Tag: MATH

Abby Weston

Principles of Counting in Mathematical Proofs

This presentation introduces the Principles of Counting in Proofs, which is commonly referred to as Combinatorics. Combinatorics is the study of counting, arranging, and analyzing finite sets. The presentation will begin with a brief conceptual overview that answers the following questions: What is a set? What does it mean for sets to be disjointed? What is a tombstone in the context of a proof? The core concepts will include the Principle of Inclusion and Exclusion, the Permutation Rule, and the Combination Rule. For each concept, I will provide an explanation followed by a formal proof. This presentation is designed for an audience with some background in combinatorics or mathematical reasoning, though anyone with an interest in how counting and logic intersect is welcome to attend.

MATH 460, Mathematical Proofs and Reasoning

Connie Wilmarth

Pomajevich 103

1 – 1:30 PM

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Jackson Findlay

Game Theory, Economics and Tennis

This presentation provides an overview of game theory, an influential branch of mathematical economics that studies strategic interactions and decision making.  I introduce some basic tools used by game theorists, including strict and weak dominance and iterated deletion procedures, and discuss applications ranging from auction theory to sports. 

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

P003

1:30 – 2 PM

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Mackenzie Hunton

Gamification in the Math Classroom

A recent trend in K-12 education is gamification, or the use of games to motivate learning in the math classroom. This presentation surveys some practices and the current research into their effectiveness as a teaching tool.

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

P003

2 – 2:30 PM

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Andrew Lindley

Bushnell Cafeteria Offerings Survey and Analysis

This study seeks to improve the Bushnell dining experience by utilizing statistical methods. Using data gathered by a specific survey process, this project will uncover what meals students like, what meals students don’t like, and what can be done to better the cafeteria in light of these discoveries. The data collection design, data visualization, and statistical methods used in determining results will all be presented and explained. The end goal is an unbiased and accurate study that equips our staff to provide the best possible dining experience at Bushnell.

MATH499- Senior Capstone

Dr. Connie Wilmarth

10:30am – P003

Jackson Findlay and Liam Kerr

The Collatz Conjecture Reformulated and Shown Through Python code

Explanation of what the collate conjecture is and its long history. We will then take a different angle towards looking for progress on this unsolved math problem, through identifying patterns and elements we noticed when looking at alternative versions of the conjecture.

MATH407- Python and Data Structures

Dr. MTip Phaovibul

2:30pm – L204

Alessia Righi

Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity

This thesis examines the topic of Einstein’s special relativity. Starting from Aristotle’s ‘locus naturalis’ through Newton’s laws of dynamics all the way to Maxwell’s equations, the paper looks at the historical progress made in the human understanding of space and time, with a particular focus on the contradiction that brought Einstein to develop the relativity theory.

MATH 499 – Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

11:30am-Noon Bucher Room

Courtney Weinberger

Actuarial P-Test

Actuaries need to be masters of probability. Hence the reason why the very first exam Actuaries will take is primarily on the mastery of probability. To master the different forms of probability, you must do several problems until you have the equations memorized. For the very first test, people interested in Actuarial work must master the conditional, discrete, continuous, and multivariable forms of probability. These forms of probability each have some unique difficult problems which will be shown and thoroughly explained. Additionally, all of these forms of probability have their own set of equations as well as requirements that must be fulfilled. Knowing when and where to use each form is crucial because of this reason.

MATH 499 – Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

10:00am – 10:30am P103

David Schwartz

The Introduction of Statcast to Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball has been a driving force in American sports and statistical developments with the introduction of Statcast. Statcast uses the combination of doppler radar and video to obtain advanced statistics that are utilized for the development of baseball players. Prior to Statcast the general focus when it came to statistics in baseball were simple stats like Earned Run Average, Hits, Runs Batted In, etc. With the introduction of Statcast, we can focus more on predictive statistics that helps coaches scout players from a different perspective. For example, statistics like Expected Batting Average, Expected Weighted On Base Percentage, and many other recently introduced advanced stats that are discussed to show the benefit of using Statcast data for creating the most successful team possible. The introduction of Statcast, along with many other technological advances Major League Baseball has made created a window of growth for the baseball community as a whole by introducing new ways to analyze players and their development.

MATH 499 – Senior Capstone

Brian Carrigan

10:30am – 11:00am P103

Julia Kassing

Long-Term Financing and Capital Structure

The role of a financial manager is unique and vital in relation to a company’s ability to thrive. They must decide how best to utilize resources in order to maximize shareholder value. When a company needs an increase in capital, they may turn to a form of long-term capital financing. This is generally in the form of either debt or equity. In deciding how to obtain new capital, a financial manager must evaluate the health of the company, the desired level of risk and leverage, and the state of the greater economic environment. To delve into this topic, it will be imagined that Yeti Holdings, Inc. (YETI) requires increased capital. We will examine the company’s financial statements and the position of the firm in relation to both the current and projected economic conditions to determine in what matter the company should obtain new capital and the resulting implications of this decision.

MATH 499 – Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

3:30pm – 4:00pm P103

Nicolas Cazares

Modern Approaches to Spinal Cord Repair

Spinal cords are one of the most sensitive parts of the human body and damage to them can massively hinder one’s quality of life. This presentation will go over medical research of spinal cord repair. The first section is an overview of what the spinal cord is including, cellular make-up, biological function, and detailed anatomy. The second section of this presentation will discuss the history of research within this field dating back to the 1960s. Following this I will look at modern approaches to spinal cord repair and discuss the pros and cons of each method.

MATH 499

Brian Carrigan

P103

1 – 1:30 PM

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Tiffany Hilkey

Infinity in Mathematics

I will be doing a comprehensive survey of infinity in mathematics. Infinity is much larger and more complex than human calculation can handle, but it happens to appear quite often in mathematics. It is introduced as a limit in Calculus, and this is usually the first real encounter with it. Looking at set theory and infinite sets reveals that infinity actually comes in different sizes, even though it is infinite. There are still things that mathematicians can’t figure out about infinity, and that goes to show how complex it is.

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

P114

Noon – 12:30 PM

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Payton Martin

Portfolio Management

In this presentation, we will explore vital concepts that are the building blocks of quantitative portfolio management. We will discuss the mathematical expression of expected return and risk on an investment and how they are used. We will examine weights within a portfolio and how risk is minimized while compromising as little as possible on expected return. Building blocks of the several-security model will direct us towards multiple interesting insights as well as lay the foundation for the beta factor and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

L203

10:30 – 11 AM

View stream here

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Kevin Kaelin

Alternative Power Sources: Electrifying Commercial Aircraft 

In a world with an ever-increasing demand for transportation, solutions are needed to limit the amount of pollution generated by vehicles.  One solution for limiting emissions from vehicles is to make them electric.  This research seeks to answer this question: is an electrically powered jet engine feasible for commercial aircraft?  This project takes a standard CFM56-7B24 turbofan jet engine that powers a Boeing 737-800 plane and explores the conceptual use of electric motors to drive the fan and compressor assembly.  The overall weight of this concept is compared to the maximum operating weight of the Boeing 737-800.  The total amount of kilowatt-hours required is calculated as well as the total weight of batteries needed to satisfy the energy requirements of this concept.  Based on the findings of this research: current battery densities are too low to provide a weight-effective solution to petroleum-based jet fuel.   

MATH 499, Capstone 

Brian Carrigan 

P103 

2:30 – 3 PM 

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Scholar Lunch

Come to L203 at noon. If you’re one of the first to arrive, you can have free pizza. The meal’s entertainment consists of five minute talks by representatives from majors and minors across campus. Speakers will take a single idea they learned from their major or minor coursework, explain it, explain why it’s useful or beautiful, and explain why they personally love it. Scheduled speakers:

  • Ariana Henton, Music
  • Payton Martin, Math
  • Emily Morgan, Psychology
  • Gianna Rains, Communication
  • Madeleine Rosebrook, Spanish
  • Leah Sheets, Education

L203

Noon – 1 PM

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Joshua McCluskey

Applied Calculus in Medicine

Medicine utilizes calculus in many ways, through the use of derivatives we can optimize uses of material as well as calculate the effect of a surgery. angioplasty uses calculus to calculate the effect of widening an artery to increase blood flow. Calculus lets us know definitively to what extent the blood flow will increase. we can also use calculus in a crime scene. determining the time of death.

MATH 251, Calculus I

Connie Wilmarth

Banquet Room, Poster #8

10 AM – Noon

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Jonathan Messiers

A Bridge to Space: The Mechanics and Design Considerations for a Space Elevator

Achieving orbit is currently an extremely expensive and resource-heavy venture. Current rockets cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 to lift a single kilogram of payload to low earth orbit. A space elevator may be able to lift a kilogram to orbit for as little as $200. A space elevator is a cable anchored at the equator that extends into space past geostationary orbit, using the centrifugal force of Earth’s rotation to hold itself upright under tension. Such a cable may be constructed using materials with extremely high strength-to-weight ratios. The overall design of a space elevator consists of the cable itself, a counterweight to suspend the cable via centrifugal force, climbers to deliver payload to and from orbit, and a base station anchoring the cable to the Earth somewhere along the equator. Craft released from the space elevator at a height of 53,000 kilometers would be at escape velocity, allowing them to reach other celestial bodies without the thousands of tons of fuel and stages conventional rockets require for the same velocity. Challenges faced include weather conditions within the atmosphere, the effects of solar radiation on the cable, collisions with orbital debris, cable oscillations, research and development costs, and political complications.

MATH 499, Capstone

Brian Carrigan

SPS 100

2:30 – 3 PM

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Scholar Lunch

Come to L203 at noon. If you’re one of the first to arrive, you can have free pizza. The meal’s entertainment consists of five minute talks by representatives from majors and minors across campus. Speakers will take a single idea they learned from their major or minor coursework, explain it, explain why it’s useful or beautiful, and explain why they personally love it. Scheduled speakers:

  • Angela Cusano, Spanish
  • Mitchell Davis, Bible & Ministry
  • Kristyn Dodge, History
  • Garrett Kraal, Exercise Science
  • Payton Martin, Mathematics
  • Kaleb Miles, Biology
  • Alaina Thomson, Psychology
  • McKenzie Wirth, Communication

L203

Noon – 1 PM

Return to schedule

Scholar Lunch

Come to L203 at noon. If you’re one of the first to arrive, you can have free pizza. The meal’s entertainment consists of five minute talks by representatives from majors and minors across campus. Speakers will take a single idea they learned from their major or minor coursework, explain it, explain why it’s useful or beautiful, and explain why they personally love it. Scheduled speakers:

  • Brady Box, Education
  • Haley Cochell, Psychology and Philosophy
  • Alleya Harris, Exercise Science
  • Josh Higashi, Communication
  • Zeph Hollins, Biology
  • Delia House-Lopez, Music
  • Marina Irish, Business
  • Gabrielle Morales, English
  • Rosa Schmidt, Math

L203

Noon – 1 PM.

Back to the schedule

Scott Perkins

Study Habits: Time is Money

This project will be based on a survey of students in several lower-level general education courses. Students will consist mostly of college freshmen and sophomores. The study will include questions concerning age, gender, high school GPA, current GPA (if known), average homework time per week and per class, and a self-evaluation of efficiency as a student overall (scale 1-9). It will seek to confirm (with 95% confidence) the hypothesis that there is a direct correlation between the amount of time a student spends studying outside of class and both their self-efficacy and current (or high school) GPA.

MATH 315

Tim Bergquist

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Karli Vath

Assessment in Math Education

Many times in Math education, the assessment used tells teachers and students too little, and too late, how well students are understanding material. There is a push now for alternative assessment which emphasizes deep learning strategies, as opposed to solely recognition or recall. The ideal form of assessment promotes students’ best performance across time and uses a range of methods.

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Chase Cleaver

Uncovering the Truth Behind ‘Drive for Show, Putt for Dough’: A Statistical Study of the Game of Golf.

For my project, I plan to research the Professional Golf Association (PGA). I plan to try to uncover the answer to the question: what statistics really matter and are the most important to focus on, or is there truth behind the famous statement “Drive for show, Putt for Dough?” In trying to uncover which set of statistics really help in a player’s performance, I will be able to offer points in every golfer’s game, where if they practiced more in these areas, they will have a statistically better chance at success in the game.

MATH 315

Tim Bergquist

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Katie Collins

Shooting Percentages for the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Team

I will examine the Ducks’ shooting percentages of previous years and compare them to the shooting percentages of this 2011 NHL season. Also, I will use descriptive statistics to discover if the team has a better shooting percentages when playing their games at an opponent’s ice rink or at their home ice rink. From this research, I will have a greater change of accurately predicting whether or not the hockey team will win on the road or at their home ice rink. 

MATH 315

Tim Bergquist

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Teresa Harvey

Sales Analysis for Obscene Offroad and Fabrication

This is an analysis of financial information generated from the business Obscene Offroad and Fabrication. The services offered by this business included automotive, boat, and utility vehicle repair and fabrication. The company was in operation from 2006 through 2008 and had just become successful when the economy began to decline. One aspect to be analyzed is the parts versus labor sales and their effect on each other. Another analysis will include the cost and methods of advertising and its relationship to the sales figures.

MATH 315

Tim Bergquist

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Jeneca Hoidal

NCU women’s Soccer – Are Shooting Specific Drills Resulting in more Goals Scored in a Given Week?

Each Friday, our coach holds a “shooting” practice at Hayward on the U of O campus. I would like to measure our improvement as individuals each week. I am also going to track whether or not our shooting during normal practices is improving to see if there’s a connection between the two.

MATH 315

Tim Bergquist

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Ashley King

A Study on Golf Physics

The sport of golf involves many actions that can be analyzed using the mathematical properties of physics. Studies have been conducted regarding the nature of a golf ball in flight, the properties of golf clubs, and the mechanics of a golf swing. This capstone will survey some of the research on golf ball design with regard to general goals of minimization of draft, reaction to compression, and the maximization of spin. In addition, this capstone will investigate the physical dynamics of the golf swing and the golf club, with a goal of optimizing performance.

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

L203B

9 – 9:30 AM

Crystal Rutherford

The American Genocide

It’s a survey of whether students from the U of O, NCU or people from the community have heard of the Armenian Genocide, if they think it should be called that, and if they think that the American government should be getting involved.

MATH 315

Tim Bergquist

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Charolene Somatis

Applying Statistics: The Relationship Between Hours Spent Studying and Test Scores

The examination of the results of a survey taken from a class here at NCU. Survey includes questions on hours spent studying for a test and their test scores, plus demographics. The presentation includes statistical information that shows the relationship of hours studying and test scores and their interdependence if any. The results of the survey are compared with the results of similar surveys done elsewhere.

MATH 315

Tim Bergquist

Banquet Room

9 – 11 AM

Michael Van Loon

Effective Methods of Teaching Mathematics

Mathematics is widely known as one of the most difficult subjects to learn. Imagine teaching it! I am a math major and have been through many classes in my education career. Through my own experiences and through that of many resources I have developed a presentation/paper and poster to help you understand how effective, successful, and happy math instructors teach, guide, and help their students through the highest levels of achievement.

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

Banquet Room

1 – 3 PM

Daniel Norland

A Brief History of Greek Mathematics

This paper is a brief history of Greek mathematics.  It will cover how the Greek era of mathematics began and go through the development of mathematics in the Greek era, covering some of the great mathematicians.  It will then discuss the end of the Greek era of mathematics and the legacy.

MATH 499, Senior Capstone

Connie Wilmarth

L203A

1:30 – 2 PM