Past Dinner Meetings

2006 Dinner Meetings

• College of the Holy Cross, March 22, 2006
• Simmons College, April 11, 2006
• Framingham State College, May 4, 2006

College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts

The Thirteenth Leonard C. Sulski Memorial Lecture

Michele Intermont, Kalamazoo College
"The Sound of Algebra"

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Abstract: This talk will introduce bell ringing (English change ringing to be more precise) as an application of algebra. We'll talk about - and hear! - some bell ringing. Then we'll describe a problem faced by those who compose bell ringing for which algebra has the solution.

Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts

Jason Molitierno, Sacred Heart University
"Did Christopher Columbus Really Prove that the World is Round?"

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Abstract: Everyone knows the story that Christopher Columbus attempted to prove the earth was round by starting in Spain and sailing around the earth in order to get back to where he started. But if he did that, would that have been sufficient to prove that the earth is round? After all, you can do the same sort of thing on the surface of a torus (the mathematical word for doughnut). In this talk, we discuss ways that maps can be drawn and how different states can border each other. Together, with the audience, we will find maps that can occur on a torus, but not on a sphere. This will show that even if Christopher Columbus did make it back to Spain, he still would not have proved the earth to be round. Rather, he would have only proved that the earth is not flat.

Framingham State College, Framingham, Massachusetts

The Fourth Annual NES/MAA Regional Dinner Meeting in Memory of Kenneth J. Preskenis

Dr. Edward Burger, Williams College
"How to Always Win at Limbo OR You can sum some of the series some of the time, and some of the series none of the time... but can you sum some of the series ALL of the time?"

May 4, 2006

A dedicated teacher committed to excellence, a serious scholar, a popular son of South Boston, and a gentleman – Ken Preskenis died on Thanksgiving Day, 2002. Ken Preskenis had a passion for mathematics and for sharing that love with others, especially, youngsters. A relentless pursuer of knowledge, he was a regular participant at the weekly seminars in functional analysis at Brown University where he earned his M.S. in 1967 and his Ph.D. in 1971. He joined the faculty at Framingham State College in 1977 after teaching at Newton College and then at Boston College for a total of 14 years. Ken was the author of a number of articles in analysis and mathematics education, a regular attendee and contributor at MAA/NES meetings, a South Boston Athletic Hall of Famer, and a recipient of the Michael E. Glynn South Boston Community Service Award.

Please join us as we honor the memory of our dear friend and colleague Kenneth J. Preskenis.

Abstract: Have you ever gone out with someone for a while and asked yourself: "How close are we?" This presentation will answer that question by answering: What does it mean for two things to be close to one another? We'll take a strange look infinite series, dare to mention a calculus student's fantasy, and momentarily consider transcendental meditation. In fact, we'll even attempt to build some very exotic series that can be used if you ever have to flee the country in a hurry: we'll either succeed or fail... you'll have to attend to find out. Will you be at the edge of your seats? Perhaps; but if not, then you'll probably fall asleep and either way, after the talk, you'll feel refreshed. No matter what, you'll learn a sneaky way to always win at Limbo.

This presentation is open to all math fans--young and old alike. A familiarity with infinite series is helpful. If you've ever heard of the words "triangle inequality", then this is the talk for you!

Maintained by Tommy Ratliff tratliff@wheatoncollege.edu
Last modified Monday June 25, 2007 12:30 PM , MAA Disclaimer