Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Monoids For Math Majors, Brian D. Beasley

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Inspired by an MAA PREP workshop on “The Art of Factorization in Multiplicative Structures”, this paper will treat the basics of congruence monoids and arithmetical congruence monoids with their potential for a Modern Algebra or capstone course.

Professor Peacock's Symbolical Algebra: Glimpses Into The Life And Work Of A Mathematical Reformer, Richard Stout

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

In his 1859 obituary of George Peacock (Royal Society of London, 1859),the nineteenth century mathematician and Dean of Ely Cathedral, his friend and long-time colleague J. F. W. Herschel not only lists Peacock's accomplishments as an educator, a churchman, and a mathematician, but also describes a man who embodies warmth and wisdom, the kind of person you would enjoy knowing and having as a colleague. Writing about Peacock in the Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, Augustus DeMorgan echoes these sentiments when he says that "Whenever a man of safe judgment was wanted, who united kindness and courtesy to a …

Can Critical Thinking Be Redeemed?, Jeremy Case

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

We often claim that mathematics develops critical thinking skills. Critical thinking has many different definitions, but problem solving, deduction, analyzing arguments, and identifying assumptions are all certainly a part of critical thinking. As the trend in higher education moves away from focusing exclusively on content towards assessment and learning outcomes, we can justify our endeavors since mathematics and critical thinking align themselves well.

However, when examining the ultimate purpose of critical thinking in higher education, we must take care. If there is no agreed upon content knowledge in our postmodern age, the focus of education falls elsewhere. How one thinks …

Fire! Lessons Learned And Applied To Computer Systems, Kim P. Kihlstrom

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

A wildfire swept through Santa Barbara on November 13, 2008, burning 1940 acres and destroying 230 homes. Nine structures on the Westmont College campus were destroyed as well as fifteen faculty homes near campus. What insights can be drawn from this experience? We will examine some of the lessons that can be applied to the design of intrusion-tolerant computer systems.

Supplemental Vocabulary Acquisition In The Desymbol Logic Translator, Darren F. Provine, Nancy Lynn Tinkham

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

DeSymbol is a program that translates first-order predicate logic expressions into English. It is designed to help students practice when learning or reviewing symbolic logic: students begin by translating English sentences into symbolic logic notation, and then they can use DeSymbol to translate the logic back into English to check their work.

The newest version of DeSymbol adds the ability for the user to expand the system’s vocabulary, using a web interface. The user can enter new nouns, verbs, or adjectives, specifying each word’s part of speech, its singular and plural forms, and (for verbs) whether the verb takes an …

Galileo's Solution To Dante's Riddle, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

In Dante’s Inferno, several riddles are posed regarding the relative sizes of ordinary men versus giants versus Lucifer—all of which Galileo solves in his first public lecture—which we review herein.

Sage: Math In Your Dorm Room, From Calculus To Research, Karl-Dieter Crisman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

As computers have revolutionized math research in disciplines as disparate as number theory and bioinformatics, it is natural for us to introduce our students to technology in ways beyond mere homework-checking. However, most familiar programs are either not comprehensive enough to encompass all the math in our curriculum, or are very expensive and accessible only in a lab or with a student license. The open source software package Sage addresses all of these issues.

Sage is suitable for discovery and computation in introductory courses such as calculus or linear algebra, while also being ideal for use in upper-level courses or …

Exploring The Limits Of Computing Through Exhaustive Search, Jeffrey L. Lehman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Many computing problems can be solved by identifying all possible moves or combinations of events and then picking the best solution. Problems in this domain provide fertile ground for exploring problem representation, storage requirements, and computational complexity. The problems and solution approaches are easy to understand, yet quickly push the memory and storage limits of a personal computer. This paper describes insights from a preliminary investigating of two exhaustive search problems, the 15-puzzle and Rubik’s cube. The insights gained by looking at exhaustive search problems can be integrated into classroom discussions and projects.

Arithmetic Sequences, Diophantine Equations And The Number Of The Beast, Bryan Dawson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Revelation 13:18 invites anyone with "understanding" to "calculate the number of the beast". This session reviews historical attempts using arithmetic sequences and gives conditions by which a name is "beastable" by those methods. Do these approaches make it reasonable to identify the beast based on such calculation alone?

Introduction (2009), Terry Perciante

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Seventeenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Paper Abstracts (2009), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Seventeenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Schedule (2009), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Seventeenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Table Of Contents (2009), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2009

Seventeenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

A Simulated Annealing Approach To Communication Network Design, Stephen J. Sugden, Marcus Randall, Graham Mcmahon

Marcus Randall

This paper explores the use of the meta-heuristic search algorithm Simulated Annealing for solving a minimum cost network synthesis problem. This problem is a common one in the design of telecommunication networks. The formulation we use models a number of practical problems with hop-limit, degree and capacity constraints. Emphasis is placed on a new approach that uses a knapsack polytope to select amongst a number of pre-computed traffic routes in order to synthesise the network. The advantage of this approach is that a subset of the best routes can be used instead of the whole set, thereby making the process …

Elementary-Level Mathematics Content In Comic Book Format, Bruce Kessler, Janet Tassell, Mary Evans, Cathy Willoughby, Melissa Zimmer

Bruce Kessler

No abstract provided.

Elementary-Level Mathematics Content In Comic Book Format, Bruce Kessler, Janet Tassell, Mary Evans, Cathy Willoughby, Melissa Zimmer

Mathematics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Proceedings Of The Scientific Conference On Energy And It At Alvsjo Fair, Stockholm March 11-12, 2009 In Connection With The “Energitinget 2009, Dr. Erik Dahlquist, Dr. Jenny Palm

Dr. Erik Dahlquist

This book contains the proceedings from the Energy and IT conference at Alvsjo Energy conference "Energitinget" arranged by Swedish Energy Agency, with approximately 2500 visitors. The papers contain both technical and social science papers, relating to both energy efficiency in buildings and in industry.

Extending The Support Theorem To Infinite Dimensions, Jeremy J. Becnel

Faculty Publications

The Radon transform is one of the most useful and applicable tools in functional analysis. First constructed by John Radon in 1917 [9] it has now been adapted to several settings. One of the principle theorems involving the Radon transform is the Support Theorem. In this paper, we discuss how the Radon transform can be constructed in the white noise setting. We also develop a Support Theorem in this setting.

Metric Regularity And Lipschitzian Stability Of Parametric Variational Systems, Francisco J. Aragón Artacho, Boris S. Mordukhovich

Mathematics Research Reports

The paper concerns the study of variational systems described by parameterized generalized equations/variational conditions important for many aspects of nonlinear analysis, optimization, and their applications. Focusing on the fundamental properties of metric regularity and Lipschitzian stability, we establish various qualitative and quantitative relationships between these properties for multivalued parts/fields of parametric generalized equations and the corresponding solution maps for them in the framework of arbitrary Banach spaces of decision and parameter variables.

Axiomatic Equilibrium Selection For Generic Two-Player Games, Srihari Govindan, Robert B. Wilson

Robert B Wilson

We impose three conditions on refinements of the Nash equilibria of finite games with perfect recall that select closed connected subsets, called solutions. A. Each equilibrium in a solution uses undominated strategies; B. Each solution contains a quasi-perfect equilibrium; C. The solutions of a game map to the solutions of an embedded game, where a game is embedded if each player's feasible strategies and payoffs are preserved by a multilinear map. We prove for games with two players and generic payoffs that these conditions characterize each solution as an essential component of equilibria in undominated strategies, and thus a stable …

Intersections And Representations Of Graphs, John Light

All Dissertations

Given two graphs G and H sharing the same vertex set, the edge-intersection spectrum of G and H is the set of possible
sizes of the intersection of the edge sets of both graphs. For example,
the spectrum of two copies of the cycle C₅ is {0, 2, 3, 5}, and the spectrum of two copies of the star K_1,r is {1, r}. The intersection spectrum was initially studied for designs by Lindner and Fu and others and was originally extended to graphs by Eric Mendelsohn. Several examples are studied, both when G and H are isomorphic and …

On Elliptic Curves, Modular Forms, And The Distribution Of Primes, Ethan Smith

All Dissertations

In this thesis, we present four problems related to elliptic curves, modular forms, the distribution of primes, or some combination of the three. The first chapter surveys the relevant background material necessary for understanding the remainder of the thesis. The four following chapters present our problems of interest and their solutions. In the final chapter, we present our conclusions as well as a few possible directions for future research.
Hurwitz class numbers are known to have connections to many areas of number theory. In particular, they are intimately connected to the theory of binary quadratic forms, the structure of imaginary …

New Directions In Multivariate Public Key Cryptography, Raymond Heindl

All Dissertations

Most public key cryptosystems used in practice are based on integer factorization or discrete logarithms (in finite fields or elliptic curves). However, these systems suffer from two potential drawbacks. First, they must use large keys to maintain security, resulting in decreased efficiency. Second, if large enough quantum computers can be built, Shor's algorithm will render them completely insecure.
Multivariate public key cryptosystems (MPKC) are one possible alternative. MPKC makes use of the fact that solving multivariate polynomial systems over a finite field is an NP-complete problem, for which it is not known whether there is a polynomial algorithm on quantum …

Covariant Relativistic Quantum Mechanics Analysis Of A Linearly Accelerated Scalar Particle, Karol Mcdonald

Doctoral

A covariant formalism of Relativistic Quantum Mechanics is demonstrated, through it's de- velopment and application. The Relativistic Case is shown to follow a similar structure to the established Non-Relativistic formalism. Reasons for preferring the new covariant formalism over the established method are presented. Solutions to the case of a scalar particle in a one-dimensional field are presented. The Relativistic Energy Eigenfunction is derived. Results are generated from initial Gaussian states via a Green's Function method. A Green's Function for the system is derived and applied. The solution to the Quantum System is shown to follow a scaled version of the …

Migration And Mixing Between Populations In Disease Models, David Burger

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The goal of this thesis is to model the spread of disease between populations and find ways to prevent its continued epidemic. This thesis studies disease spread as a function of migration in epidemiological models. The models are constructed using the compartmental approach, and we compare discrete and continuous time approximations. In the discrete model, we will look at ways that induced migration can cause an epidemic case to turn into a dieout case. It will be shown that migration can only effect the size of an outbreak, but cannot create or destroy one. For the continuous cases, we will …

Binary Quadratic Forms Over F[T] And Principal Ideal Domains, Jeff Beyerl

All Theses

This paper concerns binary quadratic forms over F[T]. It develops theory analogous to the theory of binary quadratic forms over the integers. Most although not all of the results are almost identical, while some of the proofs require different techniques.
In particular, the form class group is determined when the form takes values in a principal ideal domain, and the ideal class group (and class group isomorphism) is determined when the form takes values in F[T].

Ethnomathematics In The Dominican Republic: A Mathematics Education Approach To Knowledge And Emancipation, Sofia Pablo-Hoshino

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This focus of this project was to look at the extent to which ethnomathematics is being used in the mathematics curriculum in theDominican Republic. Broadly described, ethnomathematics emphasizes that the culture, history, and experiences of the students are significant and therefore should be infused into the mathematics curriculum.

I read articles and books as well as traveled to theDominican Republicto conduct qualitative research. I interviewed 32 professionals consisting of mathematics teachers, mathematics professors, and mathematics education professors from theSantiagoandSanto Domingoareas. I then volunteered at the Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring (DREAM) Project where I was able to observe and participate …

Construction Of A Dimension Two Rank One Drinfeld Module, Catherine Trentacoste

All Theses

Consider F_r[t] where r = pm for some prime p and m in the natural numbers. Let f(t) be an irreducible square-free polynomial with even degree in F_r[t] so that the leading coeffcient is not a square
mod F_r. Let A = L = F_r[t][\sqrt{f(t)}].
We will examine the basic set-up required for a dimension two rank one Drinfeld module over L along with an explanation of our choice of f(t). In addition we will show the construction for the exponential function.

Tight Lower Bound For The Sparse Travelling Salesman Problem, Fredrick Mtenzi

Conference papers

The Sparse Travelling Salesman Problem (Sparse TSP) which is a variant of the classical Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) is the problem of finding the shortest route of the salesman when visiting cities in a region making sure that each city is visited at least once and returning home at the end. In the Sparse TSP, the distance between cities may not obey the triangle inequality; this makes the use of algorithms and formulations designed for the TSP to require modifications in order to produce near-optimal results. A lower bound for optmisation problems gives us the quality guarantee of the near-optimal …

Analytical Upstream Collocation Solution Of A Quadratic Forced Steady-State Convection-Diffusion Equation, Eric Paul Smith

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis we present the exact solution to the Hermite collocation discretization of a quadratically forced steady-state convection-diffusion equation in one spatial dimension with constant coeffcients, defined on a uniform mesh, with Dirichlet boundary conditions. To improve the accuracy of the method we use \upstream weighting" of the convective term in an optimal way. We also provide a method to determine where the forcing function should be optimally sampled. Computational examples are given, which support and illustrate the theory of the optimal sampling of the convective and forcing term.