Educational

Measurement, Mathematics and Information Technology

Speaker: 
M. Ram Murty
Date: 
Fri, May 8, 2015
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Conference: 
Alberta Mathematics Dialog
Abstract: 
In this talk, we will highlight the importance of measurement, discuss what can and cannot be measured. Focusing on the measurement of position, importance, and shape, we illustrate by discussing the mathematics behind, GPS, Google and laser surgery. The talk will be accessible to a wide audience.
Class: 
Scientific
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics

A Triangle has Eight Vertices (but only one center)

Speaker: 
Richard Guy
Date: 
Fri, May 8, 2015
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Conference: 
Alberta Mathematics Dialog
Abstract: 
Quadration regards a triangle as an orthocentric quadrangle. Twinning is an involution between orthocentres and circumcentres. Together with variations of Conway’s Extraversion, these give rise to symmetric sets of points, lines and circles. There are eight vertices, which are also both orthocentres and circumcentres. Twelve edges share six midpoints, which, with six diagonal points, lie on the 50-point circle, better known as the 9-point circle. There are 32 circles which touch three edges and also touch the 50-point circle. 32 Gergonne points, when joined to their respective touch-centres, give sets of four segments which concur in eight deLongchamps points, which, with the eight centroids, form two harmonic ranges with the ortho- and circum-centres on each of the four Euler lines. Corresponding points on the eight circumcircles generate pairs of parallel Simson-Wallace lines, each containing six feet of perpendiculars. In three symmetrical positions these coincide, with twelve feet on one line. In the three orthogonal positions they are pairs of parallel tangents to the 50-point circle, forming the Steiner Star of David. This three-symmetry is shared with the 144 Morley triangles which are all homothetic. Time does not allow investigation of the 256 Malfatti configurations, whose 256 radpoints probably lie in fours on 64 guylines, eight through each of the eight vertices.
Class: 
Scientific
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics

Native American Mathematics

Speaker: 
Edward Doolittle
Date: 
Thu, Sep 18, 2014
Location: 
PIMS, University of Calgary
Abstract: 

One sometimes hears that the indigenous peoples of the Americas are for some reason not predisposed to be able to do mathematics. This belief is surprising, since the mathematical traditions of the Western Hemisphere prior to European contact were already rich and extensive. This talk will focus on some of those traditions, primarily Central American but with some information about mathematical traditions in Algonkian cultures such as the Blackfoot.  Almost all of this talk will be accessible to any interested listener, with perhaps five minutes in the middle using a small amount of very elementary number theory. Along the way any listener who has ever eaten an 18 Rabbits granola bar will learn why doing so celebrates indigenous mathematics. 

 

ABOUT THE RICHARD AND LOUISE GUY LECTURE SERIES:
The Richard & Louise Guy lecture series celebrates the joy of discovery and wonder in mathematics for everyone. Indeed, the lecture series was a 90th birthday present from Louise Guy to Richard in recognition of his love of mathematics and his desire to share his passion with the world. Richard Guy is the author of over 100 publications including works in combinatorial game theory, number theory and graph theory. He strives to make mathematics accessible to all. The other contributions to the lecture series have been made by Elwyn Berlekamp (2006), John Conway (2007), Richard Nowakowski (2008), William Pulleyblank (2009), Erik Demaine (2010), Noam Elkies (2011), Ravi Vakil (2012) and Carl Pomerance (2013).

Class: 
Scientific
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics
Number Theory

Emerging Aboriginal Scholars

Speaker: 
Debra Martel
Date: 
Wed, May 22, 2013
Location: 
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
Emerging Aboriginal Scholars Summer Camp
Abstract: 

This five week summer camp is for students currently attending grades 9 to 12. The main purpose of this camp is to help students with their academics and for them to get work experience at the university. Students take 90 minutes of math and English every day and three days a week they will be working with a faculty member in the area of their choice. Students will get $100 a week for 7.5 hours of work experience. The summer camp takes place at UBC, and students will take classes at PIMS and the Long House. Last year we had students working with the nuclear accelerator, and working at labs in the physics and chemistry departments, among other opportunities.

For more information on the program see Emerging Aboriginal Scholars Program.

Class: 
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics

Indigenous Knowledge in STEM Education

Speaker: 
Ron Eglash
Date: 
Fri, Mar 8, 2013
Location: 
PIMS, University of British Columbia
Conference: 
Special Lecture
Abstract: 

Computing with Culture From fractals in African architecture to algorithms in First Nations beadwork, simulations of indigenous designs reveal complex concepts and practices that can be mapped onto analogous principles in math, science and computing. Applications for this work include outreach to K-12 students as well as contributions to sustainable development.

Class: 
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics
Computational Geometry

Math Mania at the Middle School

Speaker: 
St Michaels University School
Date: 
Fri, Dec 7, 2012
Location: 
St Michaels University School, Victoria
Conference: 
Math Mania
Abstract: 

Mania over Math at St Michaels University School

Math Mania, a new event at SMUS, brought a crowd of students and parents to the Middle School to enjoy games and puzzles for all ages. Parents teamed up with their children to conquer equations and Senior School students shared their enthusiasm for mathematics with some of our younger community members.

For more information on Math Mania please visit the

Credit for this video belongs to St Michaels University School.

Class: 
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics

Small Number and the Basketball Tournament

Speaker: 
Veselin Jungic
Mark Maclean
Rena Sinclair
Date: 
Tue, May 1, 2012
Location: 
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
BIRS First Nations Math Education Workshop
Abstract: 

The mathematical context of the third story, Small Number and the Basketball Tournament, contains some basic principles of combinatorics. The plot of the story and the closing question are structured in a manner that allows the moderator to introduce the notion of permutations and combinations. Since the numbers used in the story are relatively small, this can be used to encourage the young audience to explore on their own. Mathematics is also present in the background. Small Number and his friends do mathematics after school in the Aboriginal Friendship Centre. He loves playing the game of Set and when he comes home his sister is just finishing her math homework. Small Number and his friend would like to participate in a big half-court tournament, and so on.

For more details see http://mathcatcher.irmacs.sfu.ca/content/small-number

Class: 
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics
Combinatorics

Summer at the HUB Britiania Summer Camp

Speaker: 
Melania Alvarez
Date: 
Sat, Jul 2, 2011
Location: 
Britiannia Centre
Conference: 
Summer at the HUB
Abstract: 

PIMS was proud to support the 'Summer at the HUB' camp which took place in July-August 2011. Focus camps included Lego Simple Machines and Math, iPad Camp and Robo Meccano. Many thanks to Britannia Centre for providing this video.

Class: 
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics

Small Number and the Old Canoe (Squamish)

Speaker: 
Veselin Jungic
Mark Maclean
Rena Sinclair
Date: 
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 to Mon, Nov 23, 2009
Location: 
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
BIRS First Nations Math Education Workshop
Abstract: 

N.B. This video is a translation into Squamish by T'naxwtn, Peter Jacobs of the Squamish Nation

In Small Num­ber and the Old Canoe math­e­mat­ics is present through­out the story with the hope that this expe­ri­ence will make at least some mem­bers of our young audi­ence, with the moderator’s help, rec­og­nize more math­e­mat­ics around them in their every­day lives. We use terms like smooth, shape, oval, and sur­face, the math­e­mat­i­cal phrase­ol­ogy like, It must be at least a hun­dred years old, the artist skill­fully presents reflec­tion (sym­me­try) of trees in water, and so on. The idea behind this approach is to give the mod­er­a­tor a few open­ings to intro­duce or empha­size var­i­ous math­e­mat­i­cal objects, con­cepts, and ter­mi­nol­ogy. The short film is a lit­tle math sus­pense story and our ques­tion is related only to one part of it. The aim of the ques­tion is to lead to an intro­duc­tion at an intu­itive level of the con­cept of a func­tion and the essence of the prin­ci­ple of inclusion-exclusion as a count­ing tech­nique. The authors would also like to give their audi­ence an oppor­tu­nity to appre­ci­ate that in order to under­stand a math ques­tion, one often needs to read (or in this case, watch) a prob­lem more than once.

For additional details see http://mathcatcher.irmacs.sfu.ca/story/small-number-and-old-canoe

Class: 
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics

Small Number and the Old Canoe

Speaker: 
Veselin Jungic
Mark Maclean
Rena Sinclair
Date: 
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 to Mon, Nov 23, 2009
Location: 
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
BIRS First Nations Math Education Workshop
Abstract: 

In Small Num­ber and the Old Canoe math­e­mat­ics is present through­out the story with the hope that this expe­ri­ence will make at least some mem­bers of our young audi­ence, with the moderator’s help, rec­og­nize more math­e­mat­ics around them in their every­day lives. We use terms like smooth, shape, oval, and sur­face, the math­e­mat­i­cal phrase­ol­ogy like, It must be at least a hun­dred years old, the artist skill­fully presents reflec­tion (sym­me­try) of trees in water, and so on. The idea behind this approach is to give the mod­er­a­tor a few open­ings to intro­duce or empha­size var­i­ous math­e­mat­i­cal objects, con­cepts, and ter­mi­nol­ogy. The short film is a lit­tle math sus­pense story and our ques­tion is related only to one part of it. The aim of the ques­tion is to lead to an intro­duc­tion at an intu­itive level of the con­cept of a func­tion and the essence of the prin­ci­ple of inclusion-exclusion as a count­ing tech­nique. The authors would also like to give their audi­ence an oppor­tu­nity to appre­ci­ate that in order to under­stand a math ques­tion, one often needs to read (or in this case, watch) a prob­lem more than once.

For additional details see http://mathcatcher.irmacs.sfu.ca/story/small-number-and-old-canoe

Class: 
Educational
Subject: 
Mathematics

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