History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons^™

Simulated Annealing On Np-Complete Problems, Russell W. Howell

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

The Random House Dictionary defines anneal as " ... to free (glass, metals, etc.) from internal stress by heating and gradually cooling." In the physical world, impurities are annealed out of a substance by heating it to a high temperature. As it is cooled, its molecular structure gradually settles into a stable "low-energy" configuration. It is important to cool the substance slowly, especially at lower temperatures, so that impurities do not get "frozen" into place. With careful cooling, a low-energy state can eventually be reached. This state may not be the one with the lowest potential energy, where the spins …

The Mathematical Intelligencer, Dmitrii Egorov: Mathematics And Theology In Russia, Charles E. Ford

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

This paper tells the story of Russian mathematician Dmitri Egorov, recounting his faith and contributions to the field of mathematics.

A Course On Mathematics And The Christian Faith, W. David Laverell, Carl J. Sinke

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

The January interim term at Calvin College provides an opportunity for developing and teaching courses outside a normal major program. As a result faculty members are frequently given the interim off to provide time for research and development of new courses. In 1987 we were given such a leave in order to pursue the questions of the relationship between mathematics and the Christian Faith. One result was our presentation at the 1987 Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences conference. Immediately thereafter we began to develop a specific interim course based on our studies. We offered the course during the …

The Bisexual Galton-Watson Branching Process, David M. Hull

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

I would like to present the bisexual Galton-Watson branching process. The word "bisexual" indicates that we will be considering a population of two sexes--which will be designated as the usual male and female. Here is a brief overview of what I would like to cover.

1. The bisexual process motivated: why is it needed?
2. The standard Galton-Watson branching process.
3. The state of affairs regarding two-sex models.
4. The nuts and bolts of the bisexual Galton-Watson branching process (parameters defined and how it works).
5. A review of published bisexual results to date.
6. What is to come?

Newton And Saccheri: Case Studies In The Interplay Of Mathematics And Religion, Tommy Leavelle

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

In the course of this paper I will try to present to you the basic facts and some of the subsequent assessments of the life and work of two mathematicians for whom the interplay of mathematics and religion was influential: Issac Newton and Girolamo Saccheri.

Augustine's Mathematical Realism, Paul J. Zwier

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

After a review of Philip Kitcher's argument against Mathematical Realism, this paper presents the case for Mathematical Realism by looking at the life and writings of Saint Augustine.

Beauty In Mathematics: Some Theological Implications, David L. Neuhouser

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

It may come as a surprise to some that science or mathematics could be considered beautiful, but many prominent sciences and mathematicians from around the world have made such claims. Furthermore, the beauty of mathematics and order of the universe inspired some of the greatest developments in science and mathematics. This paper examines the beauty of mathematics and what scientists and other individuals have said about the subject.

Using Writing In The Mathematics Classroom, Dr. Barbara J. Rose

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

No abstract provided.

Mathematics Between The Lines Of Ecclesiates, Donald A. Joesphson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

No abstract provided.

Writing Across The Curriculum Using Statistics, Carlos A. Pereira

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

No abstract provided.

Written Assignments In College Freshman And Sophomore Mathematics Courses, Jean Alliman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

No abstract provided.

Mathematical Modeling In The Classroom, Jefferson Hartzler

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

No abstract provided.

The Fourth Dimension And The Theology Of Edwin Abbot Abbott, Thomas F. Banchoff

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

No abstract provided.

Schedule (1989), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

A Seventh Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Gene B. Chase, Editor

Introduction (1989), Gene B. Chase

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

A Seventh Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Gene B. Chase, Editor

Table Of Contents (1989), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

A Seventh Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Gene B. Chase, Editor

The Fourth Dimension And The Theology Of Edwin Abbott Abbott, Thomas Banchoff

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1989

This paper is a brief biography of Edwin Abbott Abbott, author of Flatland, and a sketch of the main ideas in the book. It also incorporates some personal reflections.

Augustine’S Mathematical Realism, Paul Zwier

ACMS Journal 2004

This paper begins by outlining an argument advanced against mathematical realism by Philip Kitcher. It then sketches the life and work of the great Christian philosopher and theologian, Augustine of Hippo. It discusses Augustine’s view that there exist eternal ideas in the mind of God that God used as templates in his creation of material objects. Among these are ideas about numbers and other mathematical objects. It also discusses Augustine’s understanding of how human beings have access to such ideas. It concludes with a discussion of some possible objections to Augustine’s perspective.

The Fourth Dimension And The Theology Of Edwin Abbott Abbott, Thomas Banchoff

ACMS Journal 2004

This paper is a brief biography of Edwin Abbott Abbott, author of Flatland, and a sketch of the main ideas in the book. It also incorporates some personal reflections.

Mathematical Reflections: Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, Karl J. Smith

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

The layperson's response to mathematics is often that of desperation. When we tell people our occupation, do we more often than not hear about their unpleasant experiences with mathematics. They often tell us, "I studied algebra in high school and haven't used it since!" Indeed, that may be true. However, we can reply, "How many times has algebra been used on you?" We are all restricted, and protected, by the formulas of mathematics. In the mysterious metaphors we have agreed to cal mathematics, all creation is involved, from the symbol-happy logician down to the cunning geometers, the bees. When I …

Observations On Mathematics And The Christian Faith, W. David Laverell, Carl J. Sinke

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

There is little doubt that mathematicians are becoming more concerned with the foundations on which their discipline rests, the meaning of their work, and the philosophical stance implicit in what they do. This concern is prompted by serious questions which have been raised in recent years, questions dealing with the nature of mathematical truth, the nature of proof, certainty (or lack thereof) in mathematics, and the relationship of mathematics to the physical world. This has been particularly true for those of us involved in teaching since it is apparent that good mathematics education cannot ignore these issures.

Proof And Intution, Michael Detlefsen

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

This paper discusses various perspectives on proof and intuition by examing two epistemic systems, Intuition Intensive and Logic Intensive, and Jules Henri Poincaré's objections to the latter.

Logic And Proof For Mathematics: A Twentieth Century Perspective, Calvin Jongsma

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

This talk reports on the author's experience in teaching college mathematics students the basics of logic and proof in preparation for their transitioning to upper-level proof-based mathematics courses, following that up with a philosophical and historical analysis of mathematicians' attitudes toward such a project going back to nineteenth- and twentieth-century developments in logic and foundations (De Morgan, Boole, Frege, Russell, and Hilbert). The natural deduction approach to logic and inference developed in the mid-twentieth century by Jaskowski and Fitch is recommended as a much better focused approach for learning how to do proofs in mathematics. This idea is systematically developed …

Riesz Spaces And Their Applications In Economics, Calvin E. Piston

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

We will examine an economic model of pure exchange and some results concerning different notions of equilibrium. In particular, we will focus on the role played by the theory of Riesz space.

Variations On A Theme, Robert Creighton Buck

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

An autobiographical narration by Robert Creighton Buck, detailing his experiences in the field of mathematics, and the various questions and themes reoccurring in the mathematical sciences.

Another Look At Pick's Theorem, Dale Varberg

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

In this paper, the author discusses his experience building a proof for Pick's Theorem and theorem's history.

An Activist Model Of The Metaphysics Of Mathematics, Christopher Menzel

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

No abstract provided.

Conic Sections In Ip, Richard Laatsch

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

No abstract provided.

3:16 - An Approach To Bible Study, Donald E. Knuth

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

No abstract provided.

Introduction (1987), Paul Zwier

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1987

A Sixth Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Edited by Robert L. Brabenec