Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Groups Expressed As The Set-Theoretic Union Of Proper Subgroups, Lana Barrett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In their paper “Groups as Unions of Proper Subgroups,” published in 1959, Haber and Rosenfeld posed the problem of characterizing groups which can be expressed as the set theoretic union of a finite collection of their proper subgroups. Haber and Rosenfeld established that a group G is the union of three proper subgroups (such a group G shall be called a U₃-group) if and only if the Klein 4-group is a homomorphic image of G. Further results concerning U₃-groups were obtained in the paper “Groups which are the Union of Three Subgroups” by Bruckhemier, Bryan and …

A Random Walk In A Random Environment, Edwin Andrew Sanchez

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

In this dissertation we consider a model of a random walk, (Z_n}, on R(1) where the distribution of (Z_n} is dependent on a stochastic process (Y_n} and is given by g_y(z) where Y_n-1 = y . Conditions on the environmental process (Y_n} are given for which transience or recurrence of the random walk (Z_n} can be detennined. The probability of n absorption and mean time problems are solved when (Y_n} is a finite Markov chain and (Z_n} is a classical random walk on …

Quasi-Triangular Matrices, Joanne Dombrowski

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

It is shown that there exist quasitriangular operators which cannot be represented as quasitriangular matrices.

Complementary Extremum Principles, J. Swetits, C. Rogers

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Important complementary extremum principles are generated without recourse to general variational theory. The results are illustrated by an application to a class of boundary value problems in Magnetohydrodynamics.

Focal Sets Of Submanifolds, Thomas E. Cecil, Patrick J. Ryan

Mathematics and Computer Science Department Faculty Scholarship

This is a study of the manifold structure of the focal set of an immersed submanifold in a real space form M.

Numerical Methods For Multipoint Boundary Value Problems, Mahoud Abdul-Ghani Sarhan

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

Existence and uniqueness theory for ordinary differential systems subject to linear constraints is presented in some detail. Finite difference schemes, shooting methods, orthonormalization procedures and projection methods are studied. Orthonormalization procedures are shown to be ineffective for the general linear problem. Projection methods for linear differential systems with fairly general multipoint boundary conditions are thoroughly developed. Two particular examples of such methods are given: Galerkin and collocation. The various numerical methods considered are evaluated and compared. Several examples are discussed and numerical results are displayed .

A Christian Point Of View, A. Wayne Roberts

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

Does the fact that you are a Christian affect the way that you teach mathematics? This paper seeks to answer the question, what contributions can a mathematics teacher in a Christian school make to the distinctive purpose of such a school?

Skolem’S Paradox And The Predestination/Free-Will Discussion, Gene B. Chase

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

The purpose of this paper is to show that both sides of the predestination/free-will discussion are admissible in a way that is more profound than simply the wave-particle duality of light. In wave-particle duality there are two competing physical models of reality which are contradictory. This paper will show that not a contradiction but a difference in viewpoint is the fundamental issue in the discussion of predestination and free will. A discussion of Skolem’s paradox is helpful in this demonstration.

Current Work On Mathematical Truth, Michael Detlefsen

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

The overall aim of this paper is to serve as an introduction to the work currently being done on the topic of mathematical truth. It provides an overview of the major developments concerning mathematical truth and also evaluates those developments as potential contributions to mathematician’s understanding of the subject.

Wanted: Christian Perspectives In The Philosophy Of Mathematics, Arthur F. Holmes

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

This paper describes the three types of theory about universals, beginning in each case with a classical historical formulation and moving to its restatement in recent analytic philosophy. It will then suggest ways in which Christian perspectives bear on theories of universals and so on mathematics.

Recent Problems In The Foundationsof Mathematics, Terence H. Perciante

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

This paper examines the foundational crises that have haunted twentieth-century mathematics, beginning with a brief review of the effects generated by Gauss, Lobachevsky, and Bolyai who each developed non-Euclidean parallel axiom. Though of mathematical interest in their own right, the significance of the new geometries was greatly magnified when it was discerned that they could be used to adequately model physical space, even to the extent that Einstein’s theory of relativity later employed as its model a non-Euclidean geometry developed by Riemann. The question that obviously presented itself was how could any given geometry be called true when it and …

Infinity & Reality, John W. Warner

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

This paper examines the topics of infinity and reality as relevant to the conference, proposing a possible relationship between the two in order to stimulate further discussions.

A Brief Introduction To Gödel’S Theorems, Michael Detlefsen

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

Gödel’s two famous incompleteness theorems are results that have come up a number of times in the discussions at the 1977 ACMS conference. This paper provides a brief and relatively non-technical statement on these results and of their significance for the foundations of mathematics.

Recent Parallels Between The Philosophy Of Science And Mathematics, Joseph Spradley

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

Following World War I European philosophy of science formed an alliance with mathematics culminating in an attitude of certainty and autonomy that rejected all non empirical claims to truth and purported to make all science presupposition less. The rise and fall of logical positivism has been one of the major themes of of twentieth century thought and illustrates the danger of placing too much emphasis on science and mathematics as an ideal for all knowledge. The restriction of rational inquiry to the modes of scientific verification and the processes of mathematical logic was far too confining for the containment of …

Existence In Mathematics, Willis Alberda

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

Contemplation of the existence of mathematical entities for very apparent reasons generates a mental cycling of arguments dealing with the nature of mathematical truth, meaning in mathematics, and the obviously related question of which of these two problems should be solved first. The problem of the existence of mathematical entities dates from the first thoughts and ideas of a mathematical nature. The problem of existence in mathematics is fundamental to the domain of speculation and research on the foundations of mathematics. When we try to put ourselves in the place of those philosophers who first explored this problem we must …

The Foundations Of Mathematics And The Mathematics Curriculum, Bayard Baylis

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

In teaching the foundations of mathematics within the framework of a Christian college, and particularly that of a Christian liberal arts college, there are two groups of students which must be served. The first consisted of the non-mathematics majors—those non-scientifically oriented “general anything” students who, as a catalog might put it, are to receive “an introduction to and an appreciation of the history, foundations, culture and applications of mathematics.” The second group consists of the mathematics majors, and the few science majors who have not been frightened away by the calculus. The gulf between these two groups is sufficiently large, …

Epistomology To Ontology, Charles R. Hampton

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

This paper offers commentary on the various philosophical approaches to the foundations of mathematics and then indicates how these ideas have implications in consideration of the existence question.

Introduction (1977), Robert Brabenec

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents (1977), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1977

No abstract provided.

Positive Perturbations Of Unbounded Operators, Joanne Dombrowski

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

This work studies the spectral properties of certain unbounded selfadjoint operators by considering positive perturbations of such operators and the unitary equivalence of the perturbed and unperturbed transformations. Conditions are obtained on the unitary operators implementing this equivalence which guarantee that the selfadjoint operators have an absolutely continuous part.

Superconcentrators, Nicholas Pippenger

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

An $n$-superconcentrator is an acyclic directed graph with $n$ inputs and $n$ outputs for which, for every $r \leqq n$, every set of $r$ inputs, and every set of $r$ outputs, there exists an $r$-flow (a set of $r$ vertex-disjoint directed paths) from the given inputs to the given outputs. We show that there exist $n$-superconcentrators with $39n + O(\log n)$ (in fact, at most $40n$) edges, depth $O(\log n)$, and maximum degree (in-degree plus out-degree) 16.

An Investigation Of The Plume Theories Of Briggs And Hanna, George Kyle Cooper

Masters Theses

Many models have been developed for or applied to the prediction of mechanical draft cooling tower plumes. However, due to a serious lack of data up to this date, little has been done to verify the predictive capability of these mathematical models. This thesis attempts to rectify this situation somewhat by undertaking a thorough investigation of the plume theories of G. A. Briggs and S. R. Hanna. A study of their theoretical foundations and development, practical formulations, and ability to predict the height and length of the visible portion of mechanical-draft cooling tower plumes is undertaken. Detailed derivations of their …

Solar Magnetoatmospheric Waves-A Simplified Mathematical Treatment, John A. Adam

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

The inhomogeneous wave equation for a special class of magnetoatmospheric waves is formally solved, and the principle of stationary phase used to provide information on the group velocity properties of such waves. General results are presented concerning the associated mechanical energy flux. The basic problem considered is relevant to waves initiated by sudden events in the solar atmosphere.

A Proof Of Convergence For The Tridiagonal Ql Algorithm In Floating-Point Arithmetic, James George Sanderson

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

Numerous routines are available to find the eigenvalues of a real symmetric tridiagonal matrix. Since it is known to converge in exact arithmetic, the tridiagonal QL algorithm with origin shift is widely used. Here we analyze the algorithm in floating-point arithmetic. This analysis suggests two modifications to the EISPACK implementation TQLl that enable one to prove correctness and hence convergence of the routine.

Also, it is known that the implicit and explicit versions of the QL algorithm produce the same results in exact arithmetic. A counter-example to the floating-point analog of this theorem is presented.

An Abstract Matrix Model: The Column Model, Tomas Eufracio Salazar

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

In this dissertation we introduce an abstract model for matrix theory, The Column Model. We investigate some properties of the special class of partially ordered linear algebras that satisfy the conditions of the Model. We use the order structure of the Model to obtain some results on: idempotents in the Model, nonnegative elements of the Model having nonnegative generalized inverses, factor theorems in the Model and concepts in the Model that are related to the usual notion of eigenvalues of an m-by-m matrix. Since the set of m-by-m matrices belongs to the special class of partially ordered linear algebras satisfying …

A Metric Graph Structure For Information Retrieval, Karl Jerry Melendez

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

Document retrieval systems accept a user request for information and respond with a list of documents which contain information relevant to the request. When the documents (or abstracts of the documents) are stored in a computer memory, a function can be defined which estimates the semantic distance between documents. If this function together with the set of documents forms a metric space, a graph, which I call a progressive graph, can be constructed to aid the search for the documents with relevant information.

Progressive graphs are studied and the search algorithms which use this graph structure are presented. The search …

Taut Immersions Of Non-Compact Surfaces Into A Euclidean 3-Space, Thomas E. Cecil

Mathematics and Computer Science Department Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Mathematical Model Of Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, John Joseph Vaccaro

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Chebyshev Approximation By Reciprocals Of Polynomials On [0, ∞), D. Brink, G. D. Taylor

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Estimation Of Growth Curves By Least Square Splines, Dorothy Rybaczyk Pathak

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

The primary object of this dissertation is to present some con­tributions to the theory of estimation of growth curves by least square splines in the presence of unknown unequal variances. The theoretical developments rest heavily on the standard least square theory and the theory of polynomial spline functions. A modifica­tion of the Aitken procedure of weighted least squares is used to estimate regression parameters. It is shown that this modification of the Aitken procedure does not unduly influence the nice least square properties of estimators so obtained; the estimators re­ main unbiased, consistent and asymptotically efficient.

The techniques developed in …