Digital Commons Network^™

Elementary Hyperreal Analysis, Logan Cebula

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This text explores elementary analysis through the lens of non-standard analysis. The hyperreals will be proven to be implied by the existence of the reals via the axiom of choice. The notion of a hyperextension will be defined, and the so-called Transfer Principle will be proved. This principle establishes equivalence between results in real and hyperreal analysis. Sequences, subsequences, and limit suprema/infima will then be explored. Finally, integration will be considered.

Phylogenetic Networks And Functions That Relate Them, Drew Scalzo

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Phylogenetic Networks are defined to be simple connected graphs with exactly n labeled nodes of degree one, called leaves, and where all other unlabeled nodes have a degree of at least three. These structures assist us with analyzing ancestral history, and its close relative - phylogenetic trees - garner the same visualization, but without the graph being forced to be connected. In this paper, we examine the various characteristics of Phylogenetic Networks and functions that take these networks as inputs, and convert them to more complex or simpler structures. Furthermore, we look at the nature of functions as they relate …

Technological Software In Mathematics, Courtney Kish

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Technology has been advancing significantly over the years. One area that has been affected is mathematics. Technological software has been developed that has allowed for mathematics to be done using software programs. For example, WebAssign allows students to complete online math homework and example practice problems, as well as watch videos to explain topics in math. However, like all things, this is not without downfalls. While this technology offers students access to online lectures and instant feedback, cheating and costly expenses also come with it.

In this research paper, I will discuss the benefits and shortcomings of different technological software …

Use Of Calculators In High School Mathematics, Alex Mcdaniel

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For many collegiate level mathematics courses at universities across the country, students are not allowed to use calculators. This is often a huge adjustment for students who have spent their entire high school career using calculators. Whether it is graphing or simple arithmetic, students relied on calculators in high school, but for college, the tool of a calculator may not be available for them. This leads to a multitude of questions: Should calculators be used in high school? Do calculators help students learn or are they simply a tool to get answers? Are calculators beneficial in some courses, but not …