of Speech and Audiology at The University of Iowa. The mathematical background of the device will be described, and videos will be shown of the authors using the Iowa Henrici to analyze a waveform. Pictures and descriptions of another device at the Science Museum in South Kensington, London will also be presented.
ID:
103
Year: 2005
Name: Matthew Johnson
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s): Functional Analysis, C*-Algebras
Title of Talk: The Graph Traces of Finite Graphs and Applications to Tracial States of C*-Algebras
Abstract: We determine the extreme points of the set of graph traces of norm one for any finite graph E satisfying Condition (K). We also describe and application to the space of tracial states on the graph C*-algebra.
Year: 2005
Name: Matthew Johnson
Institution: University of Iowa
Subject area(s): Functional Analysis, C*-Algebras
Title of Talk: The Graph Traces of Finite Graphs and Applications to Tracial States of C*-Algebras
Abstract: We determine the extreme points of the set of graph traces of norm one for any finite graph E satisfying Condition (K). We also describe and application to the space of tracial states on the graph C*-algebra.
ID:
104
Year: 2005
Name: Joseph Keller
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): general relativity
Title of Talk: Explanation of Lepton and Meson Masses
Abstract: Let the muon be a gaussian distribution of electric charge, as small as the Heisenberg uncertainty principle allows. Using G.D. Birkhoff's theorem, apply the Schwarzschild metric as if electric force were the same as gravitational force. Hawking's theorem says that the entropy of a black hole is proportional to its area. Choosing the mass to maximize entropy per unit mass, gives the muon mass within about 1%. There will be an inner infinite redshift surface also. This surface encloses a "core". Choosing the mass just large enough to trap the "core", gives the mass of the tauon to better than 1%. Two quarks, one inside the other, give a model of mesons. Similar considerations give the charged pion, K, B and D meson masses to within about 1% or better.
Year: 2005
Name: Joseph Keller
Institution: Iowa State University
Subject area(s): general relativity
Title of Talk: Explanation of Lepton and Meson Masses
Abstract: Let the muon be a gaussian distribution of electric charge, as small as the Heisenberg uncertainty principle allows. Using G.D. Birkhoff's theorem, apply the Schwarzschild metric as if electric force were the same as gravitational force. Hawking's theorem says that the entropy of a black hole is proportional to its area. Choosing the mass to maximize entropy per unit mass, gives the muon mass within about 1%. There will be an inner infinite redshift surface also. This surface encloses a "core". Choosing the mass just large enough to trap the "core", gives the mass of the tauon to better than 1%. Two quarks, one inside the other, give a model of mesons. Similar considerations give the charged pion, K, B and D meson masses to within about 1% or better.
ID:
105
Year: 2005
Name: Nancy Hagelgans
Institution: Ursinus College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Planar Linkages: Robot Arms, Carpenters' Rulers, and Other Devices
Abstract: A planar linkage is constructed in the plane from rigid links or rods that are connected with movable joints. Robot arms and carpenters' rulers are examples of planar linkages in which the links are connected to form a chain. We will examine the reachability region of robot arms, which are chains with one end fixed. Then we will go on to solve the minimal folding problem of carpenters' rulers with links of different lengths. Finally we will address some planar linkages that can be used to convert one type of motion to another type of motion.
Year: 2005
Name: Nancy Hagelgans
Institution: Ursinus College
Subject area(s):
Title of Talk: Planar Linkages: Robot Arms, Carpenters' Rulers, and Other Devices
Abstract: A planar linkage is constructed in the plane from rigid links or rods that are connected with movable joints. Robot arms and carpenters' rulers are examples of planar linkages in which the links are connected to form a chain. We will examine the reachability region of robot arms, which are chains with one end fixed. Then we will go on to solve the minimal folding problem of carpenters' rulers with links of different lengths. Finally we will address some planar linkages that can be used to convert one type of motion to another type of motion.
ID:
106
Year: 2005
Name: Scott Searcy
Institution: Waldorf College
Subject area(s): Data Compression
Title of Talk: The Efficiency of Morse Code as Data Compression.
Abstract: Morse code was invented to allow the efficient transmission of textual data in a digital mode. This talk examines the efficiency in comparison with more modern methods of textual data transmission.
Year: 2005
Name: Scott Searcy
Institution: Waldorf College
Subject area(s): Data Compression
Title of Talk: The Efficiency of Morse Code as Data Compression.
Abstract: Morse code was invented to allow the efficient transmission of textual data in a digital mode. This talk examines the efficiency in comparison with more modern methods of textual data transmission.
ID:
107
Year: 2005
Name: Scott Herriott
Institution: Maharishi University of Management
Subject area(s): Math education; college algebra
Title of Talk: The "Basic Four" Elementary Functions and Their Applications in College Algebra
Abstract: The "Basic Four" elementary functions are those that result from the association of an additive or multiplicative change in X with an additive or multiplicative change in Y (linear, exponential, logarithmic and power). We consider the importance of these functions in the college algebra course in terms of the breadth of their applications in the fields of study that college algebra students will major in.
Year: 2005
Name: Scott Herriott
Institution: Maharishi University of Management
Subject area(s): Math education; college algebra
Title of Talk: The "Basic Four" Elementary Functions and Their Applications in College Algebra
Abstract: The "Basic Four" elementary functions are those that result from the association of an additive or multiplicative change in X with an additive or multiplicative change in Y (linear, exponential, logarithmic and power). We consider the importance of these functions in the college algebra course in terms of the breadth of their applications in the fields of study that college algebra students will major in.
ID:
108
Year: 2005
Name: James Collingwood
Institution: Drake University
Subject area(s): History of Mathematics
Title of Talk: Rigor in Analysis: From Newton to Cauchy
Abstract: This paper seeks to examine the level of rigor which was present in work with the calculus from the time of its invention through Cauchy
Year: 2005
Name: James Collingwood
Institution: Drake University
Subject area(s): History of Mathematics
Title of Talk: Rigor in Analysis: From Newton to Cauchy
Abstract: This paper seeks to examine the level of rigor which was present in work with the calculus from the time of its invention through Cauchy
ID:
109
Year: 2005
Name: Charles Ashbacher
Institution:
Subject area(s): Recreational mathematics
Title of Talk: Searching For Images Embedded in Mathematics
Abstract: In the science fiction book
Year: 2005
Name: Charles Ashbacher
Institution:
Subject area(s): Recreational mathematics
Title of Talk: Searching For Images Embedded in Mathematics
Abstract: In the science fiction book