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Full-Text Articles in Applied Mathematics

An Augustinian Perspective On The Philosophy Of Mathematics, James Bradley Jan 2007

An Augustinian Perspective On The Philosophy Of Mathematics, James Bradley

ACMS Journal 2007

From a Christian perspective, both modern and post-modern approaches to the philosophy of mathematics have significant shortcomings. This paper explores an alternative. It summarizes Augustine of Hippo’s views on the four classical themes of the philosophy of mathematics-the ontology of mathematical objects, their epistemology, the nature of truth in mathematics, and how we account for the effectiveness of mathematics in describing the natural world. It then traces what has happened to Augustine’s perspective in the roughly 1600 years since it was written concluding with a discussion of some spiritual and intellectual problems with the currently dominant secular perspective.

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Object Information Repository In A Christian Theory Of Technology, Longy O. Anyanwu Jun 2005

Object Information Repository In A Christian Theory Of Technology, Longy O. Anyanwu

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

It has not been easy to formulate a stable Christian theory of technology. Nonetheless, some ideas and Christian theories of technology have been fielded by a handful of distinguished Christian scientists and technology experts. Although some of these ideas and theories are substantively at variance, others have sizeable common base. Important, though, is the seeming agreement on the visualization of technology as an object with embedded values and information. With object information repository as the primary focus, this study, therefore, attempts to provoke the consideration of a possible synthesis and agreement on the foundational essence of Christian theory of technology …

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The Five Orders Of Ignorance: Knowledge, Ignorance, And The Nature Of Software, Phillip Armour Jun 2005

The Five Orders Of Ignorance: Knowledge, Ignorance, And The Nature Of Software, Phillip Armour

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Software is not a product, it is a medium in which we store knowledge. As simple as this idea seems, the consequences of it are quite significant. If software is not a product, then software development is not a product of production activity, despite the common practice of managing it as such. Most organizations believe that job of software developers is to build a system that we then ship to a customer. It is not. The system we build and ship to the customer is actually the by-product of the real activity which is learning. Software development is the activity …

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Mathematics As Poesis: A Preliminary Project Report, Sam Stueckle, Jeremy Case, Ken Constantine, Troy Riggs Jun 2005

Mathematics As Poesis: A Preliminary Project Report, Sam Stueckle, Jeremy Case, Ken Constantine, Troy Riggs

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

This paper talks about the various viewpoints of mathematics, beginning with classical perspectives and ending with the idea of poesis, or the theology of math as the art of making.

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Integrating Catholic And Marianist Historical Perspectives In A Mathematics Coruse For Elementary Education Majors, Mary Wagner-Krankel Jun 2005

Integrating Catholic And Marianist Historical Perspectives In A Mathematics Coruse For Elementary Education Majors, Mary Wagner-Krankel

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

St. Mary's University in San Antonio recently reaffirmed their distinctive nature as a Catholic university promoting the Marianist tradition. This new affirmation is in response to the smaller number of Marianists serving in teaching and administrative positions on campus. Faculty have been encouraged to explore new ways to integrate Catholic and Marianist values and historical perspectives in their teaching and research. I will discuss some major Catholic mathematicians and some classroom activities that I developed for the course MT3304- Mathematics for the Elementary Teacher.

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Does The Success Of Mathematics Defeat Naturalism?, Russell W. Howell Jun 2005

Does The Success Of Mathematics Defeat Naturalism?, Russell W. Howell

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

This paper discusses the arguments for and against Intelligent Design from the perspectives of mathematics.

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The Artificial Gravity Pitch, Andrew Simoson Jun 2005

The Artificial Gravity Pitch, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Toss a ball into the air; we analyze and contrast the resultant trajectories when standing both on the Little Prince’s Asteroid B-612 of 1943 and in Arthur C. Clark’s rotating space ship Discovery of 2001.

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Explicit Null Space Of Discrete Laplacian, Hanna Vanderzee Jun 2005

Explicit Null Space Of Discrete Laplacian, Hanna Vanderzee

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

For a given partial differential equation, such as Poisson’s equation in two dimensions, stipulating the null-space component of the solution is sometimes a useful alternative to specifying boundary conditions in order to determine a unique solution. To implement this approach computationally, we need a sparse and well-conditioned representation of the null space of the relevant differential operator. We discuss how the null-space method works and present an explicit formula for generating a sparse null basis for a uniform, finite-difference discretization of Laplacian operator on the unit square. The formula makes use of a triangular array which has the large Schroeder …

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Artificial Intelligence: Can We Create Machines In Our Own Image?, Derek C. Shuurman Jun 2005

Artificial Intelligence: Can We Create Machines In Our Own Image?, Derek C. Shuurman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) leads to many questions about what it means to be human. Some researchers claim that inevitably computers will reach a certain threshold of complexity that will enable them to “think” and artificial consciousness will emerge. This speculation, taken a step further, leads some to believe that computer technology will eventually set humans free from the frailty of their bodies and enable them to achieve immortality. Underlying these claims is a reductionistic philosophy about what it means to be human and how one approaches the mind-body problem. Ever since the fall people have wanted to …

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Integration Of Faith, Learning, And Christian Vocation With First-Year Mathematics Majors, Doug Phillippy, Angela Hare Jun 2005

Integration Of Faith, Learning, And Christian Vocation With First-Year Mathematics Majors, Doug Phillippy, Angela Hare

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

The mission of Messiah College is "to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character, and Christian faith, in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society". Therefore, as faculty in the Mathematical Sciences Department at this college, how we build maturity in our students, not only a mature mathematical intellect, but also maturity of character and Christian faith, reflects our commitment to the mission of the College. Further, our departmental mission statement includes the objective "to challenge students to live out their faith in their vocation as they become servant leaders in society, church, …

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Writing Math Lessons That Integrate Christian Beliefs: The Kuyers Institute Grant Project, Dave Klanderman, Gary Talsma Jun 2005

Writing Math Lessons That Integrate Christian Beliefs: The Kuyers Institute Grant Project, Dave Klanderman, Gary Talsma

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

In this paper, we describe multiple math lessons designed to incorporate a Christian perspective. A total of nine lessons, some with materials for multiple class sessions, will soon be published by the Kuyers Institute. These lessons are appropriate for use at the middle school and high school level.

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A Christian Constructivist? The Impact Of Worldview On Learning Theories And The Mathematics Education Research Community, Jeffrey Barrett, Dave Klanderman Jun 2005

A Christian Constructivist? The Impact Of Worldview On Learning Theories And The Mathematics Education Research Community, Jeffrey Barrett, Dave Klanderman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

This paper analyzes the role of worldview and its impact on learning theories within the mathematics education research community. The authors propose a scholarly agenda for engaging this issue in future research projects.

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Teaching The History Of Mathematics Using Architecture And Art, Maria Zack Jun 2005

Teaching The History Of Mathematics Using Architecture And Art, Maria Zack

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is a Christian university deeply committed to teaching in the liberal arts tradition. As a consequence, all of our students take roughly 64 semester hours of “general education” courses as part of the 128 semester hours required for graduation. One of the challenges of teaching at such an institution is helping students to value the core curriculum. I recently taught “Topics in Mathematics: Mathematics, Art and Architecture.” My goal was to help students see, discuss and understand connections between the mathematics that they were studying and some aspects of the general education core that is …

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Mathematics From A World View Perspective, Jonathan Zderad Jun 2005

Mathematics From A World View Perspective, Jonathan Zderad

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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Artificial Intelligence: Can We Create Machines In Our Own Image?, Derek C. Schuurman Jun 2005

Artificial Intelligence: Can We Create Machines In Our Own Image?, Derek C. Schuurman

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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Determinants And Zero Divisors In Rings Of Matrices, Gary L. Raduns, Wolfgang Kappe Jun 2005

Determinants And Zero Divisors In Rings Of Matrices, Gary L. Raduns, Wolfgang Kappe

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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The Consequences Of Believing In An Infinite God, John T. Noonan Jun 2005

The Consequences Of Believing In An Infinite God, John T. Noonan

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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Technology And Formation: How Does Computing Shape Us?, Cary C. Gray Jun 2005

Technology And Formation: How Does Computing Shape Us?, Cary C. Gray

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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Nicole Oresme - An Invitation, Fernando Q. Gouvea Jun 2005

Nicole Oresme - An Invitation, Fernando Q. Gouvea

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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Object Information Repository In Christian Theory Of Technology, Longy O. Anyanwu Jun 2005

Object Information Repository In Christian Theory Of Technology, Longy O. Anyanwu

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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The Divine Challenge: On Matter, Mind, Math And Meaning, By John Byl, Russell W. Howell Jun 2005

The Divine Challenge: On Matter, Mind, Math And Meaning, By John Byl, Russell W. Howell

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

A book review of The Divine Challenge: On Matter, Mind, Math and Meaning (2004, Banner of Truth Trust) by John Byl.

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James Clerk Maxwell And Why Read Biographies, Sean Bird Jun 2005

James Clerk Maxwell And Why Read Biographies, Sean Bird

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Why do we read about the lives of others? This paper discusses the value of reading biographies and examines the life of physicist-mathematician James Clerk Maxwell.

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Jesus, Plato, Math And Theology: What Is Truth?, Paul Moffett Jun 2005

Jesus, Plato, Math And Theology: What Is Truth?, Paul Moffett

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

Mathematical ontology is relevant to Christians because so much of Christian theology has been historically shaped by Platonic mathematics and the ontology that goes with it. The various contributors to Mathematics in a Postmodern Age, edited by Howell and Bradley, seem to assume that Christians are necessarily realists in ontology, and they are not alone. But what is the cause of this Christian connection with mathematical realism in ontology? How much has our idea of God been shaped by Plato and his mathematics?

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Blaise Pascal - Mathematician, Mystic, Disciple, Tim Rogalsky Jun 2005

Blaise Pascal - Mathematician, Mystic, Disciple, Tim Rogalsky

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

This is the story of a multi-faceted Christian mathematician. Instrumental in the development of calculus, probability theory, and computing machines, Pascal (1623-1662) was a man equally enamoured with mind and spirit. His conversion experience was marked by both rational decision and mystical vision. He is perhaps best known for "Pascal's wager," which simplistic "fire insurance" version of Christianity, demanding little from the convert. However, a more careful reading of his work and his life reveals that Pascal knew much about discipleship and its cost.

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Call For A Non-Euclidean, Post-Cantorian Theology, Saburo Matsumoto Jun 2005

Call For A Non-Euclidean, Post-Cantorian Theology, Saburo Matsumoto

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

In this paper I propose a new approach to theology, which I refer to as a "non-Euclidean, post-Cantorian" theology. I first review three accomplishments in modern mathematics with lasting philosophical implications: non-Euclidean geometry, set theory, and the Incompleteness Theorems of Gödel. Since all of these are ideas that came after much of traditional theology had already been formed, I challenge that theology be revisited in light of what we can learn from the mathematical struggles that produced these amazing and counter-intuitive truths. I give some concrete examples and propose that such an effort can make non-trivial contribution in theology and …

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Vi.31: A Generalization Of The Pythagorean Theorem, Timothy Sipka Jun 2005

Vi.31: A Generalization Of The Pythagorean Theorem, Timothy Sipka

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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A Christian Perspective For A First Course In Calculus, Darrell E. Allgaier Jun 2005

A Christian Perspective For A First Course In Calculus, Darrell E. Allgaier

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

No abstract provided.

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Bibliography Of Christianity And Mathematics, Gene B. Chase Jun 2005

Bibliography Of Christianity And Mathematics, Gene B. Chase

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

The invited address provides historiographic background for the second edition of Bibliography of Christianity and Mathematics. The second edition builds on the first edition written jointly with Calvin Jongsma, on the historiographic work of Ivor Grattan-Guiness, and on the computer skills of Gregory Ross.

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Filtering The Bible And Filtering Spam, Gene B. Chase Jun 2005

Filtering The Bible And Filtering Spam, Gene B. Chase

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

I argue that John Craig (1996?–1731) is the first to do Bayesian statistics. Filtering email spam today using Bayes's analysis of 1763 is a new application of an old theorem. Craig 67 years before Bayes's theorem used subjective probabilities reasoning to argue that Jesus would return in the year 3150, because the Bible would eventually come into disrepute (become spam?) then.

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Asserting Cs != Can't Spcialize, Building Community In A Computer Science Program, Kim Kihlstrom Jun 2005

Asserting Cs != Can't Spcialize, Building Community In A Computer Science Program, Kim Kihlstrom

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2005

As humans, we are designed to live in community. "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others" (Romans 12:4-5). We believe it is of critical importance to build community within a computer science program, first of all because it is part of God's calling for us. In addition, building communit allows us to equip students with the interpersonal skills that they need for a productive career, and to attract …

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