Mathematics Commons^™

Combinatorial Interpretations Of Spanning Tree Identities, Arthur T. Benjamin, Carl R. Yerger

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We present a combinatorial proof that the wheel graph Wn has L2n − 2 spanning trees, where Ln is the nth Lucas number, and that the number of spanning trees of a related graph is a Fibonacci number. Our proofs avoid the use of induction, determinants, or the matrix tree theorem.

Applications Of Computational Homology, Christopher Aaron Johnson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Homology is a field of topology that classifies objects based on the number of n- dimensional holes (cuts, tunnels, voids, etc.) they possess. The number of its real life ap- plications is quickly growing, which requires development of modern computational meth- ods. In my thesis, I will present methods of calculation, algorithms, and implementations of simplicial homology, alpha shapes, and persistent homology.

The Alpha Shapes method represents a point cloud as the union of balls centered at each point, and based on these balls, a complex can be built and homology computed. If the balls are allowed to grow, one …

Bisections And Reflections: A Geometric Investigation, Carrie Carden, Jessie Penley

Undergraduate Mathematics Day: Past Content

This problem was first introduced as a challenge problem to high school geometry students. After receiving no responses from students, it was then taken to the collegial level. We were given this problem to investigate with the intent of generalizing the results to a broader question. This question being, what happens when we have a polygon with n sides? Before introducing the problem itself, we will recall some basic geometry definitions which will be used throughout this paper.

2006 Vol. 2 Table Of Contents, University Of Dayton. Department Of Mathematics

Undergraduate Mathematics Day: Past Content

No abstract provided.

Mathematical And Numerical Modeling Of Inflammation, Joshua Sullivan, Ivan Yotov

Undergraduate Mathematics Day: Past Content

When the body is attacked by a bacterial infection, it initiates a series of events designed to eradicate the infection while causing minimal damage to the body. Our goal is to investigate the defenses of the organ walls to the spread of infection. To do this we have chosen to model a volume of the body that includes the organ wall, the lumen outside of it and the blood and tissue within it. We have also taken into account the varied responses of the body, and our model includes many interacting agents that are part of the infection and defense …

Adventures With Rubik's Ufo, Bill Higgins

Undergraduate Mathematics Day: Past Content

Enro Rubik invented the puzzle which is now known as Rubik’s Cube in the 1970’s. More than 100 million cubes have been sold worldwide. The mathematics behind solutions to the cube have been extensively studied by mathematicians and puzzle enthusiasts alike. In this article the mathematics behind a solution of the related puzzle known as Rubik’s UFO is analyzed.

An Investigation Of Continued Fractions, Kristi Patton, Sandra Schroeder, Richard Daquila

Undergraduate Mathematics Day: Past Content

The study of continued fractions has produced many interesting and exciting results in number theory and other related fields of mathematics. Continued fractions have been studied for centuries by many famous mathematicians such as Wallis, Euler, Gauss, Lagrange, Ramanujan, Cauchy, and Khinchin. A connection between continued fractions and the Fibonacci sequence can be revealed by examining functional parameters of various rational functions. This work makes use of existing results concerning continued fractions and Mathematica to explore the relationship between continued fractions and rational functions.

A Framework For Inclusive Teaching In Stem Disciplines, Lois Reddick, Wayne Jacobson, Angela Linse, Darryl Yong

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

A wide body of literature exists recounting the ways in which inclusive teaching practices and principles benefit students and positively impact learning, student retention, and professional development across disciplines. However, STEM faculty do not readily accept the traditional approach of examining course content from multiple perspectives as relevant to their course content or useful in their teaching. In this chapter, we propose a Framework for Inclusive Teaching in STEM Disciplines that reflects the contexts of teaching in these disciplines, and extends James Banks’ Five Dimensions of Multicultural Education to the distinct needs of STEM faculty in their classes. We also …

Aspects Of The Jones Polynomial, Alvin Mendoza Sacdalan

Theses Digitization Project

A knot invariant called the Jones polynomial will be defined in two ways, as the Kauffman Bracket polynomial and the Tutte polynomial. Three properties of the Jones polynomial are discussed. We also see how mutant knots share the same Jones polynomial.

Geodesic On Surfaces Of Constant Gaussian Curvature, Veasna Chiek

Theses Digitization Project

The goal of the thesis is to study geodesics on surfaces of constant Gaussian curvature. The first three sections of the thesis is dedicated to the definitions and theorems necessary to study surfaces of constant Gaussian curvature. The fourth section contains examples of geodesics on these types of surfaces and discusses their properties. The thesis incorporates the use of Maple, a mathematics software package, in some of its calculations and graphs. The thesis' conclusion is that the Gaussian curvature is a surface invariant and the geodesics of these surfaces will be the so-called best paths.

The Structure Of Semisimple Artinian Rings, Ravi Samuel Pandian

Theses Digitization Project

Proves two famous theorems attributed to J.H.M. Wedderburn, which concern the structure of noncommutative rings. The two theorems include, (1) how any semisimple Artinian ring is the direct sum of a finite number of simple rings; and, (2) the Wedderburn-Artin Theorem. Proofs in this paper follow those outlined in I.N. Herstein's monograph Noncommutative Rings with examples and details provided by the author.

Minimal Congestion Trees, Shelly Jean Dawson

Theses Digitization Project

Analyzes the results of M.I. Ostrovskii's theorem of inequalities which estimate the minimal edge congestion for finite simple graphs. Uses the generic results of the theorem to examine and further reduce the parameters of inequalities for specific families of graphs, particularly complete graphs and complete bipartite graphs. Also, explores a possible minimal congestion tree for some grids while forming a conjecture for all grids.

Gauss-Bonnet Formula, Heather Ann Broersma

Theses Digitization Project

From fundamental forms to curvatures and geodesics, differential geometry has many special theorems and applications worth examining. Among these, the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem is one of the well-known theorems in classical differential geometry. It links geometrical and topological properties of a surface. The thesis introduced some basic concepts in differential geometry, explained them with examples, analyzed the Gauss-Bonnet Theorem and presented the proof of the theorem in greater detail. The thesis also considered applications of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem to some special surfaces.

Freeness Of Hopf Algebras, Christopher David Walker

Theses Digitization Project

The Nichols-Zoeller freeness theorem states that a finite dimensional Hopf algebra is free as a module over any subHopfalgebra. We will prove this theorem, as well as the first significant generalization of this theorem, which was proven three years later. This generalization says that if the Hopf algebra is infinite dimensional, then the Hopf algebra is still free if the subHopfalgebra is finite dimensional and semisimple . We will also look at several other significant generalizations that have since been proven.

On The Reliability Of An N-Component System, Don Rawlings, Lawrence Sze

Mathematics

Under assumptions compatible with the theory of Markov chains, we use a property of Vandermonde matrices to examine the reliability of an n-component system of production or service.

Hausdorff Dimension, Loren Beth Nemeth

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to define topological dimension and Hausdorff dimension, Namely metric space theory and measure theory. It was verified that in the sets of elementary geometry, the dimensions agree, while in the case of the fractals, the Hausdorff dimension is strictly larger than the topological dimension.

The Evolution Of Equation-Solving: Linear, Quadratic, And Cubic, Annabelle Louise Porter

Theses Digitization Project

This paper is intended as a professional developmental tool to help secondary algebra teachers understand the concepts underlying the algorithms we use, how these algorithms developed, and why they work. It uses a historical perspective to highlight many of the concepts underlying modern equation solving.

Investigation Of 4-Cutwidth Critical Graphs, Dolores Chavez

Theses Digitization Project

A 2004 article written by Yixun Lin and Aifeng Yang published in the journal Discrete Math characterized the set of a 3-cutwidth critical graphs by five specified elements. This project extends the idea to 4-cutwidth critical graphs.

Modeling Queueing Systems, Angela Zoi Leontas

Theses Digitization Project

The thesis introduces the theory of queueing systems and demonstrates its applicability to real life problems. It discusses (1) Markovian property and measures of effectiveness with exponential interarrival and service times; (2) Erlang service times, and a single server; (3) different goodness-of-fit tests that can be used to determine whether the exponential distribution is appropriate for a given set of data. A single server queueing system with exponential interarrival times and Erlang service times is simulated using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

Symmetric Representation Of Elements Of Finite Groups, Timothy Edward George

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of the thesis is to give an alternative and more efficient method for working with finite groups by constructing finite groups as homomorphic images of progenitors. The method introduced can be applied to all finite groups that possess symmetric generating sets of involutions. Such groups include all finite non-abelian simple groups, which can then be constructed by the technique of manual double coset enumeration.

The Life And Work Of D.H. Hyers, 1913-1997, Brent D. Singleton

Library Faculty Publications & Presentations

The following is a sketch of the life and work of Donald Holmes Hyers, Professor Emeritus from the University of Southern California. The theorem put forth by Hyers in 1941 concerning linear functional equations has gained a great deal of interest over the past two decades. Hundreds of articles have been written citing his works, many of which have furthered the theorem. This paper contains a brief description of Hyers’ theorem, a biographical essay and an extensive bibliography of Hyers’ work and works citing the Hyers theorem or the D.H. Hyers–S.M. Ulam–Th.M. Rassias theorem or related subjects of almost the …

Computing The Arithmetic Genus Of Hilbert Modular Fourfolds, Helen G. Grundman, L. E. Lippincott

Mathematics Faculty Research and Scholarship

The Hilbert modular fourfold determined by the totally real quartic number field k is a desingularization of a natural compactification of the quotient space Gamma(k)\H-4, where Gamma(k) = PSL2(O-k) acts on H-4 by fractional linear transformations via the four embeddings of k into R. The arithmetic genus, equal to one plus the dimension of the space of Hilbert modular cusp forms of weight (2, 2, 2, 2), is a birational invariant useful in the classification of these varieties. In this work, we describe an algorithm allowing for the automated computation of the arithmetic genus and give sample results.

Seventh Kenneth C. Schraut Memorial Lecture (Poster), University Of Dayton. Department Of Mathematics

Kenneth C. Schraut Memorial Lectures

No abstract provided.

Strategies In Maximizing The Use Of Existing Technology In Philippine Schools, Debbie Marie Y. Bautista, Ma. Louise Antonette N. De Las Peñas

Mathematics Faculty Publications

One of the challenges that continue to confront teachers in Philippine schools is the accessibility of technology for the study and learning of mathematics. In this paper, we will look at several situations and actual experiences happening in Philippine schools. Strategies on how existing technological tools are to be maximized will be discussed, including the creation of lesson plans and classroom activities. The use of technology-based manipulatives in mathematics learning as alternatives to unavailable technology will also be looked at.

Intrinsic Linking And Knotting Of Graphs In Arbitrary 3–Manifolds, Erica Flapan, Hugh Howards, Don Lawrence, Blake Mellor

Pomona Faculty Publications and Research

We prove that a graph is intrinsically linked in an arbitrary 3–manifold M if and only if it is intrinsically linked in S³. Also, assuming the Poincaré Conjecture, we prove that a graph is intrinsically knotted in M if and only if it is intrinsically knotted in S³.

A Peano-Akô Type Theorem For Variational Inequalities, Vy Khoi Le

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We consider in this paper a Peano-Akô property of solution sets in some quasilinear elliptic variational inequalities. As consequences, variants of that property and a partial Hukuhara-Kneser theorem for inequalities are derived.

Boundedness In Functional Dynamic Equations On Time Scales, Elvan Akin, Youssef N. Raffoul

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Using nonnegative definite Lyapunov functionals, we prove general theorems for the boundedness of all solutions of a functional dynamic equation on time scales. We apply our obtained results to linear and nonlinear Volterra integro-dynamic equations on time scales by displaying suitable Lyapunov functionals.

Monte Carlo Random Walk Simulations Based On Distributed Order Differential Equations With Applications In Cell Biology, Erik Andries, Sabir Umarov, Stanly Steinberg

Mathematics Faculty Publications

In this paper the multi-dimensional random walk models governed by distributed fractional order differential equations and multi-term fractional order differential equations are constructed. The scaling limits of these random walks to a diffusion process in the sense of distributions is proved. Simulations based upon multi-term fractional order differential equations are performed.

Solving Higher Order Dynamic Equations On Time Scales As First Order Systems, Elizabeth R. Duke

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Time scales calculus seeks to unite two disparate worlds: that of differential, Newtonian calculus and the difference calculus. As such, in place of differential and difference equations, time scales calculus uses dynamic equations. Many theoretical results have been developed concerning solutions of dynamic equations. However, little work has been done in the arena of developing numerical methods for approximating these solutions. This thesis work takes a first step in obtaining numerical solutions of dynamic equations|a protocol for writing higher-order dynamic equations as systems of first-order equations. This process proves necessary in obtaining numerical solutions of differential equations since the Runge-Kutta …

The Maximal Regular Ideal Of Some Commutative Rings, Emad Abu Osba, Melvin Henriksen, Osama Alkam, Frank A. Smith

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

In 1950 in volume 1 of Proc. Amer. Math. Soc., B. Brown and N. McCoy showed that every (not necessarily commutative) ring R has an ideal M (R) consisting of elements a for which there is an x such that axa=a, and maximal with respect to this property. Considering only the case when R is commutative and has an identity element, it is often not easy to determine when M(R) is not just the zero ideal. We determine when this happens in a number of cases: Namely when at least one of a or 1-a has a von Neumann inverse, …