William Dunham, Muhlenberg College, "The Euclid-Euler Theorem"
Ronald Graham, Lucent Technologies,
Judith Seery, Lucent Technologies,
Richard Askey, University of Wisconsin,
Henry Pollak, Bell Labs (Ret.), will discuss the founding and early days of
the section.
ABSTRACTS/SPEAKERS
"The Euclid-Euler Theorem"
As his last number theoretic proposition in the Elements, Euclid proved that, if 2^n - 1 is prime then 2^(n-1) (2^n - 1) is perfect (i.e., equal to the sum of its proper divisors). Twenty centuries(!) later, Euler established the partial converse: that any even perfect number must have this form. Using original sources, we shall see how Euclid and Euler joined forces to provide necessary and sufficient conditions for this peculiar type of number. William Dunham, who received his B.S.(1969) from the University of Pittsburgh and his M.S.(1970) and his Ph.D.(1974) from Ohio State, is the Truman Koehler Professor of Mathematics at Muhlenberg College. Although trained in general topology, Dunham's interests gradually shifted to the historu of mathematics. He received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities to direct summer seminars on math history at Ohio State. He has spoken on historical topics at national and regional mathematics meetings as well as at the Smithsonian Institution, on NPR's "Talk of the Nation/Science Friday", and on the BBC. His paper, "Euler and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra", won the 1991 George Polya Award from the MAA. In 1994 he received the Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching from the MAA's Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware (EPADEL) section. Dr. DUnham combined his historical and mathematical interests by authoring the highly-acclaimed Journey Through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics (John Wiley, 1990). A second book, The Mathematical Universe (John WIley, 1994) received the American Association of Publishers' award as the Best Mathematics Book of 1994.
MAA-NJ Governor: Barbara Osofsky, Rutgers University MAA-NJ OFFICERS Chair: Kay Gura, Ramapo College of New Jersey Past Chair: Theresa C. Michnowicz, Jersey City State College Vice Chair for Speakers: Lawrence D'Antonio, Ramapo College of New Jersey Innovations: Issam El-Achkar, Hudson Community College Two-Year Colleges: Jeannette O'Rourke, Middlesex County College Secretary: Thomas Ralston, Georgian Court College Treasurer: Nancy Maulding, Raritan Valley Community College Public Information Officer: Judith Lenk, Ocean County College
MAA Spring 1997 Meeting
The next meeting of the MAA-NJ is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 1997 at Middlesex County College.
Student Talks at Spring '97 Meeting
At our Spring '97 meeting the MAA-NJ will sponsor a concurrent session devoted to undergraduate talks. Please be on the lookout for promising students to give such talks. Anyone with students to recommend for this project may contact Lawrence D'Antonio at Ramapo College, (201) 529-7714 or e-mail: ldant@ramapo.edu.
The Distinguished Teaching Award
Nominations are being accepted for the 1997 MAA New Jersey Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching. The guidelines state that nominees should be widely recognized as extraordinarily successful in their teaching, should have influence beyond their own institutions, and should foster curiosity and generate excitement about mathematics in their students. To get a copy of the nomination form, see any college mathematics department chairperson, or contact the secretary of the MAA-NJ section. Previous recipients are:
1992 Sr. M. Stephanie Sloyan,
Georgian Court College
1993 Eileen L. Poiani, Saint Peter's College
1994 Richard D. Bronson,
Fairleigh Dickinson University
1995 Siegfried Haenisch,
Trenton State College
1996 Andrew Demetropoulos,
Montclair State College
From Newark Airport
From West
From North
From South
To help us plan for this meeting, please complete this form or a photocopy of this form and return (with check made payable to MAA-NJ, if appropriate) by Monday, October 28, 1996 to
Judith Seery
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Check as many as apply:
I will attend the meeting.
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There will be a dutch-treat dinner honoring the speakers after the meeting.
For futher information send mail to Larry D'Antonio ldant@ramapo.edu