Math 450 Senior Seminar presents "Batting Statistics" on Tuesday, November 5

The season may be over, but the statisticians are still working.  Join actuarial science senior Brittney Anderson for a look at the complexities of calculating this basic baseball stat.

Math 450 Senior Seminar
presents
"Batting Statistics"
by Brittney Anderson
Tuesday, November 5
3:05 - 3:55
in Patterson 324

Abstract: Batting averages in baseball are used to determine the chance of a batter hitting the ball. There are different ways to find a batting average - one way is to build a probability model. We will create a probability model to estimate a player’s batting average. We will also look at the different types of bias that can occur because of this probability model. A great deal of logic is involved when determining whether a batter is likely to hit the ball based on their batting average. Although it seems that only basic division is needed to calculate batting averages, we will see that there can actually be much more mathematics involved.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

Math 450 Senior Seminar Presents Stealing Hearts and Stirring Mathematical Debate, Thursday, October 31

It's dichotomous Disney drama! Join senior Jessica Workinger this Thursday for a discussion of the Sleeping Beauty probability problem. 

Math 450 Senior Seminar Presents
"Stealing Hearts and Stirring Mathematical Debate"
by Jessica Workinger
Thursday, October 31
1:40 - 2:30
in Patterson 324

Abstract: This presentation will explore the Sleeping Beauty Problem which is a spin-off of the classic Walt Disney movie Sleeping Beauty. This conditional probability problem has created a lot of controversy among mathematicians. We will analyze the two most common answers and work through the mathematics to discover why one answer is incorrect. Next, we will use a separate, but related, probability problem to discover the real answer to the Sleeping Beauty Problem.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

Math 450 Senior Seminar presents "Tangled Headphones: Knot Theory or Not?" October 29

Do you have a little math in your pocket? Senior Stacee King will discuss whether or not Knot Theory applies to those tangled headphones we're always fighting with.

Math 450 Senior Seminar presents

"Tangled Headphones:

Knot Theory or Not?"

by Stacee King

Tuesday, October 29

3:05 - 3:55 p.m.

in Patterson 324

Abstract: Every day we try to untangle our headphones, and every day we get frustrated that our headphones are tied in knots. But there is something that could help: KNOT THEORY. Knot Theory is the study of knots and their properties. We can accurately describe a knot by its embedded image in 2- or 3-space, as well as whether it can or cannot be undone. We can determine if two knots are isomorphic by looking at both their representations in 2- and 3-space as well as looking at each knot’s related Alexander Polynomial. Most importantly for all of our headphone problems, we can also describe some “moves” that would help us to unknot (or simplify) a knot.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

Photo: Robert S. Donovan, Flickr

Math 450 Senior Seminar Presents "Unnoticed Moves in the Tower of Hanoi" Thursday, October 24

It looks simple, but join integrated math senior Phillip Yarian for a look at the mathematical complexities lurking in this classic mathematical puzzle. 

Math 450 Senior Seminar Presents 

"Unnoticed Moves in the Tower of Hanoi" 

by Phillip Yarian 

Thursday, October 24 

1:40 - 2:30 in Patterson 324

Abstract: Since E. Lucas discovered the Tower of Brahma (or Hanoi) in 1883, there have been a few stories regarding how the tower was supposed to be completed. First, we will take a look at the number of moves needed to complete the Tower of Hanoi with n-disks. Next we will take a look at the number of moves that are needed to separate the odd and even disks. Using Number Theory, we will prove how many moves there are for each method. How much difference in the number of moves could there be?
Everyone is welcome to attend!

Math 450 Senior Seminar presents "The Evolution of Cryptography," Thursday, October 17.

Integrated Math Major Kate Fleming takes a look at cryptography throughout history.  

Math 450 Senior Seminar Presents

"The Evolution of Cryptography: From Caesar to Elliptic Curves"

by Kate Fleming

Thursday, October 17

1:40 - 2:30
in Patterson 324

Abstract: Since the time of Julius Caesar, cryptography has been continuously adapted in order to find a cipher that is more difficult to crack than the last cipher. We will briefly explore the history of cryptography by examining different types of cryptosystems. Next we will look at properties of elliptic curves and how they can be used in cryptography. We will also examine an example of elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). What are the benefits of using ECC over the more familiar cryptosystem RSA?  Everyone is welcome to attend!

Math Senior Seminar presents "The Athleticism of Group Theory," Tuesday, October 15.

Integrated Math Senior Brandi Scott will illustrate group theory using tournament elimination as an example. All are welcome to attend!

Math 450 Senior Seminar presents
"The Athleticism of Group Theory"

by Brandi Scott

Tuesday, October 15
3:05 - 3:55
in Patterson 324

Abstract: The idea behind playoffs in any sport is single-elimination knockout, where each team plays games in rounds and has to play each game as if it were their last. For one team, it will be. Knockout tournaments are played in several rounds and the number of rounds depends on the number of teams involved; each round cuts or "knocks out" half of the teams that played. Some teams may have a bye (not play in a given round). While this is easily understood with a little explanation, the group theory involved in the existence and underlying structure of the widely used tournament layout is anything but simple. In this particular talk, we will set our focus on the group theoretical properties of a very specific type of tournament, the unseeded single-elimination knockout tournament.

Math 450 Senior Seminar Presents "The Mathematics Behind Sudoku Puzzles" Thursday, October 10

How many possible boards are there in a Sudoku board?  Join integrated math senior Kyle Hronek for a look at the mathematical limits and possibilities of this popular puzzle game.

Math 450 Senior Seminar Presents

The Mathematics Behind Sudoku Puzzles

by Kyle Hronek 

Thursday, October 10

1:40 - 2:30

in Patterson 324

Abstract: Sudoku is a puzzle game that everyone has either attempted or completed. This talk will use  permutations and symmetries from group theory to show you all of the possible layouts of a Sudoku board. We will look at the ordering of grids and squares, to see how many different boards there actually are and determine if symmetries effect that count. We also will take a look at possible patterns within a board and their effects on the board’s permutations. How many possible boards are there in a Sudoku board? What patterns affect the groupings? What is the most and least amount of clues a puzzle can have and still be solved? Join us for an exploration of answers to these questions. Everyone is welcome to attend!

photo: Margie Hill

Classroom Changes

Please note:

The following room changes for Math 305, 218, 223C, and 417 will be effective as of Monday, October 7, 2013 and continue for the remainder of the semester.  

Math 305A (Calculus II)    

meeting time: MWF 1:00-1:50, Th 1:40-2:30 

moving: from PTC 324 to KET 226

Math 218A TTh (Geometry for Middle School Teachers)

meeting time: 1:40-2:55
moving: from KET 226 to PTC 324

Math 223C  (Discrete Math I)

meeting time: MWF 2:00-2:50 

moving:  from KET 226 to PTC 324

Math 417A (Intro to Analysis)

meeting time: MWF 1:00-1:50
moving: from KET 226 to PTC 324

Senior Seminar Presents "How to Move Your Brick Collection," Tuesday, October 8

Senior integrated math major, Megan Raber will show how math can predict different ways to fill a container -- handy if you have a lot of bricks to move.

How to Move Your Brick Collection
by Megan Raber
Tuesday, October 8
3:05 - 3:55
in Patterson 324

Abstract: When given a box to pack with bricks, not everyone will stack the bricks in the box the same way. Some may stand the bricks up, some may lay the bricks down flat, and some may even do a combination of both. When given a box, how many different ways can you place the bricks in the box to pack it? Using direct counting and linear algebra we will create an equation to determine how many ways we can pack a 2x2xn box with 1x1x2 bricks. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Senior Seminar presents “'Proof'ing Sudoku is Fun" on Tuesday, October 1

Senior Jacob Cook will fill us in on how math and logic are used in creating and solving this popular number puzzle.  

Math 450 Senior Seminar Presents

“Proof”ing Sudoku is Fun

by Jacob Cook

Tuesday, October 1

3:05 - 3:55

in Patterson 324

Abstract: Sudoku is a logic puzzle that has grown in popularity over recent years. When we look closer we see that there is math and logic involved in not only being able to define the puzzles, but in solving the Sudoku as well. We will explore proofs of several methods that can be used to find a cell’s identity. There is also a great deal of mathematical defining that takes place when we look at special variants of the Sudoku. Though there seems to be an innumerable amount of possible grids and variations for Sudoku, mathematics can be used to define and limit these variations so they are doable. We see that Sudoku really is math; but it’s not just math, it’s fun! Everyone is welcome to attend!