Number Theory Commons^™

Mathematical Structure Of Musical Tuning Systems, Shay Joel Francis Spitzer

Senior Projects Spring 2023

Over the course of history, western music has created a unique mathematical problem for itself. From acoustics, we know that two notes sound good together when they are related by simple ratios consisting of low primes. The problem arises when we try to build a finite set of pitches, like the 12 notes on a piano, that are all related by such ratios. We approach the problem by laying out definitions and axioms that seek to identify and generalize desirable properties. We can then apply these ideas to a broadened algebraic framework. Rings in which low prime integers can be …

N-Cycle Splines Over Sexy Rings, Jacob Tilden Cummings

Senior Projects Spring 2020

In this project we abstract the work of previous bard students by introducing the concept of splines over non-integers, non-euclidean domains, and even non-PIDs. We focus on n-cycles for some natural number n. We show that the concept of flow up class bases exist in PID splines the same way they do in integer splines, remarking the complications and intricacies that arise when abstracting from the integers to PIDs. We also start from scratch by finding a flow up class basis for n-cycle splines over the real numbers adjoin two indeterminates, denoted R[x,y] which necessitate more original techniques.

The Conditional Probability That An Elliptic Curve Has A Rational Subgroup Of Order 5 Or 7, Meagan Kenney

Senior Projects Spring 2019

Let E be an elliptic curve over the rationals. There are two different ways in which the set of rational points on E can be said to be divisible by a prime p. We will call one of these types of divisibility local and the other global. Global divisibility will imply local divisibility; however, the converse is not guaranteed. In this project we focus on the cases where p=5 and p=7 to determine the probability that E has global divisibility by p, given that E has local divisibility by p.

Factorization Lengths In Numerical Monoids, Maya Samantha Schwartz

Senior Projects Spring 2019

A numerical monoid M generated by the natural numbers n_1, ..., n_k is a subset of {0, 1, 2, ...} whose elements are non-negative linear combinations of the generators n_1, ..., n_k. The set of factorizations of an element in M is the set of all the different ways to write that element as a linear combination of the generators. The length of a factorization of an element is the sum of the coefficients of that factorization. Since an element in a monoid can be written in different ways in terms of the generators, its set of factorization lengths may …

The Schur Factorization Property As It Applies To Subsets Of The General Laguerre Polynomials, Christopher A. Gunnell

Senior Projects Spring 2016

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Science, Mathematics and Computing of Bard College.

Mckay Graphs And Modular Representation Theory, Polina Aleksandrovna Vulakh

Senior Projects Spring 2016

Ordinary representation theory has been widely researched to the extent that there is a well-understood method for constructing the ordinary irreducible characters of a finite group. In parallel, John McKay showed how to associate to a finite group a graph constructed from the group's irreducible representations. In this project, we prove a structure theorem for the McKay graphs of products of groups as well as develop formulas for the graphs of two infinite families of groups. We then study the modular representations of these families and give conjectures for a modular version of the McKay graphs.

Integer Generalized Splines On The Diamond Graph, Emmet Reza Mahdavi

Senior Projects Spring 2016

In this project we extend previous research on integer splines on graphs, and we use the methods developed on n-cycles to characterize integer splines on the diamond graph. First, we find an explicit module basis consisting of flow-up classes. Then we develop a determinantal criterion for when a given set of splines forms a basis.

Basis Criteria For N-Cycle Integer Splines, Ester Gjoni

Senior Projects Spring 2015

In this project we work with integer splines on graphs with positive integer edge labels. We focus on graphs that are n-cycles for some natural number n. We find an explicit condition for when a set of splines can form a module basis for n-cycle splines. In general, a set of splines forms a Z-module basis if and only if their determinant is equal to the product of the edge labels divided by the greatest common divisor of those edge labels.

Rational Tilings Of The Unit Square, Galen Dorpalen-Barry

Senior Projects Spring 2015

A rational n-tiling of the unit square is a collection of n triangles with rational side length whose union is the unit square and whose intersections are at most their boundary edges. It is known that there are no rational 2-tilings or 3-tilings of the unit square, and that there are rational 4- and 5-tilings. The nature of those tilings is the subject of current research. In this project we give a combinatorial basis for rational n-tilings and explore rational 6-tilings of the unit square.

Irreducibility And Galois Properties Of Lifts Of Supersingular Polynomials, Rylan Jacob Gajek-Leonard

Senior Projects Spring 2015

It has recently been shown that a rational specialization of Jacobi polynomials, when reduced modulo a prime number p, has roots which coincide with the supersingular j- invariants of elliptic curves in characteristic p. These supersingular lifts are conjectured to be irreducible with maximal Galois groups. Using the theory of p-adic Newton Polygons, we provide a new infinite class of irreducibility and, assuming a conjecture of Hardy and Littlewood, give strong evidence for their Galois groups being as large as possible.

Galois Representations From Non-Torsion Points On Elliptic Curves, Matthew Phillip Hughes

Senior Projects Spring 2013

Working from well-known results regarding l-adic Galois representations attached to elliptic curves arising from successive preimages of the identity, we consider a natural deformation. Given a non-zero point P on a curve, we investigate the Galois action on the splitting fields of preimages of P under multiplication-by-l maps. We give a group-theoretic structure theorem for the corresponding Galois group, and state a conjecture regarding composita of two such splitting fields.

Elliptic Curves: Minimally Spanning Prime Fields And Supersingularity, Travis Mcgrath

Senior Projects Spring 2011

Elliptic curves are cubic curves that have been studied throughout history. From Diophantus of Alexandria to modern-day cryptography, Elliptic Curves have been a central focus of mathematics. This project explores certain geometric properties of elliptic curves defined over finite fields.

Fix a finite field. This project starts by demonstrating that given enough elliptic curves, their union will contain every point in the affine plane. We then find the fewest curves possible such that their union still contains all these points. Using some of the tools discussed in solving this problem, we then explore what can be said about the number …