Mathematicians Against The Tide,
2026
Università di Perugia
Mathematicians Against The Tide, Nicola Ciccoli
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Mathematicians in popular culture are often depicted as people obsessed by their studies but with little connection to society, poor social skills, mental issues and narrow interests, and more generally a dull life. Adding to these explicit stereotypes, subtler and more implicit ones also abound, regarding mathematicians’ gender, ethnicity, age; they are all supposed to be white middle-aged men. In this paper I describe a project aimed at disrupting such stereotypes that culminated in a book containing short comics and biographies of twentieth-century mathematicians that were, with respect to the perceived image of mathematicians, against the tide.
Waiting For The Magic: A Historical And Mathematical Study Of Queues In Disney Theme Parks,
2026
The Hewitt School
Waiting For The Magic: A Historical And Mathematical Study Of Queues In Disney Theme Parks, Nina E. Becket
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This paper, written as part of an honors research project in high school, provides an introduction to the line and queuing systems at Disney theme parks. We begin with a brief history of Disney World and its creators. We then introduce the basics of queuing theory and queuing notation. Finally, we examine modern line systems at Disney (as of 2023) and the future of its different queue systems.
An Exploration Of Mathematical And Musical Connections,
2026
California State University, Long Beach
An Exploration Of Mathematical And Musical Connections, Jeffrey Pair, Egypt Pannell, Dani Rodriguez, Jerico Sarmiento
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
In this paper, we present an introduction to some of the mathematical principles underlying music and mathematically develop a connection between the twelve musical notes and the group of integers modulo twelve. Our discussion touches on the simple mathematical ratios used to calculate consonant musical tones on the length of a string, the frequencies of tones and the method by which the twelfth root of two provides the foundation of equal temperament tuning, some algebraic connections to musical concepts like the euphonious circle of fifths, and a curious connection to twin primes.
Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Mathematics Achievement And Problem-Solving Ability: Insights From Secondary Schools In India,
2026
Manipur University
Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Mathematics Achievement And Problem-Solving Ability: Insights From Secondary Schools In India, Laishram Nirtish Singh, Anand Jyoti Sanasam, Jocyline Thokchom, Ningombam Cha Cogent, Laisom Sharmeswar Singh
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted students’ engagement with mathematics. This study aims to contribute to our understanding of the extent of this disrupting by examining differences in mathematics achievement and problem-solving ability between adjacent cohorts who learned Class 8 under different schooling conditions in India: Group A (pandemic-exposed Class 8 cohort) and Group B (post-reopening Class 8 cohort). Using a descriptive design in a natural setting, we selected a stratified sample of 1,200 students from Class 9 and Class 10 across 21 secondary schools in Manipur, India. The sample was stratified by gender, family type, school type, and locality to ensure …
"Math Is Like A Rollercoaster": Exploring Math Similes And Metaphors,
2026
University of Minnesota Duluth
"Math Is Like A Rollercoaster": Exploring Math Similes And Metaphors, Carmen M. Latterell, Janelle L. Wilson
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
In this article we explore the metaphors and similes that pre-service elementary teachers use to describe mathematics. Employing qualitative content analysis, we separately coded the metaphors and similes into conceptual categories and analyzed themes that emerged. This grounded theory approach led to the creation of seven categories of metaphors and similes and three overarching themes. Math was viewed as a journey, a puzzle, a personal experience, a creative process, an algorithm, infinite, and an embodied process. Pre-service elementary teachers viewed mathematics as a process that takes effort. Overall, mathematics is a positive experience for them. In addition, mathematics involves fitting …
Cultivating Mathematics Teacher Educators’ Hearts, Critical Consciousness, And Professional Praxis Through Book Study,
2026
Saint Mary's College of California
Cultivating Mathematics Teacher Educators’ Hearts, Critical Consciousness, And Professional Praxis Through Book Study, Mary Raygoza, Missy D. Cosby, Sheila Orr, Barbara King, Justin T. Burris, Siddhi Soni
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
At a time when executive orders and state legislation are attempting to ban practices promoting equity, belonging, and social justice from education, specifically STEM education, in the United States, mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) remain committed to humanizing mathematics teaching and learning practices and seek opportunities to learn how to adhere to their convictions while preparing mathematics teachers for the classroom. This paper offers reflections and considerations for how the authors engaged interested MTEs to shift or strengthen their individual and collective professional praxis through a book study. Specifically, we examine the design (the what) and process (the how) of a …
Piracy, Terrorism, And The Law: Differential Equations In Hostage Situations,
2026
Faculty of Law, Ono Academic College
Piracy, Terrorism, And The Law: Differential Equations In Hostage Situations, Gabriel Hallevy
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Pirates have taken the crew of an American ship hostage. They promise to release the hostages only if another pirate who is held in an American prison for commission of piracy crimes against American citizens, is released. Should the U.S. government enter into negotiations with them? Should they send armed forces and risk the hostages? Should they release the prisoner immediately and unconditionally? The article models and analyzes possible policies regarding sensitive situations involving hostages and other related risks using differential equations. The solutions are surprisingly simple, but not necessarily intuitive. Our analysis aims to demonstrate how powerful mathematics is …
Grationality, With A Spoon,
2026
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Grationality, With A Spoon, L. Jeneva Clark
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
I introduced grationality at a 2025 sectional meeting of the Mathematical Association of America to install a handle on a concept akin to rationality of numbers, but in a geometric context. More specifically, we define a nice n-gon to be a regular n-gon with side lengths that are natural numbers; then a number n is grational if and only if there exists a nice n-gon such that its area equals the sum of areas of n congruent nice n-gons. In this paper I offer several examples of grational and non-grational numbers, followed by theorems about how the grationality of a …
A Method For Folding Origami Rectilinear Polygon Extrusions,
2026
St. Mark's School of Texas
A Method For Folding Origami Rectilinear Polygon Extrusions, Everett L. Jin
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
We present a method for generating crease patterns for folding any rectilinear polygon extrusion with a specified uniform minimum edge-to-edge distance, using a rectangular sheet of paper. We demonstrate that the resulting models are efficient and watertight. In addition, they achieve optimal efficiency, meaning they attain the smallest possible scale factor from the original sheet of paper to the folded rectilinear polygon extrusion. Finally, we provide a code implementation of the method. Our study not only facilitates crease pattern design for origami artists but also offers an innovative, art-driven pedagogical tool for inspiring interest in mathematics.
The Set Card Game And Partitions Into Maximal Caps: A Partial Difference Sets Approach,
2026
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
The Set Card Game And Partitions Into Maximal Caps: A Partial Difference Sets Approach, John Polhill
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
More specifically, we revisit the problem of determining the maximum number of cards that can be dealt in the SET® card game without any matches, which is well known to be equivalent to the problem of determining the size of a maximal cap in the affine space AG(4,3). We present a new approach to the problem by using partial difference sets, a method that is equivalent to using strongly regular graphs with a regular automorphism group. The paper includes several possible avenues for future investigations on how partial difference sets might be used in related problems.
Manipulating Mathematics,
2026
Claremont McKenna College
Manipulating Mathematics, Mark Huber, Gizem Karaali
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
No abstract provided.
Front Matter,
2026
Claremont Colleges
Sums Of Consecutive Integers And Sequence Of Divisors,
2026
Rowan University
Sums Of Consecutive Integers And Sequence Of Divisors, Mushrat Fatema, Abdulkadir Hassen
STEM Student Research Symposium Posters
This work is concerned with two problems in number theory. The first part is to find the maximum number of sequence of integers such that two consecutive numbers in the list are multiple or factor of the other, and integers that can be expressed as a sum of consecutive integers.
The Uncertainty Principles,
2026
University of New Mexico
The Uncertainty Principles, Lee Michael Felicetti
Mathematics & Statistics ETDs
The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is a central aspect of quantum mechanics, but also illustrates an essential quality of the Fourier transform. After Heisenberg, a variety of uncertainty inequalities emerged in the fields of physics and mathematics. In this thesis we will analyze the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in both the setting of quantum mechanics and Fourier analysis. We will then look at how the work of Heisenberg has been expanded upon in both physics and mathematics. Particularity, we will see how uncertainty principles can be applied to signal recovery and explore current research in this field.
Boundary Integral Method For A Modified Mullins–Sekerka System,
2026
University of New Mexico
Boundary Integral Method For A Modified Mullins–Sekerka System, Ly Le
Mathematics & Statistics ETDs
This thesis develops a boundary integral method for a modified Mullins–Sekerka system arising as the sharp-interface limit of a nonreciprocal Cahn–Hilliard model. Nonreciprocal coupling changes the classical Cahn–Hilliard structure by introducing an additional conserved field, leading to coupled elliptic and parabolic dynamics at the interface. Using matched asymptotic expansions, we formally derive the modified Mullins–Sekerka model and then apply the boundary integral method to rewrite it on the moving interface. The elliptic component is represented using the periodic Green’s function for the Laplace equation, while the parabolic component is represented using the periodic heat kernel. This method reduces the bulk …
Nerve Constructions And Mapper,
2026
University of New Mexico
Nerve Constructions And Mapper, Alexander Bram Fritschi
Mathematics & Statistics ETDs
Mapper is a data visualization tool commonly used in topological data analysis to study large, often high-dimensional datasets. Mapper operates through the selection of a lens function, a clustering algorithm, and a cover. The Mapper graph is constructed using the nerve of the cover after the clustering algorithm is performed; it is therefore useful to study nerves to better understand Mapper. In this thesis, we will utilize the properties of nerves to find the minimal point set that produces a given graph. We will then extend this to Mapper to determine what Mapper graphs may be constructed over a given …
Interpretable Case-Control Inference Through Log-Linear General Location Models,
2026
University of New Mexico
Interpretable Case-Control Inference Through Log-Linear General Location Models, Zacharia Stuart
Mathematics & Statistics ETDs
This dissertation analyzes one of the few publicly available NFL injury datasets to study field type and non-contact lower-limb injuries. Field type is studied jointly with other risk factors to understand how these factors interact to affect injury risk. The data were gathered through a case-control sampling scheme, which limits direct inference on absolute injury probabilities. While not the most common approach for case-control data, this dissertation models the retrospective distribution directly through Log-Linear General Location Models (Log-Linear GLOMs). Through a log-linear structure placed on a log-odds-ratio reparameterization, the model provides directly interpretable marginal and interaction contributions to injury log-odds …
Error-Tolerant Metric Dimension,
2026
San Jose State University
Error-Tolerant Metric Dimension, Leander Ten Hoff
Master's Theses
Metric dimension is a graph parameter that measures the smallest distance-based unique coordinate system on a graph. Fault-tolerant metric dimension is a variant that requires redundancy. Inspired by this idea, we propose and investigate a new variant we call error-tolerant metric dimension. We first prove some fundamental results to gain familiarity with this more complex variant. Then, we use these tools to study relative behaviors of error-tolerant metric dimension. We prove explicit computations for simple graph families, including bipartite complete graphs and paths. Finally, we extend extremal results from previous papers on metric dimension, including a full correction of an …
Probabilistic Metric Dimension,
2026
San Jose State University
Probabilistic Metric Dimension, Kyle Worley
Master's Theses
The metric dimension of a graph G is the smallest number of unique vertices (often called “marked vertices” or “landmarks”) such that each vertex has a unique distance to the marked vertices. If a set of vertices S ⊆ V (G) when marked gives all vertices unique distances, it is called a resolving set. Hence if G is a graph with a resolving set S, then for all v, u ∈ V (G) there exists s ∈ S such that d(v, s) ̸= d(u, s). The metric dimension dim(G) = min(|S|). Two widely studied variants exist, one where edges are …
The Relationship Between Foliations Of The Plane, Kaplan Diagrams, And Non-Hausdorff 1-Manifolds,
2026
San Jose State University
The Relationship Between Foliations Of The Plane, Kaplan Diagrams, And Non-Hausdorff 1-Manifolds, Monique Justine Howe
Master's Theses
In this paper we seek to explain the relationship between foliations of the plane, Kaplan diagrams, and simply connected non-Hausdorff 1-manifolds with countable basis that are orientable with an ordering on branch points. We will walk the reader through the definitions of all of these objects, and provide examples with a focus on the motivating example of the Reeb foliation. This paper will describe and define the known bijection from the set of foliations of the plane, F, to the set of Kaplan diagrams, K, its inverse, and the one-to-one map from F to the set of simply connected non-Hausdorff …
