Mathematics Commons^™

Creationism - A Viable Philosophy Of Mathematics, Jonathan Zderad

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

The purpose of this essay is to try to answer the ontological and epistemological question of mathematics. Specifically, "What, if any, of mathematics exists in the objective sense?" And, "How do we as humans know that our knowledge of mathematics is correct?" These questions will be investigated by looking at the applications or mathematics, the practice of mathematicians, and most telling, the content of mathematics. Mathematics, admittedly, can only go so far in answering its own philosophical questions, even when aided by recent developments in the field of logic. The overwhelming evidence, as will be shown, points toward a theistic, …

A Greater Tantalizer, Andrew Simoson

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

The children’s puzzle, sometimes called the Great Tantalizer, consists of four blocks each of whose faces have been colored with four colors; a solution consists in stacking the blocks so that on each stack face, all four colors appear. This article renders the puzzle as six octahedral blocks, each of which is colored with six colors, and describes a scheme to successfully stack all six.

Light Meals And Morsels From Mathematics Magazine, Paul Zorn

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

No abstract provided.

General-Education Mathematics Course From A Christian Perspective, Saburo Matsumoto, Ph.D.

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

No abstract provided.

Some Fibonacci Gems, Peter Rothmaler

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

No abstract provided.

A Christian Perspective On Mathematics - History Of Mathematics And Study Guides, Johan H. De Klerk

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

No abstract provided.

Learning To Construct Proofs In A First Course On Mathematical Proof, Peter R. Atwood, Ph.D.

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

No abstract provided.

The Search For The Real Josephus Problem, Eric Gossett

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

Many of the problems that mathematicians and computer scientists dearly love have been around for a long time. One such problem is known as the Josephus Problem, named after the first century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. Josephus did not invent the problem. Instead, an event from his life served as the inspiration for the problem statement. Many current books refer to "Mathematical Recreations and Essays" by W. W. Rouse Ball [originally published in 1892] for the problem statement. The problem is quite interesting (and will be solved here). However, the story, as quoted in Bell, is not completely accurate.

The Inverse Problem: Christianity Through A Mathematical Lens, Sharon K. Robbert

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

An inverse problem is a partner problem that reverses some type of direct problem. Usually the inverse problem is more challenging to solve than the direct problem: integration is more challenging than differentiation, factoring large numbers is more challenging than multiplying numbers. In this paper, the author poses that using mathematical thinking to understand the concepts of theological principles is the direct problem to the much more challenging inverse problem of using theological thinking to influence understanding in mathematics. Acknowledging that a problem is difficult allows one to be satisfied with understanding small pieces and progressing slowly to a complete …

Integrating Laptops Into A Mathematics Curriculum, Mary Wagner-Krankel

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

In 1999, St. Mary's University in San Antonio received a Title V Grant, providing $2.1 million over five years. The money was used to help finance computers for students, fund faculty training for computer-related curriculum, convert traditional classrooms into technology or "Smart classrooms", and upgrade the school's Internet connections. This article discusses specific software and hardware advancements made at the University through this grant. The article also describes how the Math department specifically integrated the laptops into their courses using software programs such as Mathcad and Blackboard.

Men Are From The Server Side, Women Are From The Client Side: A Biblical Perspective On Men, Women And Computer Science, Kim Potter Kihlstrom

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

The percentage of women in computer science is small and has decreased over the last twenty years. Why is this the case, when computer science is a wonderful and growing field with many opportunities? I believe that the situation has its roots in the basic differences between men and women, differences that were present from the beginning of creation and are a part of the way that God made male and female uniquely. In order to ensure that both talented men and women are attracted to computer science, we need to understand the differences between men and women, and how …

Mathematics, Science, And George Macdonald, David L. Neuhouser

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

In writing about George MacDonald choosing a college major, biographer William Raeper wrote that he chose “chemistry, a strange choice perhaps for a future novelist and poet and not an easy one for him to make.” He further conjectured that MacDonald’s choice was based on “common sense and sound economics” rather than “his poetic yearnings.” Many would agree with Raeper that science is a strange choice for a future poet and novelist. This paper argues that the role of beauty and imagination is very similar in science, mathematics, and literature, so it might not be so strange that someone could …

Mathematical Models And Reality, John Byl

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

This paper examines the nature and function of mathematical models, using illustrations from cosmology, space geometry and atomic physics. Mathematical models enable us to make precise calculations and predictions; they serve as analogies and conceptual frameworks that lead to new discoveries; and they bridge the gap between appearance and reality. Their success implies that the universe had a mathematical structure. However, one must be careful not to confuse models of reality with reality itself. A variety of models can represent the same data; any model can be given different physical interpretations. The choice of a model and its interpretation depends …

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

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

No abstract provided.

Non-Random Equidistant Letter Sequence Extensions In Ezekiel, Richard E. Sherman, Nathan Jacobi

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

No abstract provided.

A Pseudo-History Of Number Systems, Richard Laatsch

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

No abstract provided.

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

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

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.

Introduction (2003), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

Fourteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Schedule (2003), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

Fourteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

A Christian Perspective On Mathematics – History Of Mathematics And Study Guides, Johan Deklerk

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

This paper addresses two questions: (1) Will a study of the history of the subject serve any purpose in promoting a Christian perspective on mathematics? (2) Can the "science in context" approach be of further help in promoting such a perspective? The author answers both positively and provides specific examples of how he has done this in his own classes.

Table Of Contents (2003), Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2003

Fourteenth Conference of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

The Global Dynamics Of Isothermal Chemical Systems With Critical Nonlinearity, Yi Li, Yuanwei Qi

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

In this paper, we study the Cauchy problem of a cubic autocatalytic chemical reaction system u_1,t = u_1,xx − u^α₁ u^β₂, u_2,t = du_2,xx+ u^α₁ u^β₂ with non-negative initial data, where the exponents α,β satisfy 1<α,βd>0 is the Lewis number. Our purpose is to study the global dynamics of solutions under mild decay of initial data as |x|→∞. We show the exact large time behaviour of solutions which is universal.

Applications Of List Decoding To Tracing Traitors, Alice Silverberg, Jessica Staddon, Judy L. Walker

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

We apply results from algebraic coding theory to solve problems in cryptography, by using recent results on list decoding of error-correcting codes to efficiently find traitors who collude to create pirates. We produce schemes for which the TA (traceability) traitor tracing algorithm is very fast. We compare the TA and IPP (identifiable parent property) traitor tracing algorithms, and give evidence that when using an algebraic structure, the ability to trace traitors with the IPP algorithm implies the ability to trace with the TA algorithm. We also demonstrate that list decoding techniques can be used to find all possible pirate coalitions. …

Subdifferential And Superdifferential Optimality Conditions In Nonsmooth Minimization, Boris S. Mordukhovich

Mathematics Research Reports

The paper concerns first-order necessary optimality conditions for problems of minimizing nonsmooth functions under various constraints in infinite-dimensional spaces. Based on advanced tools of variational analysis and generalized differential calculus, we derive general results of two independent types called subdifferential and superdifferential optimality conditions. The former ones involve basic/limiting subgradients of cost functions, while the latter conditions are expressed via Frechet superdifferentials provided that they are not empty. All the superdifferential and major subdifferential optimality conditions obtained in the paper are new even in finite dimensions. We give applications of general optimality conditions to mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints.

Support Planes And A Wonderful Theorem Of Bishop And Phelps, Joe Diestel

Colloquium

Since the earliest days of duality in linear spaces (i.e., vector spaces), support functionals for convex sets have played a critical role in applications. The Hahn-Banach theorem is an example: any closed bounded convex subset of a normed linear space has support functionals. In the early sixties, Bishop and Phelps gave a much sharper theorem, showing that there are lots of support functionals. This talk will discuss results related to the Bishop-Phelps theorem—results that sometimes fairly amaze even people who work in the area.

Pareto Optimal Allocations In Nonconvex Models Of Welfare Economics, Boris S. Mordukhovich

Mathematics Research Reports

The paper is devoted to applications of modern variational analysis to the study of Pareto (as well as weak and strong Pareto) optimal allocations in nonconvex models of welfare economics with infinite-dimensional commodity spaces. Our basic tool is the extremal principle of variational analysis that provides necessary conditions for set extremality and may be viewed as a variational extension of the classical convex separation principle to the case of nonconvex sets. In this way we obtain new versions of the generalized second welfare theorem for nonconvex economies in terms of appropriate concepts of normal cones.

The Cohomology Of The Steendrod Algebra And Representations Of The General Linear Groups, Nguyen H. V. Hu'ng

Mathematics Research Reports

Let Tr_k be the algebraic transfer that maps from the coinvariants of certain GL_k-representation to the cohomology of the Steenrod algebra. This transfer was defined by W. Singer as an algebraic version of the geometrical transfer tr_k : pi_*^S((B[doublestrike V]_k)_+) --> pi_*^S(S^0). It has been shown that the algebraic transfer is highly nontrivial, more precisely, that Tr_k is an isomorphism for k = 1, 2, 3 and that T_r = ⊕_k(Tr_k) is a homomorphism of algebras.

In this paper, we first recognize the phenomenon that if we start from any degree d, and apply Sq^0 repeatedly at most (k- 2) …

Approximation By Piecewise Constant Functions In A Bv Metric, Pavel Bělík, Mitchell Luskin

Faculty Authored Articles

Westudytheapproximationpropertiesofpiecewiseconstantfunc- tions with respect to triangular and rectangular finite elements in a metric defined on functions of bounded variation. We apply our results to a thin film model for martensitic crystals and to the approximation of deformations with microstructure.

Optimal Control Of Neutral Functional-Differential Inclusions, Boris S. Mordukhovich, Lianwen Wang

Mathematics Research Reports

This paper deals with optimal control problems for dynamical systems governed by constrained functional-differential inclusions of neutral type. Such control systems contain time-delays not only in state variables but also in velocity variables, which make them essentially more complicated than delay-differential (or differential-difference) inclusions. Our main goal is to derive necessary optimality conditions for general optimal control problems governed by neutral functional-differential inclusions with endpoint constraints. While some results are available for smooth control systems governed by neutral functional-differential equations, we are not familiar with any results for neutral functional-differential inclusions, even with smooth cost functionals in the absence of …

Feedback Classification Of Nonlinear Single-Input Control Systems With Controllable Linearization: Normal Forms, Canonical Forms, And Invariants, Issa Amadou Tall, Witold Respondek

Articles and Preprints

We study the feedback group action on single-input nonlinear control systems. We follow an approach of Kang and Krener based on analyzing, step by step, the action of homogeneous transformations on the homogeneous part of the same degree of the system. We construct a dual normal form and dual invariants with respect to those obtained by Kang. We also propose a canonical form and a dual canonical form and show that two systems are equivalent via a formal feedback if and only if their canonical forms (resp., their dual canonical forms) coincide. We give an explicit construction of transformations bringing …