OFF ON A TANGENT
A Fortnightly Electronic Newsletter from the Hope College Department of Mathematics
April 29, 2005 Vol. 3, No. 14
http://www.math.hope.edu/newsletter.html


Congratulations go out to our graduating seniors

Another year, another great group of graduates.  Twelve students will be graduating with mathematics majors next week.  (Did you know that twelve is the smallest abundant number?)  As they head off to graduate schools, jobs, and the unknown, we wish them all well.

Mike Cortez (who also majored in chemistry) will be attending graduate school at Cornell University to study mathematical biology.  Mike is from Cadillac, Michigan.
 Melissa Gifford (who also majored in Spanish) plans to work for a few years and then go to graduate school in order to teach at a community college.  Melissa is from Normal, Illinois.
Henry Gould (who also majored in English) plans to get a job in industry.  Henry is from Zeeland, Michigan.
 Chris Johnson (who also majored in computer science) is pursuing a job that uses his computer science and math skills.  He is also leaving open the option of going to graduate school.  Chris is from White Lake, Michigan.
Heidi Libner (who also majored in physical education) plans to teach mathematics at the secondary level.  Heidi is from Park Ridge, Illinois.
 Kristen Marvin plans to teach mathematics at the elementary level.  Kristen is from Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Mike Nelsen (who also majored in biology) plans to get a job in the Holland area or the John Ball Zoological Garden.  Mike is from Grant, Michigan.
 Mike Rininger plans to go to graduate school and study algebra.  Mike is from Holland, Michigan.
Troy Schrock plans to teach mathematics at the secondary level.  Troy is from Hopkins, Michigan.
 Nick Sumner (who also majored in computer science and German) will be attending graduate school at Purdue to study computer science.  Nick is from Midland, Michigan.
Peter VanWylen (who also majored in classical studies) plans to teach overseas or do some other sort of mission work.  Peter is from Holland, Michigan.
 Andrew Wells (who also majored in classical studies) plans to go to graduate school and study algebra.  Andrew is from Midland, Michigan.


Senior and sophomore prizes in mathematics given out last night

This year's winners of the Albert E. Lampen Award in Mathematics were Mike Cortez and Andrew Wells.  This award is given each year to the graduating senior (or seniors)  in recognition of his or her outstanding achievement in the study of mathematics at Hope.  This year's winners of the John H. Kleinheksel Award in Mathematics were Aimin Walsh, Matt Paarlberg, Megan Patnott, and Robert Lloyd.  This award is given each year to students taking sophomore level courses for their outstanding achievement in mathematics and promise for future success.  This year's winner of the senior mathematics education award was Heidi Libner.  Congratulations go out to all these students for a job well done!


More mathematics majors received awards in the past couple of weeks

Sigma Xi
On April 25 Sigma Xi awards were given to science and mathematics students that maintained a high GPA and did scientific research.  Mathematics majors that received these awards were Mike Cortez, Henry Gould, Chris Johnson, Mike Nelsen, Mike Rininger, Nick Sumner, and Andrew Wells.

Phi Beta Kappa
On Sunday, April 17, any amazing eight mathematics majors were initiated into the Zeta of Michigan chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest scholastic honorary society.  These students are  Mike Cortez, Melissa Gifford, Henry Gould, Chris Johnson, Heidi Libner, Nick Sumner, Peter VanWylen, and Andrew Wells.

Pi Mu Epsilon
Many students were recently invited to join the Michigan Delta chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon.  The purpose of this national mathematics society is to promote scholarly activity in mathematics among the students in academic institutions.  An induction ceremony was held Thursday, April 14.  After the induction ceremony everyone enjoyed our tradition of eating pie.

Those joining this year are Laura DeHaan, Robert Dody, Lindsey Greene, Heidi Lam, Crystal Lucas, Nicole Morell, Kimberly Mosley, Scott Murdoch, Matt Paarlberg, Megan Patnott, Kurt Pyle, Jamie Reitsma, Jordan Siemon, Jennica Skoug, Megan Vivian, Ryan Weaver, and Kyle Williams.



Probability and Statistics text recently published

The seventh edition of Probability and Statistical Inference, co-written by Professor Emeritus Elliot Tanis, was released earlier this semester by Prentice-Hall Inc.  First published in 1977, Probability and Statistical Inference is an introductory calculus-based text geared toward college juniors and seniors.  Dr. Tanis, who retired from teaching at Hope in 2000, co-wrote the book with Dr. Robert Hogg of the University of Iowa.
         



Problem solvers of the fortnight

We ushered out the 2004-05 problem solving season in style, with 17 correctly determining that Homer shook 4 hands at the party.  This was one of those problems that seemed to contain nowhere near enough information to arrive at a solution, and yet once you make all the deductions, there's only one possibility.  Congratulations to Erin Block, Bobby Brown, Michael Cortez, Jenny Crisman, James Daly, Paula Graham, Kim Harrison, Maya Holtrop, Clint Jepkema, Rachel Lash, Robert Lloyd, Nicole Mulder, Matt Paarlberg, Amanda Runge, Laura Shaedig, Jennica Skoug and Aimin Walsh!  Problem solvers of the fortnight are, as always, invited to drop by Dr. Pearson's office to claim their prize. 

Over the course of the year, we received an astonishing 238 submissions to the Problems of the Fortnight!  Thanks to all of you for making this such a successful endeavor.  The Problem of the Fortnight is officially on vacation until the fall semester, but we are looking forward to an even more successful problem solving season next year.  Have a wonderful summer!


The mathematics book sale continuous

There are still lots of mathematics books for sale in the Reading Room (VWF 222).  The books are located on the shelves by the windows.  The prices just can't be beat!   You can get one book for $0.25, 5 books for $1.00, or your best deal is 10 books for $1.50.  Stop by and load up on these great books before you head home for the summer.


Got a Math Question?

Ask Elvis ...

... email him at elvis@hope.edu

Dear Friends,

This is it!  The last issue of Off on a Tangent for the school year.  I hope you have enjoyed the newsletter and my column.  I plan to continue next year.  If you are graduating and still want to receive Off on a Tangent, just let me know what your email address is and I will add you to my list.

I had a little more publicity in the last couple weeks.  Keith Devlin, a professor from Stanford, wrote at book called The Math Instinct: Why You're a Mathematical Genius (Along with Lobsters, Birds, Cats, and Dogs).  Chapter two in this book is about me!  You find out more information about the book at http://www.mathinstinct.com/.

Have a great summer!



Dear Elvis,
This isn't really a math question, but I'm curious about something. In your last column, you said that it was nice to go outside without freezing your tail off. But I noticed that you don't have a tail. If you didn't freeze it off, what happened to it? The reason I ask is because I keep trying to chase mine, but have never actually seen it. When I turn my head to look for it, my butt swings the other way. It's like I have a hinge in the middle of my back. When I'm happy, something back there feels like it's moving, but I can't figure out what it is. Since you're so smart and know calculus and all, maybe you can enlighten me. What happened to our tails?
Your loving sister in Minnesota,
Dee Dee

Dear Dear Dee Dee,
When I was talking about not freezing my tail off, I was actually thinking of a different word that wasn't appropriate to use in this newsletter.   We should probably leave it at  that.

Now to the question of what happened to our tails.  Well, as your big brother, I guess it is time that you had that information.  When we were about two days old, we had our tails removed by a technique known as "banding."  It is interesting why this took place.  Our ancestors had the job of herding and protecting livestock (everything from geese to cattle) back in Wales.  It seemed as though our tails made us look to much like foxes.  Since foxes are usually violently discouraged from mingling with the livestock, farmers had the tails for their Corgis removed.  As a tradition, this practice continues to this day.

I don't think having a tail would stop us from running fast, understanding calculus, or knowing which professor just started eating lunch in his or her office.  It would, however, make you look like a real fox!
Your big brother,
Elvis

Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a function.
-- Garrison Keillor