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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
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Articles 1 - 30 of 35
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Point At Infinity, Josh Hiller
The Point At Infinity, Josh Hiller
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
A poem about the longing for parallel lines to meet.
Quik Church, Route 3.141592, Sarah Voss
Quik Church, Route 3.141592, Sarah Voss
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
The following set of poems are from one of ten sections in a collection of poetry called Quik Church: Short Poems that Travel Far. Each section illustrates one of many “streets” which individuals often take on their spiritual journey through life, e.g., the Old Gods Path, Nature Trail, Memory Skyway, Mystic Avenue, Pastoral Lane, and so on. This one, Route 3.141592, is the route of mathematics and the science that depends on mathematics.
I Am A Math Professor, Cacey L. Wells
I Am A Math Professor, Cacey L. Wells
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Original poem depicting the life of a math professor.
Ekstasen: Love Poetry By Felix Hausdorff, Kimberly Gladman
Ekstasen: Love Poetry By Felix Hausdorff, Kimberly Gladman
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Four poems by the mathematician Felix Hausdorff are presented in English translation, together with their German originals and commentary about Hausdorff’s multidisciplinary achievements.
Teaching Mathematics With Poetry: Some Activities, Alexis E. Langellier
Teaching Mathematics With Poetry: Some Activities, Alexis E. Langellier
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
During the summer of 2021, I experimented with a new way of getting children excited about mathematics: math poetry. Math can be a trigger word for some children and many adults. I wanted to find a way to make learning math fun—without the students knowing they’re doing math. In this paper I describe some activities I used with students ranging from grades K-12 to the college level and share several poem examples, from students in grades two to eight.
The Use And Development Of Mathematics Within Creative Literature, Toby S C Peres
The Use And Development Of Mathematics Within Creative Literature, Toby S C Peres
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This paper presents a study on the extent to which creative literature been used as a vessel to carry forward the development of mathematical thought. The role of mathematics as a driving force for literature is highlighted, and while many examples exist that clearly show an attempt to disperse mathematical ideas, with Lewis Carroll, OuLiPo and ancient poetry considered, the argument that the sole purpose of the writings was for the sake of mathematical development is not clear-cut.
A Topologist’S Broken Heart, Josh Hiller
A Topologist’S Broken Heart, Josh Hiller
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
A poem about a topologist's broken heart.
Spurious Correlation Sestina, Jules Nyquist
Spurious Correlation Sestina, Jules Nyquist
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This is a sestina poem about Spurious Correlations with a magical realism angle for beginning students learning statistics for the first time during the COVID pandemic.
Doughnut At The End Of Space, Deborah Coy
Doughnut At The End Of Space, Deborah Coy
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
No abstract provided.
So Long My Friend, Bryan Mcnair
So Long My Friend, Bryan Mcnair
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
No abstract provided.
Wrong Way, Joseph Chaney
What's So Great About Non-Orientable Manifolds?, Michael Mccormick
What's So Great About Non-Orientable Manifolds?, Michael Mccormick
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
No abstract provided.
Intersection Cographs And Aesthetics, Robert Haas
Intersection Cographs And Aesthetics, Robert Haas
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Cographs are complete graphs with colored lines (edges); in an intersection cograph, the points (vertices) and lines (edges) are labeled by sets, and the line between each pair of points is (or represents) their intersection. This article first presents the elementary theory of intersection cographs: 15 are possible on 4 points; constraints on the triangles and quadrilaterals; some forbidden configurations; and how, under suitable constraints, to generate the points from the lines alone. The mathematical theory is then applied to aesthetics, using set cographs to describe the experience of a person enjoying a picture (Mu Qi), poem (Dickinson), play (Shakespeare), …
A Life Cut Short, Cacey L. Wells
A Life Cut Short, Cacey L. Wells
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Connecting scholars and students with the human side of mathematics is critical. This poem about Évariste Galois provides a synopsis of his controversial life, while also providing details into his life that some may not be familiar with.
Train Algebra, Mary Soon Lee
The Uncertainty Of Confidence, Michael J. Leach
The Uncertainty Of Confidence, Michael J. Leach
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This is a free-verse poem about the estimation of population parameters in statistical models. The spacing of words is intended to reflect uncertainty.
Mathematical Rigor From Within, Lowell Abrams
Mathematical Rigor From Within, Lowell Abrams
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
There is a certain feel that is unique to the rarefied context of rigorous mathematics. These poems constitute an exploration of my experience of mathematical rigor when I am in the midst of exercising my skills as a research mathematician.
Felix Hausdorff’S Poem “Den Ungeflügelten”, Benjamin Elkins
Felix Hausdorff’S Poem “Den Ungeflügelten”, Benjamin Elkins
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
In 1900, Felix Hausdorff published Ekstasen (Ecstasy) under the pseudonym Paul Mongré. The book is comprised of 157 poems (70 sonnets, 32 rondels, 25 "mixed poems", where Hausdorff effortlessly combines different types of poetic styles, and 30 more poems). Den Ungeflügelten (To The Wingless Ones) is the first poem in this book and provides an interesting self-portrait of Hausdorff as he embraces his muse with confidence. Here I present an English translation of this poem without (much) commentary.
Permission To Add: Math-Teaching Limericks, Marion D. Cohen
Permission To Add: Math-Teaching Limericks, Marion D. Cohen
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Throughout my years and decades of being a teacher, I have written limericks about every course I’ve taught, and sometimes courses I haven’t taught but reviewed textbooks in. Here I share several of these limericks.
Dear Arithmetic, Mary Soon Lee
Dear Arithmetic, Mary Soon Lee
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
A short poem anthropomorphizing Arithmetic.
Mental Logic: Two Poems, Ashley Delvento
Mental Logic: Two Poems, Ashley Delvento
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
My submission is comprised of two poems that aim to intertwine mathematical themes with that of creative struggle, a working title for this pairing being “Mental Logic”. The first poem, ‘-ematics’ is a literary work created in the midst of mathematical problem solving. Being an avid writer and a mathematics enthusiast, the theme of this poem struck me while completing the University of Rochester Mathematics Olympiad. There seems to be a belief that literary creativity and mathematics cannot compliment one another, but throughout solving a probability problem on this Olympiad proved to be the ultimate moment of inspiration. This poem …
Sigint Signifier, Terry Trowbridge
Sigint Signifier, Terry Trowbridge
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This poem is a meditation on the concept of signal-to-noise ratios. What is the most minimal signal that can be decoded, regardless of the amount of noise?
Perfect (A Poem), Joseph Chaney
Perfect (A Poem), Joseph Chaney
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This sonnet-length, unrhymed syllabic poem speaks of the way the concept of perfection engages the imagination of mathematicians, an experience it compares to the mysterious, complex attraction we may feel toward a lover.
Tuesday, Ursula Whitcher
Tuesday, Ursula Whitcher
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
"It's Tuesday, and the week's no longer new . . ." This poem's form is taken from the structure of the field with seven elements: the meter, in iambs, follows a pattern based on 5, 4, 6, 2, 3, the nontrivial values taken by powers of 5 (mod 7) as it generates the group of units of the field.
Breastmilk And Theorems, Bonnie Jacob
Breastmilk And Theorems, Bonnie Jacob
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Breastmilk and Theorems is a poem that traces a mother’s journey breastfeeding her baby over the course of the baby’s first months of life, while mentally working on proving a theorem.
Paperback Vs. Cryptanalysis, Terry Trowbridge
Paperback Vs. Cryptanalysis, Terry Trowbridge
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This poem is a defiant challenge against online and app based surveillance of readers. It also questions the guesses that are used to make claims about readers using text analyses.
Gradual Homicide, Jack Ritter
Gradual Homicide, Jack Ritter
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
A mathematical poem about asymptotic treachery.
Disciple, Jessica K. Sklar
Disciple, Jessica K. Sklar
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This is a love poem for mathematics.
A Math Poem, Sara R. Katz
They Say She Was Good -- For A Woman: Poetry And Musings, Joanne Growney
They Say She Was Good -- For A Woman: Poetry And Musings, Joanne Growney
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
These pages contain ideas and verses that consider the roles of women in mathematics. Details of the life of Amalie “Emmy” Noether inspired a poem and the poem, in turn, led to the poet’s growth and awareness of her self and her voice.