The Utility and Beauty of Mathematics
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This lecture is open to students, faculty, staff, and the public.
2024 Guest Lecturer
Professor and Co-Chair, Dept. of Mathematical and Computational Sciences
The College of Wooster
Lecture Title:
Abstract:
Since antiquity, people have been fascinated with the connections between two of the most basic geometric objects: the circle and the square. We will discuss the Ancient Greek problem of “squaring the circle,” and then we will move ahead to a 20th century problem of Alfred Tarski: The Circle-Squaring Problem. This problem asks whether it is possible to “chop up” a circle and make it into a square. Along the way we will discuss such paradoxes as “The Pea and the Sun, ” which claims that a ball the size of a pea can be decomposed and rearranged to form a ball the size of the sun. Join us for this fun investigation where we see what is possible with scissors, paper, and a compass versus those feats which are accomplished only within the realm of theoretical mathematics.
Richards Lecture Series Gallery
Dr. Franklin & Lisa Richards, thanks!
Past Events:
November 1, 2018 4th Biennial Richards Math Lecture Series (.pdf flyer will automatically pull up)
Understanding Extreme Hurricane Behavior using Quantitative Geography, by Dr. Jill C. Trepanier, from Louisiana State University
February 8, 2016 3rd Biennial Richards Math Lecture Series (link to ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø news release)
Harmonious Equations: A Mathematical Exploration of Music, by Dr. David Kung, from St. Mary's College of Maryland
September 27, 2012 2nd Biennial Richards Math Lecture Series
Voting in an Agreeable Society, by Dr. Francis E. Su, from Harvey Mudd College
March 30, 2010 1st Biennial Richards Math Lecture Series (.pdf flyer will automatically pull up)
Spherical Cats and Ham Sandwiches, by Dr. Jonathan Rogness, from the University of Minnesota