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Articles 331 - 360 of 1985

Full-Text Articles in Mathematics

Multilayer Network Model Of Gender Bias And Homophily In Hierarchical Structures, Emerson Mcmullen Jan 2023

Multilayer Network Model Of Gender Bias And Homophily In Hierarchical Structures, Emerson Mcmullen

HMC Senior Theses

Although women have made progress in entering positions in academia and
industry, they are still underrepresented at the highest levels of leadership.
Two factors that may contribute to this leaky pipeline are gender bias,
the tendency to treat individuals differently based on the person’s gender
identity, and homophily, the tendency of people to want to be around those
who are similar to themselves. Here, we present a multilayer network model
of gender representation in professional hierarchies that incorporates these
two factors. This model builds on previous work by Clifton et al. (2019), but
the multilayer network framework allows us to …

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A Visual Tour Of Dynamical Systems On Color Space, Jonathan Maltsman Jan 2023

A Visual Tour Of Dynamical Systems On Color Space, Jonathan Maltsman

HMC Senior Theses

We can think of a pixel as a particle in three dimensional space, where its x, y and z coordinates correspond to its level of red, green, and blue, respectively. Just as a particle’s motion is guided by physical rules like gravity, we can construct rules to guide a pixel’s motion through color space. We can develop striking visuals by applying these rules, called dynamical systems, onto images using animation engines. This project explores a number of these systems while exposing the underlying algebraic structure of color space. We also build and demonstrate a Visual DJ circuit board for …

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Explorations In Well-Rounded Lattices, Tanis Nielsen Jan 2023

Explorations In Well-Rounded Lattices, Tanis Nielsen

HMC Senior Theses

Lattices are discrete subgroups of Euclidean spaces. Analogously to vector spaces, they can be described as spans of collections of linearly independent vectors, but with integer (instead of real) coefficients. Lattices have many fascinating geometric properties and numerous applications, and lattice theory is a rich and active field of theoretical work. In this thesis, we present an introduction to the theory of Euclidean lattices, along with an overview of some major unsolved problems, such as sphere packing. We then describe several more specialized topics, including prior work on well-rounded ideal lattices and some preliminary results on the study of planar …

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An Inquiry Into Lorentzian Polynomials, Tomás Aguilar-Fraga Jan 2023

An Inquiry Into Lorentzian Polynomials, Tomás Aguilar-Fraga

HMC Senior Theses

In combinatorics, it is often desirable to show that a sequence is unimodal. One method of establishing this is by proving the stronger yet easier-to-prove condition of being log-concave, or even ultra-log-concave. In 2019, Petter Brändén and June Huh introduced the concept of Lorentzian polynomials, an exciting new tool which can help show that ultra-log-concavity holds in specific cases. My thesis investigates these Lorentzian polynomials, asking in which situations they are broadly useful. It covers topics such as matroid theory, discrete convexity, and Mason’s conjecture, a long-standing open problem in matroid theory. In addition, we discuss interesting applications to known …

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Discrete Analogues Of The Poincaré-Hopf Theorem, Kate Perkins Jan 2023

Discrete Analogues Of The Poincaré-Hopf Theorem, Kate Perkins

HMC Senior Theses

My thesis unpacks the relationship between two discrete formulations of the Poincaré-Hopf index theorem. Chapter 1 introduces necessary definitions. Chapter 2 describes the discrete analogs and their differences. Chapter 3 contains a proof that one analog implies the other and chapter 4 contains a proof that the Poincaré-Hopf theorem implies the discrete analogs. Finally, chapter 5 presents still open questions and further research directions.

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Long Increasing Subsequences, Hannah Friedman Jan 2023

Long Increasing Subsequences, Hannah Friedman

HMC Senior Theses

In my thesis, I investigate long increasing subsequences of permutations from two angles. Motivated by studying interpretations of the longest increasing subsequence statistic across different representations of permutations, we investigate the relationship between reduced words for permutations and their RSK tableaux in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, we use permutations with long increasing subsequences to construct a basis for the space of ��-local functions.

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Lattice Extensions And Zeros Of Multilinear Polynomials, Maxwell Forst Jan 2023

Lattice Extensions And Zeros Of Multilinear Polynomials, Maxwell Forst

CGU Theses & Dissertations

We treat several problems related to the existence of lattice extensions preserving certain geometric properties and small-height zeros of various multilinear polynomials. An extension of a Euclidean lattice $L_1$ is a lattice $L_2$ of higher rank containing $L_1$ so that the intersection of $L_2$ with the subspace spanned by $L_1$ is equal to $L_1$. Our first result provides a counting estimate on the number of ways a primitive collection of vectors in a lattice can be extended to a basis for this lattice. Next, we discuss the existence of lattice extensions with controlled determinant, successive minima and covering radius. In …

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Measuring Racial Segregation In Los Angeles County Using Random Walks, Zarina Kismet Dhillon Jan 2023

Measuring Racial Segregation In Los Angeles County Using Random Walks, Zarina Kismet Dhillon

CMC Senior Theses

As of now there is no universal quantitative measure used to evaluate racial segregation in different regions. This paper begins by providing a history of segregation, with an emphasis on the impact of redlining in the early 20th century. We move to its effect on the current population distribution in Los Angeles, California, and then provide an overview of the mathematical concepts that have been used in previous measurements of segregation. We then introduce a method that we believe encompasses the most representative aspects of preceding work, proposed by Sousa and Nicosia in their work on quantifying ethnic segregation in …

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Counting Spanning Trees On Triangular Lattices, Angie Wang Jan 2023

Counting Spanning Trees On Triangular Lattices, Angie Wang

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis focuses on finding spanning tree counts for triangular lattices and other planar graphs comprised of triangular faces. This topic has applications in redistricting: many proposed algorithmic methods for detecting gerrymandering involve spanning trees, and graphs representing states/regions are often triangulated. First, we present and prove Kirchhoff’s Matrix Tree Theorem, a well known formula for computing the number of spanning trees of a multigraph. Then, we use combinatorial methods to find spanning tree counts for chains of triangles and 3 × n triangular lattices (some limiting formulas exist, but they rely on higher level mathematics). For a chain of …

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On Symmetric Operator Ideals And S-Numbers, Daniel Akech Thiong Jan 2023

On Symmetric Operator Ideals And S-Numbers, Daniel Akech Thiong

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Motivated by the well-known theorem of Schauder, we study the relationship between various s-numbers of an operator T and its adjoint T∗ between Banach spaces. For non-compact operator T ∈ L(X, Y ), we do not have a lot of information about the relationship between n-th s-number, sn(T), with sn(T∗ ), however, in chapter 2, by considering X and Y , with lifting and extension properties, respectively, we were able to obtain a relationship between sn(T) with sn(T∗ ) for certain …

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Partially Filled Latin Squares, Mariam Abu-Adas Jan 2023

Partially Filled Latin Squares, Mariam Abu-Adas

Scripps Senior Theses

In this thesis, we analyze various types of Latin squares, their solvability and embeddings. We examine the results by M. Hall, P. Hall, Ryser and Evans first, and apply our understandings to develop an algorithm that the determines the minimum possible embedding of an unsolvable Latin square. We also study Latin squares with missing diagonals in detail.

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Computational Investigation Of The Ionization Potential Of Lead Sulfide Quantum Dots, Jessica Beyer Jan 2023

Computational Investigation Of The Ionization Potential Of Lead Sulfide Quantum Dots, Jessica Beyer

Scripps Senior Theses

The purpose of this work was to determine the impact of quantum dot size on ionization potential and to determine how the presence of carbonyl-based ligands affect the ionization potential of lead sulfide quantum dot systems. Ionization potential (IP) is defined as the energy required to remove an electron from an atom, molecule, or material. IP helps scientists determine how reactive the material of interest is, which is crucial information when manufacturing nanomaterials. Accurate quantum chemical calculations of ionization potential are challenging due to the computational cost associated with the numerical solution of the Dyson equation. In this work, the …

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Generalized Far-Difference Representations, Prakod Ngamlamai Jan 2023

Generalized Far-Difference Representations, Prakod Ngamlamai

HMC Senior Theses

Integers are often represented as a base-$b$ representation by the sum $\sum c_ib^i$. Lekkerkerker and Zeckendorf later provided the rules for representing integers as the sum of Fibonacci numbers. Hannah Alpert then introduced the far-difference representation by providing rules for writing an integer with both positive and negative multiples of Fibonacci numbers. Our work aims to generalize her work to a broader family of linear recurrences. To do so, we describe desired properties of the representations, such as lexicographic ordering, and provide a family of algorithms for each linear recurrence that generate unique representations for any integer. We then prove …

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Beginner's Analysis Of Financial Stochastic Process Models, David Garcia Jan 2023

Beginner's Analysis Of Financial Stochastic Process Models, David Garcia

HMC Senior Theses

This thesis explores the use of geometric Brownian motion (GBM) as a financial model for predicting stock prices. The model is first introduced and its assumptions and limitations are discussed. Then, it is shown how to simulate GBM in order to predict stock price values. The performance of the GBM model is then evaluated in two different periods of time to determine whether it's accuracy has changed before and after March 23, 2020.

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Permutations, Representations, And Partition Algebras: A Random Walk Through Algebraic Statistics, Ian Shors Jan 2023

Permutations, Representations, And Partition Algebras: A Random Walk Through Algebraic Statistics, Ian Shors

HMC Senior Theses

My thesis examines a class of functions on the symmetric group called permutation statistics using tools from representation theory. In 2014, Axel Hultman gave formulas for computing expected values of permutation statistics sampled via random walks. I present analogous formulas for computing variances of these statistics involving Kronecker coefficients – certain numbers that arise in the representation theory of the symmetric group. I also explore deep connections between the study of moments of permutation statistics and the representation theory of the partition algebras, a family of algebras introduced by Paul Martin in 1991. By harnessing these partition algebras, I derive …

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Clusters, Curves, And Centroids: Stellar Flare Morphology In The Ultraviolet, Vera Berger Jan 2023

Clusters, Curves, And Centroids: Stellar Flare Morphology In The Ultraviolet, Vera Berger

Pomona Senior Theses

With a novel sample of 495 high-cadence light curves for stellar flares in the near-ultraviolet, I explore similarity measures, clustering algorithms, averaging methods, and curve fitting techniques for time series. This work seeks to provide insight into whether stellar flares are similar across stars, if we can identify physically meaningful patterns in their light curves, and how to construct a comprehensive model for flares. I construct the first empirical template for flare light curves in the ultraviolet, and compute ``average elements" of flares displaying complex features such as quasi-periodic oscillations and multipeak structures. Developing accurate models for flares in the …

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A Generalized Method Of Undetermined Coefficients, James S. Cook, William J. Cook Sep 2022

A Generalized Method Of Undetermined Coefficients, James S. Cook, William J. Cook

CODEE Journal

The method of undetermined coefficients is used to solve constant coefficient nonhomogeneous differential equations whose forcing function is itself the solution of a homogeneous constant coefficient differential equation. In this paper, we show that the classical methods for tackling constant coefficient equations, including the method of undetermined coefficients, generalize to much wider class linear differential equations which, for example, include Cauchy-Euler type equations. This general method includes an explicit construction of the fundamental solution sets of such equations. We also briefly consider where this method can be applied by producing the most general second and third order differential equations that …

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Mathematical Constants Beyond The Half-Circle: An Open Call For Poetry, Mark Huber, Gizem Karaali Jul 2022

Mathematical Constants Beyond The Half-Circle: An Open Call For Poetry, Mark Huber, Gizem Karaali

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The Journal of Humanistic Mathematics invites submissions of mathematical poetry for an upcoming poetry folder tentatively titled Mathematical Constants Beyond the Half-Circle. Please send your submissions via email to the editors by November 1, 2022. Publication decisions will be made by December 31, 2022. The folder is expected to appear in January 2023.

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Squate, Tom Blackford Jul 2022

Squate, Tom Blackford

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This is the story of a middle school student who befriends an irrational number, the square root of eight.

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Perturbation - For Nature Computes On A Straight Line (In Seven Balancing Acts), Vijay Fafat Jul 2022

Perturbation - For Nature Computes On A Straight Line (In Seven Balancing Acts), Vijay Fafat

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

What if all of our Reality is a simulation? What, perhaps, are the unintended artifacts if we are an "approximate" simulation because God could not muster sufficient computational power for the Equations capturing the ultimate Theory of Everything? Are life and Sentience something She intended, a problem with the simulation's code, or an irreducible, teleological inevitability in Creation?

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A Topologist’S Broken Heart, Josh Hiller Jul 2022

A Topologist’S Broken Heart, Josh Hiller

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

A poem about a topologist's broken heart.

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Spurious Correlation Sestina, Jules Nyquist Jul 2022

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.

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Doughnut At The End Of Space, Deborah Coy Jul 2022

Doughnut At The End Of Space, Deborah Coy

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

No abstract provided.

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Scientists Confirm Euler's Identity Is Math's Most Beautiful Expression, John F. Donoghue Jul 2022

Scientists Confirm Euler's Identity Is Math's Most Beautiful Expression, John F. Donoghue

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The poem is an exploration of the natures of mathematical and artistic beauty.

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Ode To Delta, Evandro Il Cinico Jul 2022

Ode To Delta, Evandro Il Cinico

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

No abstract provided.

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Circular Meditations, Kevin Farey Jul 2022

Circular Meditations, Kevin Farey

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Circular Meditations is a sequence of seventeen interconnected poems pertaining to mathematics, science, history, politics, religion, and spirituality.

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Mathematics Education As Dystopia: A Future Beyond, Peter Appelbaum, Charoula Stathopoulou, Constantinos Xenofontos Jul 2022

Mathematics Education As Dystopia: A Future Beyond, Peter Appelbaum, Charoula Stathopoulou, Constantinos Xenofontos

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

We argue that scholars and practitioners of mathematics education need to find new directions through recognition of its dystopic characteristics, and embrace these characteristics as both the source of challenges and method of response. This contrasts with the generally utopic approach of most scholarship in the field. We offer critical ethnomathematics education as a model, since it has its own origins in lingering dystopic legacies. A perpetual hopelessness and disempowerment is one implicit curriculum of contemporary mathematics education, where the mathematics one learns might help to describe things, yet hardly assists in transforming the reification of power and agency in …

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Ramanujan Cab Numbers: A Recreational Mathematics Activity, Soumya Banerjee Jul 2022

Ramanujan Cab Numbers: A Recreational Mathematics Activity, Soumya Banerjee

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In this paper, I introduce teaching activities about Ramanujan’s cab numbers and related software that can inspire people and help them enjoy these beautiful mathematical creations.

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Academic Hats And Ice Cream: Two Optimization Problems, Valery F. Ochkov, Yulia V. Chudova Jul 2022

Academic Hats And Ice Cream: Two Optimization Problems, Valery F. Ochkov, Yulia V. Chudova

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This article describes the use of computer software to optimize the design of an academic hat and an ice cream cone!

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Mining The Soma Cube For Gems: Isomorphic Subgraphs Reveal Equivalence Classes, Edward Vogel, My Tram Jul 2022

Mining The Soma Cube For Gems: Isomorphic Subgraphs Reveal Equivalence Classes, Edward Vogel, My Tram

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Soma cubes are an example of a dissection puzzle, where an object is broken down into pieces, which must then be reassembled to form either the original shape or some new design. In this paper, we present some interesting discoveries regarding the Soma Cube. Equivalence classes form aesthetically pleasing shapes in the solution set of the puzzle. These gems are identified by subgraph isomorphisms using SNAP!/Edgy, a simple block-based computer programming language. Our preliminary findings offer several opportunities for researchers from middle school to undergraduate to utilize graphs, group theory, topology, and computer science to discover connections between computation and …

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