The Math Major Vol. 3, No. 9
The Math Major
CSU Fresno Mathematics Department
Vol 3. No. 9 (February 19, 1999)
Editor: Dr. Larry Cusick.
Spring 1999 Video Series
There are two videos coming.
- Date: Thursday, February 18, 2:10 pm
- Film: "Fermat's Last Theorem"
- Location: PB 390
- Description:
A feature length video of the Fermat Fest held July 28, 1993 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco
celebrating Andrew Wiles' proof of Fermat's Last Theorem. Included are interviews with Andrew Wiles,
Robert Osserman, Lenore Blum, Karl Rubin, Ken Ribet, John Conway and Lee Dembart. Songs by Tom Lehrer
("There's a Delta for Every Epsilon" and "That's Mathematics").
- Date: Thursday, February 25, 2:10 pm
- Film: "Soap Bubbles and Mathematics"
- Location: PB 390
- Description:
In this video, Frank Morgan, a noted lecturer who has done considerable
research on soap films and their generalizations, speaks
about the simple, elegant shapes of ordinary soap bubbles.
There are important symmetry and minimization properties
which help determine the shapes of soap bubbles. There will
be, in addition to the usual refreshments, soap solution,
bubble blowers and wire frames for experimentation.
Summer Programs for Women in Mathematics
The George Washington University Summer Program for Women in Mathematics `99 is a five
week (June 26-July 31, 1999) intensive program for mathematically-talented undergraduate women
who are completing their junior year and may be contemplating graduate study in the mathematical
science. The goals of this program are to communicate an enthusiasm for mathematics, to develop
research skills, to cultivate mathematical self-confidence and independence, and to promote
success in graduate school.
Sixteen women will be selected. Each will receive travel allowance, campus room and board, and a
stipend of $1,250. Application Deadline is March 1, 1999. For further information, contact the
co-directors: Murli M. Gupta & E. Arthur Robinson, Jr. or visit their web site .
Spelman and Bryn Mawr Colleges extends a
special invitation to women who will be entering graduate study programs in mathematics in the
Fall of 1999 to participate in a post-baccalaureate summer enrichment program. The Enhancing
Diversity Graduate Education (EDGE) Program will consist of a four-week summer session and an
accompanying graduate school mentoring and support network component. The summer program consists
of two core courses in analysis and algebra/linear algebra. A set of minicourses in vital areas
of mathematical research, short term visitors from academia and industry, guest lectures,
graduate student mentors, and problem sessions will round out the summer experience.
The deadline for applications is March 1, 1999. For more information and inquiries, visit the
program web site .
Job Search
For summer employment, the Internship & Summer Job Fair will be held at the Satellite
College Union, on Wednesday, February 24, 1999 from 10 am to 2 pm. More than 60 employers will be
represented to meet with and hire students for summer '99.
The CSU Fresno Career Services schedules interview and resume services for students. For
more information, visit their office at Joyal Administration, Room 256 or their web site.
A Mathematical Quote
"I had a feeling once about Mathematics--that I saw it all. Depth beyond depth was revealed to
me--the Byss and Abyss. I saw--as one
might see the transit of Venus or even the Lord Mayor's Show--a quantity passing through
infinity and changing its sign from plus to
minus. I saw exactly why it happened and why the tergiversation was inevitable but
it was after dinner and I let it go."
--Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Problem Corner
Problem 3.8: At a party, assume that no boy dances with
every girl and each girl dances with at least one boy. Prove that there are two couples
(girl1, boy1) and (girl2, boy2) which dance whereas
boy1 does not dance with girl2 nor does girl1 dance with
boy2.
Solution to Problem 3.8: Let b be a boy who dances with a maximal number of girls (i.e.,
there may be another boy who dances with the same number of girls, but none dances with a greater
number). Let g' be a girl with whom b does not dance, and b' a boy with whom g' dances.
Among the partners of b, there must be at least one girl g who does not dance with b' (for
otherwise b' would have more partners than b). The couples (g, b) and (g', b') solve the
problem.
There were only two solutions submitted, and neither one was correct.
New Problem
Problem 3.8: (Due Thursday February 25, 3 p.m.) A child on a pogo stick jumps 1 foot on the
first jump, 2 feet on the second jump, 4 feet on the third jump, ..., 2n-1 on the nth
jump. Can the child get back to the starting position by a judicious choice of directions?
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