Off on a Tangent
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A Fortnightly Electronic
Newsletter from the Hope
College Department of Mathematics
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Philosophy
of Mathematics Colloquium Today
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Title:
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An
Augustinian Perspective on the Philosophy of Mathematics |
Speaker:
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Prof. James
Bradley, Calvin College |
Time:
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Thursday,
February 21 at
4:00 p.m.
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Place:
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VWF
238
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Abstract: From a Christian perspective, both modern
and post-modern approaches to
the philosophy of mathematics have significant shortcomings. We will
explore an alternative. We will look at Augustine of Hippo's views on
the four classical themes of the philosophy of mathematics—the
ontology of mathematical objects, their epistemology, the nature of
truth in mathematics, and how we account for the effectiveness of
mathematics in describing the natural world. We will then trace what
has
happened to Augustine's perspective in the roughly 1600 years since it
was written concluding with a discussion of some spiritual and
intellectual problems with the currently dominant secular perspective.
Title:
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Mime-matics
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Speakers:
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Prof. Tim
Chartier, Davidson College
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Time:
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Friday,
February 29 at
3:30 p.m.
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Place:
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Martha
Miller Center 135
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Next week's
colloquium will not only be at a different time and in a different
building, it will also be very different from a tradition talk.
Time Chartier will combine mathematics and mime with his performance of
Mime-matics. Here are some details.
Abstract:
In Mime-matics, Tim Chartier
explores mathematical ideas through the art of mime. Whether creating
an illusion of an invisible wall, wearing a mask covered with geometric
shapes or pulling on an invisible rope, Dr. Chartier delves into
mathematical concepts such as estimation, tiling, and infinity. Through
Mime-matics, audiences encounter math through the entertaining style of
a performing artist who has performed at local, national and
international settings.
Biography:
Dr. Tim Chartier received
both a B.S. degree in applied mathematics and a M.S. degree in
computational mathematics from Western Michigan University. After
doctoral work in applied mathematics at the University of Colorado at
Boulder and a VIGRE postdoctoral position at the University of
Washington, he arrived at Davidson College in 2003. Professor
Chartier's research in numerical analysis and partial differential
equations, sometimes in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, has been supported by
the Department of Energy. Tim Chartier is also a 2007 recipient of the
Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College
or University Mathematics Faculty Member from the Mathematical
Association of America. As an artist, Tim Chartier's training includes
master classes with Marcel Marceau.
Scholarship
for students in mathematics education available
|
The Michigan Council of Teachers of
Mathematics gives out a number of scholarships annually to students in
mathematics education (both elementary and secondary) through the
Miriam Schaefer Scholarship Award Program. Applications are due
April 1, 2008. You can find out more information about the
scholarships, including the application process at http://mictm.org/schols_awards_miriam.html.
An announcement from the Hope
College Math Club:
Thanks to everyone who submitted a design for the 2008 Math T-shirt
contest! It was hard to choose a winner among so many excellent
and creative designs, but we did! The 2008 Math T-shirts will
feature the slogan: HOW'S MY DERIVING? 1-800-MATH-CLUB.
We'll be taking orders in classes and other locations soon, so please
keep an eye out for your opportunity to get this spring's hottest
fashion statement -- the Hope College Mathematics T-shirt!
And, as always, we invite you to come to our regular meetings.
The next meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. in VZN 274 on Wednesday, February
27. If you'd like to be on the email list for Math Club, please
email Dr. Pearson at pearson@hope.edu.
The
Problem of the Fortnight
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Solve
the equation
(ln x)2
- 2.5(ln x)(ln(4x-5)) + (ln(4x-5))2 = 0
where x and all expressions
in the equation are real.
Attach your solution (not just the answer!) to a small natual log (i.e.
a stick) and drop it
by Dr. Pearson's office (VWF 212) by noon
on Friday, February 29.
Be sure
to write your name, the name(s) of your
professor(s), and your math class(es) on your solution (e.g. Al G.
Bragh, Prof. Basey, Math 172). Good luck, and have fun!
Problem
Solvers of the Fortnight
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The previous POF
was: Compute the integral
∫
(x6 + x3) (x3 + 2)1/3 dx
Congratulations to: Chriss Hall, Josh
Kinder, Brendan Krueger, Kristian Cunningham, Beth Heisel, Emily West,
Eric O'Brien, Eric Lunderberg, Andrea Eddy, Kelsey Bos, Dan Waldo, Ron
Radcliffe, Jill Immink, Laura Smallegan, James, Daly, Laura Shears,
Kimberly Klask, Elvis, Thao Le, AuSable Schweibert, Mark Pannagio,
Megan Pearson, Luke Wendt, Hannah Kasperson, Chris Ploch, Jenny
Rautiola, Jessica Clouse, Zach Mitchell, Nate Poel and Stephanie Pasek
for determining that the correct answer is 1/8 (x6 + 2x3)4/3
+ C.
Special
Challenge Problem from Ryan
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A few
days ago, the following problem appeared in neatly written cursive
handwriting outside Dr. Stephenson's door. We'll put it to you as
a special challenge problem.
Solve for x:
x(9/5) + 6/x = 78/10
The
problem was posed by Dr. Stephenson's son Ryan, who's a fifth
grader. Although this special challenge problem will not count as a Problem of the
Fortnight, we encourage you to drop a solution in the envelope Ryan has
created on the bulletin board outside his dad's office. Ryan will
choose a winner randomly from the correct solutions he receives.
We at Off on a Tangent will keep you posted about this special
challenge problem contest and announce the winner when Ryan selects
one. (Note: There isn't a due date on the problem, so we
encourage you to submit your solution soon! We'll try to
encourage Ryan to accept solutions through the end of February.)
Hello,
Hello Mr. Columbian Pi
|
While
some of us have trouble remembering what our office numbers are, Jaime
Garcia Serrano (aka the Human Calculator), from Colombia, recited by memory and for hours, random
sections of the number pi taken
to 150,000 decimal places. He completed this feat last month at
the University of Computense of Madrid. He is shown here posing with the number pi
displayed on a screen and on his face at the University Computense of
Madrid. (Editor's note: Do you think he ever forgets where
he put his car keys?)
Hello Elvis,
The Internet is a wonderful
thing. Your "Off on a Tangent" newsletter from November 1, 2006 is
still out there and I stumbled upon it. I must know if I am correct in
my answer to the Problem of the Fortnight: the answer is infinity
because the segments never reach zero in length. Correct?
Thanks,
Frank from Massachusetts
Dear Frank from Massachusetts,
The problem you were referring to
is as follows:
In the figure below angle
AOB has a measure of 15 degrees and the length of segment A1B1
is 4. Segment AiBi is perpendicular to OB
for each i = 1, 2, 3, ... The lengths of segment AiBi
is the same as Ai+1Bi
for
each i = 1, 2, 3, ... Find the total length of the zigzag
path A1B2A2B2A3B3A4B4
... Give your answer in closed form.
One
of the interesting things about mathematics is that the sum of an
infinite number of numbers (with none of them being zero) can actually
be a finite number. For example, you probably know that 1/3
can be written in decimal form as 0.3333... We can also think of
this decimal as sum of numbers, namely
0.3 + 0.03 + 0.003 + 0.0003 +
...
While
the numbers in this infinitely long list never reach zero, its sum is
certainly finite. This works the same in our old problem of the
fortnight. It is true that that the segments never reach zero in
length, but the length approaches zero. The following is our
original solution to this problem.
The triangles Ai+1BiBi+1 are all 30-60-90 degree
triangles.
This means that the lengths of segment Ai+1Bi+1
= sqrt(3)/2 times the
length of segment Ai+1Bi. This together with the
given
information means that the total length of the zigzag path A1B2A2B2A3B3A4B4
.... is
Thanks for
your question Frank!
Your Pal,
Elvis
If anyone else has an new (or old) question for me, don't hesitate to
send me an email at elvis@hope.edu.
I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical
I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical
About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
~ from the
Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and
Sullivan (1879)
