Mathematics Commons^™

Happiness In Mathematics Education: The Experiences Of Preservice Elementary Teachers, Jeffrey Pair, Kent Dinh

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In this paper, we discuss preservice elementary teachers (PSTs) self-report of their happiness or unhappiness. Several times throughout a mathematics content capstone course, PSTs responded to prompts in which they described times from their past schooling experiences or during the course in which they experienced happiness or unhappiness in learning mathematics. Through thematic analysis, we examined their common experiences related to happiness and their mathematics learning. We found that PSTs’ happiness is related to expectations of themselves, their teachers, their peers, and mathematics itself. The study illuminates PST beliefs about mathematics teaching, collaborative group work, and the nature of mathematical …

Middle School Students Generating Mathematical Problems From A Real-Life Situation, David Coffland, Ying Xie

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In this study, we examined the effect of different presentation formats of a realistic situation on students’ mathematical problem-posing behavior. We divided thirty-six middle school students into two groups, gave them a pretest, and then showed them a realistic, problem-posing situation in Artifact or Video format. We used Silver’s core dimensions of creativity, namely fluency, flexibility, and originality, to measure participants’ problem-posing activity. The results for the fluency measures showed that the Artifact group wrote more questions than the Video group but the same number of mathematics problems. The Video group posed problems in more mathematical domains than the Artifact …

Makers Do Math! Legitimizing Informal Mathematical Practices Within Making Contexts, Amber Simpson, Signe Kastberg

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In this paper, we argue that making activities within non-formal learning environments (e.g., museums, libraries) provide opportunities to engage youth in what we define as mathematical practices for making, everyday mathematical practices within the context of making activities. The mathematical practices identified from two non-formal school-based contexts highlighted three mathematical practices for making: informal measurement, spatial reasoning, and curiosity. These practices are identified in prior scholarship as being beneficial and foundational for the understanding of mathematical concepts. As educators and researchers turn to non-formal and informal contexts, with an eye toward understanding ways youth engage in the activity of making, …

Plane Figurate Number Proofs Without Words Explained With Pattern Blocks, Gunhan Caglayan

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This article focuses on an artistic interpretation of pattern block designs with primary focus on the connection between pattern blocks and plane figurate numbers. Through this interpretation, it tells the story behind a handful of proofs without words (PWWs) that are inspired by such pattern block designs.

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), …

Seeing Mathematics And Seeing Mathematicians, Mark Huber, Gizem Karaali

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Results On The Generalized Covering Radius Of Error Correcting Codes, Benjamin Langton

HMC Senior Theses

The recently proposed generalized covering radius is a fundamental property of error correcting codes. This quantity characterizes the trade off between time and space complexity of certain algorithms when a code is used in them. However, for the most part very little is known about the generalized covering radius. My thesis seeks to expand on this field in several ways. First, a new upper bound on this quantity is established and compared to previous bounds. Second, this bound is used to derive a new algorithm for finding codewords within the generalized covering radius of a given vector, and also to …

Algebraic Invariants Of Knot Diagrams On Surfaces, Ryan Martinez

HMC Senior Theses

In this thesis we first give an introduction to knots, knot diagrams, and algebraic structures defined on them accessible to anyone with knowledge of very basic abstract algebra and topology. Of particular interest in this thesis is the quandle which "colors" knot diagrams. Usually, quandles are only used to color knot diagrams in the plane or on a sphere, so this thesis extends quandles to knot diagrams on any surface and begins to classify the fundamental quandles of knot diagrams on the torus.

This thesis also breifly looks into Niebrzydowski Tribrackets which are a different algebraic structure which, in future …

An Exploration Of Voting With Partial Orders, Mason Acevedo

HMC Senior Theses

In this thesis, we discuss existing ideas and voting systems in social choice theory. Specifically, we focus on the Kemeny rule and the Borda count. Then, we begin trying to understand generalizations of these voting systems in a setting where voters can submit partial rankings on their ballot, instead of complete rankings.

On The Polytopal Generalization Of Sperner’S Lemma, Amit Harlev

HMC Senior Theses

We introduce and prove Sperner’s lemma, the well known combinatorial analogue of the Brouwer fixed point theorem, and then attempt to gain a better understanding of the polytopal generalization of Sperner’s lemma conjectured in Atanassov (1996) and proven in De Loera et al. (2002). After explaining the polytopal generalization and providing examples, we present a new, simpler proof of a slightly weaker result that helps us better understand the result and why it is correct. Some ideas for how to generalize this proof to the complete result are discussed. In the last two chapters we provide a brief introduction to …

Games For One, Games For Two: Computationally Complex Fun For Polynomial-Hierarchical Families, Kye Shi

HMC Senior Theses

In the first half of this thesis, we explore the polynomial-time hierarchy, emphasizing an intuitive perspective that associates decision problems in the polynomial hierarchy to combinatorial games with fixed numbers of turns. Specifically, problems in �� are thought of as 0-turn games, ���� as 1-turn “puzzle” games, and in general ��ₖ�� as ��-turn games, in which decision problems answer the binary question, “can the starting player guarantee a win?” We introduce the formalisms of the polynomial hierarchy through this perspective, alongside definitions of ��-turn CIRCUIT SATISFIABILITY games, whose ��ₖ��-completeness is assumed from prior work (we briefly justify this assumption …

On Coherence And The Geometry Of Certain Families Of Lattices, David Booth Kogan

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The coherence of a lattice is, roughly speaking, a measure of non-orthogonality of its minimal vectors. It was introduced to lattices (by analogy with frame theory) by L. Fukshansky and others as a possible route to gaining insight into packing density, a central problem in lattice theory. In this work, we introduce the related measure of average coherence, explore connections between packing density and coherence, and prove several properties of certain families of lattices, most notably nearly orthogonal lattices, cyclotomic lattices, and cyclic lattices.

On Multiplication Groups Of Quasigroups, Ahmed Al Fares

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Quasigroups are algebraic structures in which divisibility is always defined. In this thesis we investigate quasigroups using a group-theoretic approach. We first construct a family of quasigroups which behave in a group-like fashion. We then focus on the multiplication groups of quasigroups, which have first appeared in the work of A. A. Albert. These permutation groups allow us to study quasigroups using group theory. We also explore how certain natural operations on quasigroups affect the associated multiplication groups. Along the way we take the time and special care to pose specific questions that may lead to further work in the …

An Exponential Formula For Random Variables Generated By Multiple Brownian Motions, Maximilian Lawrence Baroi

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The frozen operator has been used to develop Dyson-series like representations for random variables generated by classical Brownian motion, Lévy processes and fractional Brownian with Hurst index greater than 1/2.The relationship between the conditional expectation of a random variable (or fractional conditional expectation in the case of fractional Brownian motion)and that variable's Dyson-series like representation is the exponential formula. These results had not yet been extended to either fractional Brownian motion with Hurst index less than 1/2, or d-dimensional Brownian motion. The former is still out of reach, but we hope our review of stochastic integration for fractional Brownian motion …

Investigation Of Neutrophil-Like Hl-60 Cell Migration In A 3d Collagen Matrix, Pouye Sedighian

CGU Theses & Dissertations

It is known that cell migration in innate and adaptive immune system plays a fundamental role in human health. Among the immune cells, neutrophils are one of the most essential cells in protecting the body against invading pathogens. In the presence of chemoattractants, these cells are the first responders that start a directed migration toward the injured area. As neutrophils approach the site of infection, they transmigrate to the tissue and follow the chemoattractant concentration gradient to locate and eliminate the invading pathogens. Understanding the patterns and mechanism of neutrophil migration in the presence of chemoattractants could possibly play an …

Analyzing Marriage Statistics As Recorded In The Journal Of The American Statistical Association From 1889 To 2012, Annalee Soohoo

CMC Senior Theses

The United States has been tracking American marriage statistics since its founding. According to the United States Census Bureau, “marital status and marital history data help federal agencies understand marriage trends, forecast future needs of programs that have spousal benefits, and measure the effects of policies and programs that focus on the well-being of families, including tax policies and financial assistance programs.”[1] With such a wide scope of applications, it is understandable why marriage statistics are so highly studied and well-documented.

This thesis will analyze American marriage patterns over the past 100 years as documented in the Journal of …

Energy As A Limiting Factor In Neuronal Seizure Control: A Mathematical Model, Sophia E. Epstein

CMC Senior Theses

The majority of seizures are self-limiting. Within a few minutes, the observed neuronal synchrony and deviant dynamics of a tonic-clonic or generalized seizure often terminate. However, a small epilesia partialis continua can occur for years. The mechanisms that regulate subcortical activity of neuronal firing and seizure control are poorly understood. Published studies, however, through PET scans, ketogenic treatments, and in vivo mouse experiments, observe hypermetabolism followed by metabolic suppression. These observations indicate that energy can play a key role in mediating seizure dynamics. In this research, I seek to explore this hypothesis and propose a mathematical framework to model how …

Mary Eleanor Spear's Importance To The History Of Statistical Visualization, Melanie Williams

CMC Senior Theses

This paper will demonstrate why Mary Eleanor Spear (1897-1986) is an important figure in the history of statistical visualization. She lead an impressive career working in the federal government as a data analyst before "data analyst" became a thing. She wrote and illustrated two comprehensive textbooks which furthered the art of statistical visualization. Her textbooks cover extensive graphing knowledge still valuable to statisticians and viewers today. Most notable of her works is her development of the box plot. In addition to Spear's career and contributions, this paper will also address the lack of female representation in science, technology, engineering, and …

Interpolating The Riemann Zeta Function In The P-Adics, Rebecca Mamlet

Scripps Senior Theses

In this thesis, we develop the Kubota-Leopoldt Riemann zeta function in the p-adic integers. We follow Neil Koblitz's interpolation of Riemann zeta, using Bernoulli measures and p-adic integrals. The underlying goal is to better understand p-adic expansions and computations. We finish by connecting the Riemann zeta function to L-functions and their p-adic interpolations.

Infinitely Many Radial Solutions For A P-Laplacian Problem With Indefinite Weight, Alfonso Castro, Jorge Cossio, Sigifredo Herrón, Carlos Vélez

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We prove the existence of infinitely many sign changing radial solutions for a p-Laplacian Dirichlet problem in a ball. Our problem involves a weight function that is positive at the center of the unit ball and negative in its boundary. Standard initial value problems-phase plane analysis arguments do not apply here because solutions to the corresponding initial value problem may blow up near the boundary due to the fact that our weight function is negative at the boundary. We overcome this difficulty by connecting the solutions to a singular initial value problem with those of a regular initial value problem …

Fourth Voices Conference On Teaching Stem With Song, Lawrence M. Lesser

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The fourth VOICES (Virtual Ongoing Interdisciplinary Collaborations on Educating with Song) conference will be held September 26, 2021, with its Sunday date especially targeting those whose teaching schedule precludes attendance on a weekday. This online-only conference explores the use of song to teach STEM content at the college or secondary school level and will include reviewed interactive sessions, video-posters, and discussions of interest to both practitioners and researchers.

An Interview With The (Other) Corona Graph, Bonnie Jacob, Jobby Jacob

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The following is an interview, conducted in April 2021, with a graph product known as the corona graph. Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are not ours. Actually, this entire interview is fiction, other than the mathematics, of course.

The Music Is All That Counts! A Poem-Collage Pair Created During The Pandemic, Sarah Glaz, Mark Sanders

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The poem-collage pair presented here is a work of collaboration between the mathematician and poet, Sarah Glaz, and the collage and ceramic artist, Mark Sanders. The piece is part of their larger joint poem-collage project involving the history of mathematics. Created at the height of the pandemic, the poem-collage pair reflects the reality of living during a plague and embodies the solace offered by long-distance collaboration and by the arts. Included as background is a brief discussion on the history and mathematics involved, information about Sarah’s poem and Mark’s collage, and a reflection on how the pandemic influenced both the …

Letters From Incompleteness, Jonah Howell

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In a series of letters to a faraway lover, an unnamed narrator attempts to make sense of his own internal struggles by fixating on the strange death of Kurt Gödel.

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.

Asymptotic Dream, Oscar Gonzalez

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

A love poem about breaching mathematical limits, inspired by the tragic beauty of calculus.

Train Algebra, Mary Soon Lee

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

No abstract provided.

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 Poetry In The Time Of Covid

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected mathematicians and teachers in many ways. In our January 2021 issue, we invited our community to submit essays and reflections, as well as fiction and poetry, based on their experiences during this globally unsettling (and still ongoing) event. This folder presents a select collection of poems submitted in response to that call, by Christopher Caruvana, Marion Cohen, Lawrence M. Lesser, Dan May, Vanessa Sun, and Michele Willman, ordered alphabetically by poet last name.