Undergraduate Mathematics Seminar, Spring 2013

MATH 4993 (9487-100) MATH 4994 (7811-100)
Undergraduate Mathematics Seminar
Part IPart II
Credits:12
Requisites: (MATH 3050 Discrete Math or CS 3000), (MATH 3200 Applied Linear Algebra or MATH 3210 Linear Algebra), MATH 3300 Calculus III, 6 hours MATH 4200-4799, Jr. or Sr. status. In quarter courses, the equivalent prerequisites are (308 or CS 300) and (211, 410, or 411) and 263D and (two other 4XX level courses). MATH 4993
Tier III: Taking 4993 and then 4994 is a Tier III equivalent.
Major requirements: Taking 4993 and then 4994 counts as one 4xxx course toward Mathematics major requirements.
Catalog Description:
The student participates in a weekly seminar on topics in mathematics that are beyond the material covered in our regular courses. During the first semester the student will develop a proposal for a topic of interest to be presented in the second semester.
 The study topic will be presented in the weekly public seminar and a final written report will be submitted to the instructor.
Desired Learning Outcomes:
  • The student will become familiar with various advanced topics in mathematics or applications of mathematics.
  • The student will develop an individual plan for further study and a seminar in a chosen topic.
  • The student will develop proficiency at presenting a mathematical topic in a seminar format.
  • The student will develop proficiency at presenting a mathematical topic in an expository article format.
Description: Undergraduate students will participate and give presentations in a weekly seminar. Topics will vary depending on the interests of the students. All of the topics covered will be advanced material not covered in regularly offered courses. Participation will
  • build upon and thus reinforce and contextualize more basic material,
  • broaden the students mathematical horizons,
  • spark interest in further study in specific areas of mathematics and allied fields.
In addition to mathematical goals, the activities are designed to improve oral and written communication skills.
Instructor: Martin J. Mohlenkamp, mohlenka@ohio.edu, (740)593-1259, 315-B Morton Hall.
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 2:00-2:55pm, or by appointment.
Web page: http://www.ohiouniversityfaculty.com/mohlenka/20132/4993-4994.
Class hours/ location:
Wednesdays 4:10-5:05pm in 226 Morton Hall.
 Also Wednesdays 12:55-1:50pm in 322 Morton Hall.
Grade:
Your grade is based on attendance 20%, participation 20%, first draft of topic proposal 10%, second draft 20%, and final version 30%. Your grade is based on attendance 15%, participation 15%, oral presentation 30%, first draft of report 10%, and final version 30%.
An average of 90% guarantees you at least an A-, 80% a B-, 70% a C-, and 60% a D-.
Attendance: Attendance is part of your grade. Up to 3 missed classes may be made up by attending Mathematics department research seminars or colloquia.
Participation: Participation is part of your grade. Small tasks, such as providing feedback on the work of other students, are included in your participation grade.
Main Products: You will develop a topic on which you can give an hour public seminar in part II and write a proposal about it. You will develop and deliver a public seminar talk on your topic and write a report on the topic.
Academic Dishonesty: Cooperation and the use of outsides sources is encouraged, but you must acknowledge in writing what help you received and from whom or where. Use of sources without proper citation is considered plagerism and may result in failure in the class and a report to the university judiciaries.
Special Needs: If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.
Materials:
Resources:

Schedule

Subject to change.
Week 4993+4994 joint Wednesday meeting 4994 arranged meeting
Date Activities etc.
1 Jan 16 Introductions, Sources for Topics, Expectations, planning
2 Jan 23 Colloquium: Topological entropies for equivalent smooth flows by Todd Young (Ohio University, Mathematics). Practice talk using slides
3 Jan 30 cancelled cancelled
4 Feb 6 Unraveling complex systems: What do brains, the internet, and ant colonies have in common?, by Winfried Just (Ohio University, Mathematics) Practice talk using slides
5 Feb 13 Cubic Curves and Surfaces by Vladimir Uspenskiy (Ohio University, Mathematics) Practice talk using chalk
6 Feb 20 Draft 0 of Topic Proposal due. Practice talk using chalk
7 Feb 27 Dicey Math, by Bob Klein (Ohio University, Mathematics) Practice talk in final form
Spring Break
8 Mar 13 Everywhere Continuous, Nowhere Differentiable Functions, by Michael McLaughlin (Ohio University, Mathematics). Report Practice talk in final form. Draft 0 of Report due, using the Layout and Symbols skills.
9 Mar 20 Diminishing Returns Analysis in World of Warcraft, by Hongyu Li (Ohio University, Mathematics); Video. Draft 1 of Topic Proposal due. Presentation debriefing. Draft 0.3 of Report due, using the Logic and Graphs skills.
10 Mar 27 Feedback on draft 1 of Topic Proposal. Presentation debriefing. Draft 0.8 of Report due, using the Intros and Flow skills.
11 Apr 3 Social welfare functions and voting theory, by Meghan VanderMale (Ohio University, Mathematics) Feedback on Reports.
12 Apr 10 P-adic Numbers, by Joe Mastromatteo (Ohio University, Mathematics). Draft 2 of Topic Proposal due. Draft 1 of Report due.
13 Apr 17 Guest presentation.
14 Apr 24 What is wrong with this proof?, by Son Nguyen (Ohio University, Mathematics). Final Topic Proposal due. Final Report due.

Martin J. Mohlenkamp
Last modified: Mon Apr 29 10:18:21 EDT 2013