Applied Mathematics Commons^™

Creationism – A Viable Philosophy Of Mathematics, Jonathan Zderad

ACMS Journal 2004

In this paper, the author addresses two classical questions of the philosophy of mathematics: What, if any, of mathematics exists in the objective sense? How do humans know that our knowledge of mathematics is correct? He argues that the Christian doctrine of God as creator provides a basis for answering these questions. He also provides a critique of eight widely discussed philosophies of mathematics.

Mathematics And The Love Of God: An Introduction To The Thought Of Simone Weil, Scott Taylor

ACMS Journal 2004

Simone Weil was the sister of Andre Weil, one of the twentieth century's foremost mathematicians. She is a widely read and creative writer on spiritual themes. She addressed mathematics extensively in her writings. This paper discusses her views of mathematics and beauty, her critiques of modern science, her views on truth, and her concept that mathematical ideas can serve as symbols of spiritual ideas.

What Mathematical Paradoxes Teach Us About Paradoxes In Christianity, Paul Bialek

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

In Christian academic circles, we talk about the integration of our faith and learning. That is, we seek to discover and develop connections between our Christian faith and our particular discipline. This is notoriously difficult when the discipline is mathematics. I have found that asking myself these three questions has helped me to integrate my Christian faith with mathematics, although they could be applied to any discipline: (1) How does the fact that I am a Christian affect the way I view mathematics? (2) How does the fact that I am a mathematician affect the way I view Christianity? (3) …

Three Problems From Number Theory, Robert Brabenec

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

This paper discusses the experiences of Wheaton College mathematics and computer science department colloquium as they explored open-ended problems.

The Soviet Concept Of The Correlation Of Forces, James Bradley

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

This paper takes a look at the Soviet Union’s accumulation of nuclear weapons during the Cold War and what mathematical strategy they employed to make their choices.

Gravitational Acceleration In Hades, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

Does acceleration due to gravity increase or decrease upon descending from Earth’s surface? The answer—as we show—depends on one’s model for Earth’s density. For our Earth, gravity increases before it collapses to zero at Earth center.

Theism & Mathematical Realism, John Byl

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

This paper examines connections between theism and mathematical realism. Mathematical realism, which offers the best account of mathematics, strongly supports theism. Theism, in turn, supports mathematical realism. Theism readily explains the intricate relations between mathematics, matter, and mind. The attributes of the biblical God provide justification for classical mathematics.

Mathematics Memory Verses: Weekly Devotionals For Math Class, Mark Colgan

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

Each Monday during the semester I start class with a short devotional on a verse that relates in some way to mathematics. After three weeks I choose one of the three at random for students to write out on their quiz for a possible bonus point. This encourages students to practice memorizing Scripture and it gives us the opportunity to discuss biblical principles that relate to some of the topics we are studying in the course.

I would like to share some of the Bible verses and weekly devotionals I have used in my mathematics classes. These can be organized …

Parables For Mathematicians: With Good News For Curved Beings, Ashley Reiter Ahlin

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

Because we often lack the language for talking about such deep matters, the things of God can be hard to understand or talk about. The things that we do see and know were made by the same God of whom we speak. Thus, they are reflections of His nature, purposes, and ways and can help us to think and take about Him. This presentation expresses a parable using the language of math.

On Periodic Points On Maps Of Trees And The Expansive Property, Fred Worth

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

In this paper, we consider the expansive property (A homeomorphism, f, of a metric space, X, onto itself is called expansive if there is a positive number, ε, such that if x and y are distinct points of X, then there exists an integer, n = n(x,y), such that d(f n(x), f n(y)) > ε. It should be noted that n may be negative.) and how it relates to shift homeomorphisms of a tree with a single, surjective bonding map. We also consider some results regarding the periodicity of points in self-maps of trees.

Why Natural Selection Can't Design Anything, William A. Dembski

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

In The Fifth Miracle Paul Davies suggests that any laws capable of explaining the origin of life must be radically different from scientific laws known to date? The problem, as he sees it, with currently known scientific laws, like the laws of chemistry and physics, is that they cannot explain the key feature of life that needs to be explained. That feature is specified complexity. Life is both complex and specified. The basic institution here is straightforward. Davies rightly notes, laws (that is, necessities of nature) can explain specification but not complexity. Once life (or more generally some self-replicator) …

Mathematics As Worship, David J. Stucki

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

In keeping with the mission of this organization to explore the relationship of faith to our discipline, I would like to take this opportunity to investigate the relationship, if any, between mathematics and worship. There have been throughout history, at least since Pythagoras, connections made between the mathematical and the theological. Many of these such efforts have followed the Pythagorean cult in deifying number, thus making mathematics the object of worship. Othes have effectively situated theology in subservience to mathematical reason. However, these are not the only alternatives.

Once we admit the possibility of a connection between mathematics and theology, …

Thml: Theological Markup Language For The Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Harry Plantinga

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

This document describes the Theological Markup Language (ThML), an XML markup language for theological texts. ThML was developed for use in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL), but it is hoped that the language will serve as a royalty-free format for theological texts in other applications. Key design goals are that the language should be (1) rich enough to represent information needed for digital libraries and for theological study involving multiple, related texts, including cross-reference, synchronization, indexing, and scripture references, (2) based on XML and usable with World Wide Web tools, (3) automatically convertible to other common formats, and (4) …

Integration Of A Christian Perspective In The Mathematical Sciences, Johan De Klerk

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

No abstract provided.

Introduction (2001), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

Thirteenth ACMS Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Table Of Contents (2001), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

Thirteenth ACMS Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Schedule (2001), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2001

Thirteenth ACMS Conference on Mathematics from a Christian Perspective

Theism And Mathematical Realism, John Byl

ACMS Journal 2004

This paper examines connections between theism and mathematical realism. Mathematical realism, which offers the best account of mathematics, strongly supports theism. Theism, in turn, supports mathematical realism. Theism readily explains the intricate relations between mathematics, matter, and mind. The attributes of the biblical God provide a justification for classical mathematics.

Mathematics As Worship, David J. Stucki

ACMS Journal 2004

This paper treats worship in a broad, inclusive sense as the primary and necessary response of human beings to their creator. It provides a brief overview of the relationship between mathematics and theology from the Pythagoreans to the present. It argues that all knowledge is contingent upon faith and thus that contemplation of mathematical insights can lead to worship of God.

Tracking The Trochoid On Safari, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

While on sabbatical in Dar es Salaam in 1997–98, I was tasked to be the department’s seminar director and discovered that a dearth of speakers roam about in east Africa; so I opted to set up a lecture tour for myself to include Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana as well as Tanzania—and spoke about the envelope of curves generated by a series of line segments obtained when two runners attached by an ideal bungee cord (the line segments) proceed about a circular track. Herein we describe life in east Africa and show that those envelopes are trochoids.

Revolutions In Mathematics (Book Review), Kevin Vander Meulen

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

A review of Revolutions in Mathematics, edited by Donald Gillies, Clarendon Press, Oxford 1992.

Lewis Carroll: Author, Mathematician, And Christian, David L. Neuhouser

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

Although a Christian, an author, and a mathematician, Charles Letwidge Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll) wrote very few works in which these three aspects of his person was present. The only examples of him merging these interests are in Sylvie and Bruno and Sylvie and Bruno Concluded. This paper will explore what motivated him to make these works and whether or not they were successful.

The Deconstruction Of Mathematics, David J. Stucki

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

This paper is a criticism of Reuben Hersh's What is Mathematics, Really? and the humanist philosophy of mathematics.

Book Review, David J. Stucki

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

A book review of Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectuals' Abuse of Science by Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont.

Book Review: Virtual Gods: The Seduction Of Power And Pleasure In Cyberspace, Jonathan R. Senning

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

This paper is a review of Virtual Gods: The Seduction of Power and Pleasure in Cyberspace, edited by Tal Brooke, Harvest House Publishers, 1997.

Teaching Linear Algebra And Abstract Algebra With Two Way Video And Audio, Edward Reinke

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

An outline of a presentation discussing teaching two different algebra courses long-distance as well as in a classroom.

A Mathematician At The Science And Theology Book Club, Greg Crow

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

This paper is a case study of the insights gained and the contributions made in a weekly Science and Theology Faculty Book Club. The contribution of other group members to the expansion of one’s general understanding of their fields is demonstrated in increased vocabulary, use of existing theoretical models, glimpses of the depth of their disciplines, and in the recognition of the need for humility. The mathematician may contribute by helping to clarify definitions, by applying basic ideas in their own and related fields, and only very rarely by bringing their own research to the table.

Book Review - The Language Of Mathematics: Making The Invisible Visible By Kieth Devlin, Charles R. Hampton

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

Charles R. Hampton reviews The Language of Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible. By Kieth Devlin. W. H. Freeman and Company, 1998

Determinism, Chaos, And The Meaning Of Randomness, Or Quantum Theory And The Sovereignty Of God, John Wicks

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Number Sense: How The Mind Creates Mathematics By Stanislas Dehaene, Mary Vanderschoot

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1999

No abstract provided.