Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Mathematical And Historical Significance Of The Four-Color Theorem, Brock Bivens

Scholars Day Conference

Computers becoming more readily used in mathematics.

The Mathematical And Historical Significance Of The Four Color Theorem, Brock Bivens

Honors Theses

Researching how the Four Color Theorem was proved, its implications on the mathematical community, and interviews with working mathematicians to develop my own personal opinions on the significance of the Four Color Theorem.

A Fractal Geometry For Hydrodynamics, Jonah Mears

Scholars Day Conference

Experiments have shown that objects with uneven surfaces, such as golf balls, can have less drag than those with smooth surfaces. Since fractal surfaces appear naturally in other areas, it must be asked if they can produce less drag than a traditional surface and save energy. Little or no research as been conducted so far on this question. The purpose of this project is to see if fractal geometry can improve boat hull design by producing a hull with low friction.

A Fractal Geometry For Hydrodynamics, Jonah Mears

Honors Theses

Experiments have shown that objects with uneven surfaces, such as golf balls, can have less drag than those with smooth surfaces. Since fractal surfaces appear naturally in other areas, it must be asked if they can produce less drag than a traditional surface and save energy. Little or no research has been conducted so far on this question. The purpose of this project is to see if fractal geometry can improve boat hull design by producing a hull with low friction.

Women In Stem, Dyandra M. Johnson

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

My poster is about the life of Katherine Johnson, its a summary of her achievements, educational background, and her family life. The purpose of my poster is to provide information about this amazing woman that was apart of STEM. I've found that she had accomplished a lot through using Mathematics, and how she contributed so much to NASA.

A Paradox Solved (Or 3), Lee Grisham

Scholars Day Conference

I gained an interest in paradoxes when I was introduced to the Grandfather paradox as a child, and began studying time travel, along with all the effects and thought experiments it could lead to. This, in turn, led to my researching many more paradoxes and having something to do in my free time that didn’t require anything outside my own thoughts. Several paradoxes I found stumped me then, and still do to this day. However, there are some that I have recently begun to feel like I am understanding much more clearly. One day this past semester, I was thinking …

Devotion And Suffering In The Life Of Johannes Kepler, Anthony Jenkins Jr.

Mathematics Class Publications

Various heroes of Christianity have been celebrated by Protestants for centuries. From followers to devout disciples, Christians have recognized certain individuals as being role models. These people have stood as leaders of the faith and spanned from tax collectors, to fishermen, and even to government authorities. Often overlooked, though, were those who made advancements in the sciences, philosophy, mathematics, and other scholarly fields. In certain professions and studies, Protestants were persecuted and forced to deny their beliefs. Some chose to make what they believed as the center of their motivation which would lead to even greater achievements. Of those people, …

Elliptic Curve Cryptography And Quantum Computing, Emily Alderson

Honors Theses

In the year 2007, a slightly nerdy girl fell in love with all things math. Even though she only was exposed to a small part of the immense field of mathematics, she knew that math would always have a place in her heart. Ten years later, that passion for math is still burning inside. She never thought she would be interested in anything other than strictly mathematics. However, she discovered a love for computer science her sophomore year of college. Now, she is graduating college with a double major in both mathematics and computer science.

This nerdy girl is me. …

Leonardo Fibonacci, Betsy Patterson

Mathematics Class Publications

Leonardo Fibonacci was a mathematician in the late twelfth to mid-thirteenth century. He grew up and was trained in North Africa, where his father worked. His major contributions to mathematics can be found in his books- Liber Abaci, Practica Geometriae, Flos, and Liber Quadrotorum. Little can be found about his Christian faith, but fruits of his faith can be seen through some of his work. As a mathematician, I would like to exemplify Christ in all aspects of my life.

Gottfried W. Leibnez, Brittany Ratliff

Mathematics Class Publications

Gottfried W. Leibniz was a philosopher and mathematician who lived in Germany from 1646 to 1716. He first gained a bachelor's degree in philosophy, then later earned one in law. As his life went on, he made many contributions to the mathematical world. From discovering differential and integral calculus to creating the binary system of arithmetic, Leibniz changed today's world. He worked also with physics, dynamics, and attempted to create a calculating machine. While making these discoveries, he had the privilege of working with many different scholars and mathematicians, namely Weigel, Boineburg, and Huygens. With the help and guidance of …

Galileo Galilei: A Christian Mathematician, Kelsey Harrison

Mathematics Class Publications

Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564 to a famous music theorist. Galileo quickly made his own name known across Europe. He worked tirelessly to not only improve his own mind but, in his eyes, that of the Church’s as well. He made many significant discoveries and contributions to Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, and Christianity. Even though his work was continually rebutted by the Church, he persevered to defend findings until his death in 1642. This paper examines Galileo’s life and his life’s work. It also looks at how Galileo’s Christian faith encouraged his work, and how his work encouraged …

Christiaan Huygens: The Discovery And Doctrine Of A Mathematician, Anna Norris

Mathematics Class Publications

This paper examines the life of Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch Mathematician born in 1629. Through this examination of his life, I discuss his training, a few of his colleagues, and his major mathematical discoveries. These major discoveries include Saturn's rings, the pendulum clock, and the Wave Theory of Light. The paper then moves into Huygens's faith and the effect that this had on his work. Knowing the faith of this mathematician gives us some insight on his motivations and beliefs behind his work. Through research, I was able to find some information on how his beliefs brought about his theories; …

A Research Of The Life Of Charles Babbage, Luke Dawson

Mathematics Class Publications

If the name of Charles Babbage does not in any way seem familiar, you do not stand alone. Babbage remains one of the most unpopular geniuses in our history, a mastermind of a variety of subjects, including mathematics, engineering, politics, economics, philosophy, and religion. Babbage would create the first "calculating machine," and created blueprints for other machines that could have led to the first modem-day programmable computer in as early has the mid 19th century. However, the story of Charles Babbage is indeed a tragic one: the totality of his projects were not fully completed until the late 20th century, …

Isaac Newton, Hayley Morrison

Mathematics Class Publications

This paper includes a biography over the life, work and religion of Isaac Newton. There is information about his early life and how he got to the different schools that he went to. Also, there is information about the papers he wrote that had major scientific and mathematical discoveries. There is also information on the political aspects of his life and how he got involved in government. Finally, there is a description of his religious views and how they impacted his work.

Wandering Through "Wonderland": Lewis Carroll's Life As A Logician, Author, And Man Of God, Mattie Couch

Mathematics Class Publications

Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, lived his life as a man of God, a skilled logician, and a masterful author. Much can be learned through a study of his life and his successes. Tracing his early years, his studies, and his accomplishments, while recognizing the accolades and admonitions of his contemporaries, reveals much about the influences on Dodgson’s life. To separate his faith from his work is impossible and speaks to the precedence his beliefs held over all of his other ambitions.

Blaise Pascal, Grace Kemp

Mathematics Class Publications

Blaise Pascal was a mathematician with a great impact. He began his mathematical journey from a young age, and, throughout his lifetime, made significant contributions in geometry, probability, philosophy and religion. Toward the end of his short life, Pascal became focused on his faith, which led to a change in his thoughts and has served as an example to Christian mathematicians ever since.

René Descartes, Kristina Beall

Mathematics Class Publications

René Descartes is a mathematician, philosopher, scientist, and Christian, who made a profound impact on the world of mathematics and science. Descartes is known as the founder of analytical geometry. He was born in France in 1596. Descartes was raised by his grandmother until he went to Jesuit college of Le Fléche. Le Fléche was where Descartes was first exposed to mathematics and philosophy. After university, Descartes met Isaac Beeckman in 1618, while serving in the military. Isaac Beeckman was the main motivator for Descartes’ pursuit in mathematics. Descartes studied under Beeckman briefly. While corresponding with Beeckman, Descartes revealed the …

Fancis Bacon, William Travis Beall

Mathematics Class Publications

This paper will give the reader an insight into the life of the mathematician, Francis Bacon. We will start by looking into his early life, leading into what he became famous for in mathematics and who he worked professionally with. Then we will look into the faith life of Francis Bacon and see how he expressed his faith. Then there will be a section about how I could let faith drive my life as a mathematician and I can show it in my work life. The hope to help the reader further understand the impact Francis Bacon had on mathematics …

Bernhard Riemann, Andrew Crook

Mathematics Class Publications

Georg Friedrich Bernhard Riemann, or Bernhard Riemann as he is commonly known, was a devout Lutheran and brilliant mathematician, and was both for all his life. His results are indispensable, providing us with a non-Euclidean geometry, the path to general relativity, and perhaps in time, the key to the problem of the distribution of primes. His faith in God was exemplified both through his mathematics and his home life for as long as he lived, and his example is one to which we may aspire as both mathematicians and simply as Christians.

Two Views Of The Projective Plane, Rebecca J. Thomas

Honors Theses

The projective plane is a mathematical object which can be defined in two ways. In the following paper, I will explain the two definitions and show how they are equivalent by establishing a homeomorphism between the two objects.

Intuitive Concepts In Elementary Topology, Gary Rothwell

Honors Theses

My hour special study in intuitive topology originated in a curiosity of what exactly topology was and how it might be related to physics, my field of interest. The book I used was, Intuitive Concepts in Elementary Topology, by B.H. Arnold. This book is designed as a sophomore-junior level three hour course. Needless to say, I didn't quite cover the whole book in an hour a week. I mainly stuck to the intuitive concepts. Intuitive topology is dealing with more physical objects where the point set topology involves set theory; their unions, intersections and subsets.

Radiation Problem, Gerald L. Fuller

Honors Theses

A sphere of radius 'a' which is radioactive and which has an average range 'b' in the sphere. What fraction of total radiation will escape the sphere?

Modern Art Through Geometric Eyes, Janice M. West

Honors Theses

When tourists--even homefolks--go through a modern art museum, many opinions are accumulated. Some people may have chills when they see a certain painting, while others get a sick feeling of dizziness when they see the same one. In fact, if there were an opinion box at the exit of an art show, I imagine you could almost accurately count the different opinions by counting the total number of people who viewed the show. Yet, there is one opinion that most 'ole foggies' (and I use the term loosely) would agree upon, and that is this: "Why that's nothing but a …

The Major Contribution Of Leibniz To Infinitesimal Calculus, Carolyn Rhodes

Honors Theses

A study of the work of Leibniz is of importance for at least two reasons. In the first place, Leibniz was not alone among great men in presenting in his early works almost all the important mathematical ideas contained in his mature work, In the second place, the main ideas of his philosophy are to be attributed to his mathematical work, not vice versa. He was perhaps, the earliest to realize fully and correctly the important influence of a calculus on discovery. The almost mechanical operations which one goes through when one is using a calculus enables one to discover …

The Regular Polyhedra: A Study In Visual Aids For Teaching Geometry, Sammye Halbert

Honors Theses

Traditionally, mathematics, past simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, has been taught of as being so boring, irrelevant, and in short, one of the unavoidable evils of school. An advertisement in The Mathematics Teacher expressed the general attitude of many students when it said, "mathematics was invented by an old magician in the desert who, with the help of his talking monkey, bakes equations and cupcakes in the hot sun." It seems that many students think mathematics is just one problem after another that has some mystical answer floating around in the air somewhere. The object is to get that …

Comparison Of Three Schools Of Thought In The Foundations Of Mathematics, Carolyn Rhodes

Honors Theses

Some of the most memorable events of the twentieth century took place as a result of conflict. Out of the numerous conflicts staged during this period, only one was resolved not on a common everyday piece of writing paper. The proponents of the conflict--E. V. Huntington, Oswald Veblen, Bertrand Russell, A. N. Whitehead, and David Hilbert--did not use weapons, but they used basic mathematical structure to wage the most extensive and critical investigation into the foundations of mathematics. As a result three schools of thought which are of special prominence and interest were brought to light. These are the postulational …

Bayesian Statistics: The Fundamental Theorem, Carolyn Rhodes

Honors Theses

The problem of the foundation of statistics is to state a set of principles which entail the validity of all correct statistical inference, and which do not imply that any fallacious inferences is valid. This sentence describes the purpose of much writing on statistical inferences, in general, and Bayesian statistics, in particular. Bayesian statistics was first introduced in a publication by Thomas Bayes in The London Philosophical Transactions, volumes 53 and 54 for the years 1763 and 1764, after Bayes' death in 1761. However, since the entire statistical research of Bayes' involves enormous study, this paper will limit itself to …

A Brief Study Of Topology, Mary Beth Mangrum

Honors Theses

Topology is the study of topological properties of figures -- those properties which do not change under "elastic" motion. It is generally divided into two branches: set topology and algebraic topology. Set topology discusses the nature of a topological space, the properties of sets of points, the definitions of limits and continuity, the special properties of metric spaces, and questions concerning separation and connectedness. Algebraic topology deals with groups which are defined on a space, their structure and invariants.

Federal Careers And Opportunities For Mathematicians, Gail Ray

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to research the opportunities for a math major in the Federal Civil Service, and the requirements for positions. Those occupations which require courses only in math are few. However, there are several more which requires a combination of math with some other subject matter.

Those positions requiring only math are: Agricultural marketing specialist, cartographer, equipment specialist, geodesist, and mathematician.

Mathematics On An International Basis, Sandra Lee Sawyer

Honors Theses

Is the math of the United States inferior? In 1967 there was an international study of mathematics comparing twelve different countries: United States, Japan, Australia, Belgium, England, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, The Netherlands, Scotland, and Sweden. Funded in part by the United States Office of Education and five years in the making, the report was based on a test given to 133,000 students in different countries at the age of thirteen and at the end of high school.