Off on a Tangent
A Fortnightly Electronic Newsletter from the Hope College Department of Mathematics
   October 22, 2008 Vol. 7, No. 4  
http://www.math.hope.edu/newsletter.html


Tomorrow's colloquium takes a stroll through Fibonacci's Garden


Title:
 Fibonacci’s Garden
Speaker:
 Prof. Matthew Boelkins, GVSU
Time:
 Thursday, October 23 at 4:00 p.m.
Place:
 VWF 104


Abstract:  A sometimes surprising feature of mathematics is the way it arises – seemingly unbidden – in our physical world.  As Einstein once asked, “How can it be that mathematics, being after all a product of human thought independent of experience, is so admirably adapted to the objects of reality?”

In this talk, we will together explore how two apparently disparate ideas, the Golden Ratio (which arose from Greek ideals of symmetry and proportion c. 300 BC) and the Fibonacci sequence (which simply arose from counting c. 1200 AD) demonstrate not only amazing connections amount themselves, but also together help us to understand and explain the seed distributions of coneflowers, as was discovered in the late 20th century AD.  Along the way, we’ll encounter some interesting history, some familiar mathematics with new twists, and strikingly beautiful pictures.

The discussion will be accessible to student at all levels of collegiate mathematics, especially those interested in the beauty and power of mathematics; we will also include consideration of some important philosophical issues such as Einstein’s question above.
Next week's colloquium will examine the actuarial exam


Title:
 A Mathematician Takes the Actuarial Exam
Speaker:
 Prof. Darren Parker, GVSU
Time:
 Thursday, October 30 at 4:00 p.m.
Place:
 VWF 104


Abstract:  An actuary does work in assessing risk for businesses like insurance companies, commercial & investment banks, and retirement funds.  Among the requirements of this job is passing actuarial exams.

In July, the speaker took the first actuarial exam, which is on probability. He will share his experience and attempt to give some practical advice for those thinking about taking the exam.

Let's play Mathematical Jeopardy!

Roughly 60 students engaged in an epic battle during the Math Jeopardy competition on Thursday, October 9.  Ranging over topics like Famous Mathematicians and Theorems, Math History, and Math in Popular Culture, the questions tested the breadth and depth of participants' knowledge of all manner of trivia related to mathematics. 

In a performance that would make reigning Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings proud, the Fundamental Theorems team of Rachel Immink, Kelsey Ensz, Lily Poon and Dale Schipper won both rounds of play, earning them gift certificates to Lemonjello's and bragging rights as two-time Math Jeopardy champions.  They narrowly edged out the competition in both rounds, beating Kernel Eigen and his Vector Spaces and The Harmonic Oscillators.  We Don't Drink and Derive tried to accelerate into first place, but accidentally pushed the brakes at the end.  The Strange Attractors were the winners of last year's integration bee, however, they did not make quite the integral impact they did last year....  Congratulations to the Fundamental Theorems, and thanks to all who participated in the department's math trivia game show!

The Michigan Undergraduate Mathematics Conference


Five Hope students -- Ryan Johnson, Zach Mitchell, Brian McLellan, Bobby Nash, Thao Le -- and two faculty members, Prof. Stephenson and Prof. Bekmetjev, attended the Michigan Undergraduate Mathematics Conference at UM-Dearborn on Saturday, October 18, 2008. 

Sophomore Zach Mitchell and Senior Brian McLellan presented talks on research they had done in the Hope mathematics REU program this past summer.  Zach's research focused on the combinatorics of the "Lights Out" game, and Brian's research was concerned with the effectiveness of resampling statistical data sets in the context of medical tests.  Zach Mitchell won an award for 2nd place in the "best talk of the conference" competition for his "Turning Out the Lights" talk.  Congratulations, Zach!


The Problem of the Fortnight

Find an expression for the continued radical

C = √ ( m + √ (m + √ (m + ...)))

in terms of m that does not involve a continued radical and determine all positive integers m so that C is a positive integer.  (If the nested square roots aren't clear here, check the bulletin board for a statement of the problem that is typeset more clearly.)

Carve your solution (not just the answer!) on a pumpkin and drop it by Dr. Pearson's office (VWF 212) by noon on Friday, October 31.  As always, be sure to write your name, the name(s) of your professor(s), and your math class(es) on your solution (e.g. Frank N. Stein, Profs. Jeckel and Hyde, Math 371).  Good luck, and have fun!


Problem Solvers of the Fortnight

Farmer Jones has 65 hens.  If she had one more solid-colored hen, then exactly one-third of her hens would be speckled.  From her years of experience, Farmer Jones knows that one-half of the specked hens will lay speckled eggs and that each hen and a half will lay an egg and a half in a day and a half.  After how many full days will Farmer Jones have four dozen speckled eggs to sell?  It will take seven full days in order to have four dozen speckled eggs to sell.  Helen Gay's solution is posted on the bulletin board.

Congratulations to the following problem solvers of the fortnight: Kelsey Moore, Laine Klopfenstein, April Muske, Tara Hamming, Josh Andrews, Lauren Miller, Danielle Koetje, Miranda DeKuiper, Stephen Burgett, Jordan Ritsema, Ashley Wortelboer, Kristi Wu, Zachary Mitchell, Tarra Fox, Daryl Andersen, Alyssa Ambrose, Scott DeClaire, Kyle Gibson, Lydia Rau, Eric Lunderberg, Dirk VanBruggen, Ryan Smith, Laura Smallegan, Dan Ruble, Josh Borycz, Helen Gay, Meghan Broadbent, Brett Kopinski, Bruce Kraay, Patrick Lutz, Lindsay Robbins, and Andrea Eddy.

Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.

- Oprah Winfrey,

Off on a Tangent