Mathematics Commons^™

Analyzing Fractals, Kara Mesznik

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

For my capstone project, I analyzed fractals. A fractal is a picture that is composed of smaller images of the larger picture. Each smaller picture is self- similar, meaning that each of these smaller pictures is actually the larger image just contracted in size through the use of the Contraction Mapping Theorem and shifted using linear and affine transformations.

Fractals live in something called a metric space. A metric space, denoted (X, d), is a space along with a distance formula used to measure the distance between elements in the space. When producing fractals …

Combinatorics And Topology Of Curves And Knots, Bailey Ann Ross

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The genus of a graph is the minimal genus of a surface into which the graph can be embedded. Four regular graphs play an important role in low dimensional topology since they arise from curves and virtual knot diagrams. Curves and virtual knots can be encoded combinatorially by certain signed words, called Gauss codes and Gauss paragraphs. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the genus problem for these combinatorial objects: Given a Gauss word or Gauss paragraph, what is the genus of the curve or virtual knot it represents?

Developmental Understanding Of The Equals Sign And Its Effects On Success In Algebra, Ryan W. Brown

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

For some students, the equals symbol is viewed as a directive to carry out a procedure, instead of a symbol expressing mathematical equivalence. The purpose of this study was to develop and to pilot a questionnaire to measure students’ understandings of relational equivalence as implied by their interpretations and use of the equals symbol. The results of this questionnaire were compared with student testing data with the goal of determining a correlation between understanding of symbolic equivalence and success in a typical algebra course. It was found that students who demonstrated an ability to define and articulate an appropriate meaning …

A Criterion For Identifying Stressors In Non-Linear Equations Using Gröbner Bases, Elisabeth Marie Palchak

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

A Mathematical Model Of The Biofluidmechanics Of The Non-Newtonian Mucus Layer Of The Tear Film In The Human Eye, Douglas M. Platt

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The human eye is a complicated and delicate organ. The structure of the eye is such that it provides for clear vision of the world. The cornea and conjunctiva at the front of the eye are avascular structures that require nutrients and moisture to be provided by the tear film. The tear film also provides for the removal of debris from the surface of the eye. The tear film has several layers: a lipid layer, an aqueous solution, and mucus. The optical clarity and structural uniformity of the tear film is maintained by the blinking motion of the eyelid. During …

Development Of A Discrete Mathematics Textbook And Guide For High School Teachers, Rebecca A. Stokes

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This project was to create the beginnings a textbook for teacher's to supplement instruction of a discrete mathematics course at the high school level. The development of the text was guided by past and current efforts to place discrete mathematics in high school curriculum. A review of the literature and experiences of instructors were viewed and analyzed to guide the construction of the textbook. The text was written with the goal to give teachers information about the topics of discrete mathematics, extra resources, lesson ideas , and optional worksheets for students. Several lessons were created and one was implemented in …

Stably Free Modules Over The Klein Bottle, Andrew Misseldine

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This paper is concerned with constructing countably many, non-free stably free modules for the Klein bottle group. The work is based on the papers “Stably Free, Projective Right Ideals" by J.T. Stafford (1985) and “Projective, Nonfree Modules Over Group Rings of Solvable Groups" by V. A. Artamonov (1981). Stafford proves general results that guarantee the existence of non-free stably frees for the Klein bottle group but has not made the argument explicit. Artamonov allows us to construct infinitely many non-free stably free modules. This paper will also construct presentations and sets of generators for these modules. This paper concludes with …

Neutrosophic Physics: More Problems, More Solutions, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

When considering the laws of theoretical physics, one of the physicists says that these laws – the actual expressions of the laws of mathematics and logics being applied to physical phenomena – should be limited according to the physical meaning we attribute to the phenomena. In other word, there is an opinion that a theoretical physicist should put some limitations onto mathematics, in order to “reduce” it to the observed reality. No doubt, we can do it. However, if following this way, we would arrive at only mathematical models of already known physical phenomena. Of course, this might be useful …

Assessing The Impact Of A Computer-Based College Algebra Course, Ningjun Ye

Dissertations

USM piloted the Math Zone in Spring 2007, a computer-based program in teaching MAT 101and MAT 099 in order to improve student performance. This research determined the effect of the re-design of MAT 101 on student achievements in comparison to a traditional approach to the same course. Meanwhile, the study investigated possible effects of the Math Zone program on students’ attitude toward studying mathematics.

This study shows that there was no statistically significant difference on MAT101 final exam scores between the Math Zone students and the Classroom students in Fall 2007, Spring 2008 and Fall 2008. At the same time, …

Analysis Of Discrete Data Under Order Restrictions, Jeff Campbell

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Strategies for the analysis of discrete data under order restrictions are discussed. We consider inference for sequences of binomial populations, and the corresponding risk difference, relative risk and odds ratios. These concepts are extended to deal with independent multinomial populations. Natural orderings such as stochastic ordering and cumulative ratio probability ordering are discussed. Methods are developed for the estimation and testing of differences between binomial as well as multinomial populations under order restrictions. In particular, inference for sequences of ordered binomial probabilities and cumulative probability ratios in multinomial populations are presented. Closed-form estimates of the multinomial parameters under order restrictions …

The Life Of Evariste Galois And His Theory Of Field Extension, Felicia N. Adams

Senior Honors Theses

Evariste Galois made many important mathematical discoveries in his short lifetime, yet perhaps the most important are his studies in the realm of field extensions. Through his discoveries in field extensions, Galois determined the solvability of polynomials. Namely, given a polynomial P with coefficients is in the field F and such that the equation P(x) = 0 has no solution, one can extend F into a field L with α in L, such that P(α) = 0. Whereas Galois Theory has numerous practical applications, this thesis will conclude with the examination and proof of the fact that it is impossible …

Option Pricing And Stable Trading Strategies In The Presence Of Information Asymmetry, Anirban Dutta

Dissertations

Pricing derivatives is one of the central issues in mathematical finance. The seminal work of Black, Scholes and Merton has been the cornerstone of option pricing since their introduction in 1973. Their work influenced the pricing theory of other derivatives as well.

This derivative pricing theory has two primary shortcomings. Firstly, the theoretical pricing in such theories are not accompanied by a stable trading strategy. Secondly, they often assume that the market agents use a uniform model for the underlying instrument and that the market prices of the derivatives reveal all the information about the underlying instrument.

Theoreticians like Grossman …

Certain Two-Parameter Representations Of The Lie Algebra Sl(2,C), Scott Sidoli

Mathematics and Statistics

Classical Lie algebras, like sl(2,C) can be represented using differential operators that act on polynomial space. These operators will take a different form when they are used on the space of polynomials of several variables and when the differentials are taken to be of higher order. We recall some known realizations and discuss possible deformations. In our two-parameter case we describe decomposition into indecomposable components.

The Effect Of Explicit Timing On Math Performance Using Interspersal Assignments With Students With Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Fangjuan Hou

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Explicit timing and interspersal assignments have been validated as effective methods to facilitate students' math practice. However, no researchers have explored the combinative effect of these two methods. In Study 1, we extended the literature by comparing the effect of explicit timing with interspersal assignments, and interspersal assignments without timing. Generally, participants' rate of digits correct on easy and hard addition problems was higher during the explicit timing condition than during the untimed condition. However, the participants' rate of digits correct decreased after initial implementation of the explicit timing condition.

Motivation plays a crucial role in maintaining performance levels and …

Classical Foundations For A Quantum Theory Of Time In A Two-Dimensional Spacetime, Nathan Thomas Carruth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

We consider the set of all spacelike embeddings of the circle S1 into a spacetime R1 × S1 with a metric globally conformal to the Minkowski metric. We identify this set and the group of conformal isometries of this spacetime as quotients of semidirect products involving diffeomorphism groups and give a transitive action of the conformal group on the set of spacelike embeddings. We provide results showing that the group of conformal isometries is a topological group and that its action on the set of spacelike embeddings is continuous. Finally, we point out some directions for future research.

Dancing With Heretics: Essays On Orthodoxy, Questioning And Faith, Darren M. Edwards

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

While much has been written about the conflicts, supposed or actual, between logic and faith, science and religion, few accounts of the personal turmoil these conflicts can cause exist. Likewise, many of these nonfiction accounts are written from a distinctly polarized place leaning either to science or faith.

In this thesis, I mix research and history with memoir and a sense of poetry to explore my personal experience with this conflict. At its outset, I hoped for this project to capture my struggle as an orthodox member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in dealing with …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Knowledge Of Algebraic Thinking And The Characteristics Of The Questions Posed For Students, Leigh A. Van Den Kieboom, Marta Magiera, John Moyer

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

In this study, we explored the relationship between the strength of pre-service teachers’ algebraic thinking and the characteristics of the questions they posed during cognitive interviews that focused on probing the algebraic thinking of middle school students. We developed a performance rubric to evaluate the strength of pre-service teachers’ algebraic thinking across 130 algebra-based tasks. We used an existing coding scheme found in the literature to analyze the characteristics of the questions pre-service teachers posed during clinical interviews. We found that pre-service teachers with higher algebraic thinking abilities were able to pose probing questions that uncovered student thinking through the …

Pre-Service Middle School Teachers’ Knowledge Of Algebraic Thinking, Marta Magiera, John Moyer, Leigh A. Van Den Kieboom

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

In this study we examined the relationship between 18 pre-service middle school teachers’ own ability to use algebraic thinking to solve problems and their ability to recognize and interpret the algebraic thinking of middle school students. We assessed the pre-service teachers’ own algebraic thinking by examining their solutions and explanations to multiple algebra-based tasks posed during a semester-long mathematics content course. We assessed their ability to recognize and interpret the algebraic thinking of students in two ways. The first was by analyzing the preservice teachers’ ability to interpret students’ written solutions to open-ended algebra-based tasks. The second was by analyzing …

Projections And Idempotents With Fixed Diagonal And The Homotopy Problem For Unit Tight Frames, Julien Giol, Leonid V. Kovalev, David Larson, Nga Nguyen, James E. Tener

Mathematics - All Scholarship

We investigate the topological and metric structure of the set of idempotent operators and projections which have prescribed diagonal entries with respect to a fixed orthonormal basis of a Hilbert space. As an application, we settle some cases of conjectures of Larson, Dykema, and Strawn on the connectedness of the set of unit-norm tight frames.

Bifurcations Of Traveling Wave Solutions For An Integrable Equation, Jibin Li, Zhijun Qiao

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper deals with the following equation mt= 1/2 1/mk xxx− 1/2 1/mk x, which is proposed by Z. J. Qiao J. Math. Phys. 48, 082701 2007 and Qiao and Liu Chaos, Solitons Fractals 41, 587 2009. By adopting the phase analysis method of planar dynamical systems and the theory of the singular traveling wave systems to the traveling wave solutions of the equation, it is shown that for different k, the equation may have infinitely many solitary wave solutions, periodic wave solutions, kink/antikink wave solutions, cusped solitary wave solutions, and breaking loop solutions. We discuss in a detail the …