GRCC student leads Mathematics Seminar today in Cook 102

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its last Mathematics Seminar of 2018-2019 on Wednesday, April 17, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in 102 Cook.    

Our speaker, GRCC student Luke Ellison, will be discussing Bayes’ Theorem.

Bayes’ Theorem actually is a theorem –it has a precise mathematical formulation that can be rigorously demonstrated– but its use has been controversial for more than 200 years. Luke’s presentation will emphasize historical background and applications, and thus will be accessible to a general audience. As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Details:

• DATE: Wednesday, April 17
• TIME: 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Refreshments served at 2:14 p.m.)
• PLACE: 102 Cook
• SUBJECT: Bayes’ Theorem: Using Probability Theory to Quantify Uncertainty

Bayes’ theorem is a probabilistic equation that allows us to update our prior beliefs in the face of new evidence. This talk will explore the historical development and application of Bayes’ theorem including unique problems that it has helped solve. Specific areas of application include World War 2 codebreaking, authorship of the Federalist papers, and quantifying degrees of certainty in historical claims.

Final Mathematics Seminar of 2018-19 tomorrow in Cook

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its last Mathematics Seminar of 2018-2019 on Wednesday, April 17, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in 102 Cook.    

Our speaker, GRCC student Luke Ellison, will be discussing Bayes’ Theorem.

Bayes’ Theorem actually is a theorem –it has a precise mathematical formulation that can be rigorously demonstrated– but its use has been controversial for more than 200 years. Luke’s presentation will emphasize historical background and applications, and thus will be accessible to a general audience. As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Details:

• DATE: Wednesday, April 17
• TIME: 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Refreshments served at 2:14 p.m.)
• PLACE: 102 Cook
• SUBJECT: Bayes’ Theorem: Using Probability Theory to Quantify Uncertainty

Bayes’ theorem is a probabilistic equation that allows us to update our prior beliefs in the face of new evidence. This talk will explore the historical development and application of Bayes’ theorem including unique problems that it has helped solve. Specific areas of application include World War 2 codebreaking, authorship of the Federalist papers, and quantifying degrees of certainty in historical claims.

Mathematics Seminar on April 17

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its last Mathematics Seminar of 2018-2019 on Wednesday, April 17, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in 102 Cook.    

Our speaker, GRCC student Luke Ellison, will be discussing Bayes’ Theorem.

Bayes’ Theorem actually is a theorem –it has a precise mathematical formulation that can be rigorously demonstrated– but its use has been controversial for more than 200 years. Luke’s presentation will emphasize historical background and applications, and thus will be accessible to a general audience. As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Details:

• DATE: Wednesday, April 17
• TIME: 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Refreshments served at 2:14 p.m.)
• PLACE: 102 Cook
• SUBJECT: Bayes’ Theorem: Using Probability Theory to Quantify Uncertainty

Bayes’ theorem is a probabilistic equation that allows us to update our prior beliefs in the face of new evidence. This talk will explore the historical development and application of Bayes’ theorem including unique problems that it has helped solve. Specific areas of application include World War 2 codebreaking, authorship of the Federalist papers, and quantifying degrees of certainty in historical claims.

Math Awareness Month contest open to all at GRCC

April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month and that means it is time for the Math Awareness Month Contest. You may pick up an entry form from the Math Tutoring Lab on 1st Floor of Cook or download the form online.

The contest is open to any GRCC student or staff member. Of all the correct entries, three students and three staff members will be randomly drawn to receive a prize.

Entry forms must be returned to the Math Tutoring Lab or to Nancy Forrest in the Math Department by Monday, April 15.

GRCC Mathematics seminar this afternoon

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its next Mathematics Seminar today from 3-4 p.m. in 102 Cook.

Our speaker, GRCC faculty member Alejandro Saldivar, will be discussing Linear Programming.

Linear Programming, developed in the 1940s to help with the war effort, found many uses in the post-war economy.  With the principle goal of allocating resources in the best possible way, it continues to find important applications in areas as diverse as airline crew scheduling, creation of investment portfolios, and developing communications networks.  It also possesses inherent mathematical beauty, and its fundamental principles are accessible to anyone who can graph lines and find points of intersection.  As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Details:

• DATE: TODAY, March 27
• TIME: 3-4 p.m. (Refreshments served at 2:45 p.m.)
• PLACE: 102 Cook
• SUBJECT: Systems of Linear Equations, Linear Programming, and the Simplex Method

The Simplex Method is used to optimize logistic problems such as transportation scheduling.  In this talk, we review some history and insight into the method from geometric and vectorial points of view.

This talk is suitable for anyone with an intermediate algebra background.

Mathematics seminar tomorrow in Cook

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its next Mathematics Seminar tomorrow from 3-4 p.m. in 102 Cook.

Our speaker, GRCC faculty member Alejandro Saldivar, will be discussing Linear Programming.

Linear Programming, developed in the 1940s to help with the war effort, found many uses in the post-war economy.  With the principle goal of allocating resources in the best possible way, it continues to find important applications in areas as diverse as airline crew scheduling, creation of investment portfolios, and developing communications networks.  It also possesses inherent mathematical beauty, and its fundamental principles are accessible to anyone who can graph lines and find points of intersection.  As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Details:

• DATE: Tomorrow, March 27
• TIME: 3-4 p.m. (Refreshments served at 2:45 p.m.)
• PLACE: 102 Cook
• SUBJECT: Systems of Linear Equations, Linear Programming, and the Simplex Method

The Simplex Method is used to optimize logistic problems such as transportation scheduling.  In this talk, we review some history and insight into the method from geometric and vectorial points of view.

This talk is suitable for anyone with an intermediate algebra background.

 

 

Math Teachers’ Circle tonight at Fountain Hill Brewery

Andrea Hayes and Meghan VanderMale from the GRCC math department are working with Javier Ronquillo Rivera from GVSU to host a Math Teachers’ Circle at Fountain Hill Brewery tonight from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

GRCC math instructors will join K-12 math teachers in the area for socializing and doing fun math activities. The Math Teachers’ Circle may become an ongoing event if there is interest from the community.

About the event:

• What: A gathering of educators and others to socialize, enjoy some beverages and food, and play with some interesting math problems.
• Where: Fountain Hill Brewery on GRCC’s main campus.
• When: March 21st 2019 from 6:30-8:30 pm.”
• Activity: Mathematical mind reading! Participants will be able to have their minds read, then use inductive reasoning skills to figure out how the mind reader is working their magic (hint: they use a mathematical concept that we teach our students!)

Fountain Hill Brewery’s tasty brews will be available for purchase, and snacks will be provided.

Contact Meghan VanderMale at meghanvandermale@grcc.edu for information.

Mathematics seminar on March 27

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its next Mathematics Seminar on Wednesday, March 27, from 3-4 p.m. in 102 Cook.

Our speaker, GRCC faculty member Alejandro Saldivar, will be discussing Linear Programming.

Linear Programming, developed in the 1940s to help with the war effort, found many uses in the post-war economy.  With the principle goal of allocating resources in the best possible way, it continues to find important applications in areas as diverse as airline crew scheduling, creation of investment portfolios, and developing communications networks.  It also possesses inherent mathematical beauty, and its fundamental principles are accessible to anyone who can graph lines and find points of intersection.  As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Details:

• DATE: next Wednesday, March 27
• TIME: 3-4 p.m. (Refreshments served at 2:45 p.m.)
• PLACE: 102 Cook
• SUBJECT: Systems of Linear Equations, Linear Programming, and the Simplex Method

The Simplex Method is used to optimize logistic problems such as transportation scheduling.  In this talk, we review some history and insight into the method from geometric and vectorial points of view.

This talk is suitable for anyone with an intermediate algebra background.

 

 

Please tell students: Math, Science, and Engineering lunch next week in Calkins

Please encourage any students interested in the Math, Science, and Engineering Academic Pathway to attend.

Mathematics Seminar today in Cook

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its next Mathematics Seminar on Thursday, February 21, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in 103 Cook.

Our speaker is GRCC faculty member Brian Hadley.  For the title and abstract of his talk, please see below.

The realm of mathematical forecasting is vast but fundamentally based on common sense ideas: Examine historical trends, assume that whatever was responsible for creating the past will continue to operate beyond the present, then use mathematical and/or statistical techniques to predict the future.  Brian will discuss how this relates to classroom resource management.  As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Refreshments will be served at 10:45 a.m.

Mathematical Forecasting and Classroom Resources

Forecasting student attendance in class has allowed for a reduction of wasted paper.

Each semester I print quizzes, test, and worksheets for class use. Unfortunately, some of this paper is wasted primarily due to absent students. As a solution to this problem, I began forecasting student attendance, greatly reducing the amount of wasted printing.

Forecasting is a mathematical model that allows for a prediction of future trends. We will examine various forecasting methods that can provide reliable guidelines to classroom attendance trends and result in the reduction of paper waste.

 

 

Instructor Brian Hadley to present Mathematics Seminar on Feb. 21

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its next Mathematics Seminar on Thursday, February 21, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in 103 Cook.

Our speaker is GRCC faculty member Brian Hadley.  For the title and abstract of his talk, please see below.

The realm of mathematical forecasting is vast but fundamentally based on common sense ideas: Examine historical trends, assume that whatever was responsible for creating the past will continue to operate beyond the present, then use mathematical and/or statistical techniques to predict the future.  Brian will discuss how this relates to classroom resource management.  As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Refreshments will be served at 10:45 a.m.

Mathematical Forecasting and Classroom Resources

Forecasting student attendance in class has allowed for a reduction of wasted paper.

Each semester I print quizzes, test, and worksheets for class use. Unfortunately, some of this paper is wasted primarily due to absent students. As a solution to this problem, I began forecasting student attendance, greatly reducing the amount of wasted printing.

Forecasting is a mathematical model that allows for a prediction of future trends. We will examine various forecasting methods that can provide reliable guidelines to classroom attendance trends and result in the reduction of paper waste.

 

 

Third Annual ‘Fall in Love With STEM’ this Saturday in Calkins

The third annual “Fall in Love with STEM” event takes place this weekend at GRCC!

GRCC faculty and students will lead sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in “exploration stations,” with activities designed to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and math skills. It’s one of several events organized by the West Michigan chapter of the Association of Women in Science. No advance signup is needed for “Fall in Love with STEM.”

WHEN: Saturday, February 23, from 1-4 p.m.

WHERE: Calkins Science Center, 226 Bostwick Ave. NE

Instructor forecasts student attendance at next week’s Mathematics Seminar

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that it will host its next Mathematics Seminar on Thursday, February 21, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in 103 Cook.

Our speaker is GRCC faculty member Brian Hadley.  For the title and abstract of his talk, please see below.

The realm of mathematical forecasting is vast but fundamentally based on common sense ideas: Examine historical trends, assume that whatever was responsible for creating the past will continue to operate beyond the present, then use mathematical and/or statistical techniques to predict the future.  Brian will discuss how this relates to classroom resource management.  As is the case with all of our seminars, everyone is welcome!

Refreshments will be served at 10:45 a.m.

Mathematical Forecasting and Classroom Resources

Forecasting student attendance in class has allowed for a reduction of wasted paper.

Each semester I print quizzes, test, and worksheets for class use. Unfortunately, some of this paper is wasted primarily due to absent students. As a solution to this problem, I began forecasting student attendance, greatly reducing the amount of wasted printing.

Forecasting is a mathematical model that allows for a prediction of future trends. We will examine various forecasting methods that can provide reliable guidelines to classroom attendance trends and result in the reduction of paper waste.

 

 

Third Annual ‘Fall in Love With STEM’ set for February 23

Important update: The “Fall in Love with STEM” event, originally scheduled for Feb. 9, has been postponed because of weather. It has been rescheduled for 1-4 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Calkins Science Center, 226 Bostwick Ave. NE.

GRCC faculty and students will lead sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in “exploration stations,” with activities designed to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and math skills. It’s one of several events organized by the West Michigan chapter of the Association of Women in Science. No advance signup is needed for “Fall in Love with STEM.”

GRCC Mathematics Seminar TODAY in Cook 213

The Grand Rapids Community College Mathematics Department is hosting its November Mathematics Seminar TODAY, November 13, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in 213 Cook.

This month’s seminar will be lead by former GRCC student Katrina Teunis. Ms. Teunis will discuss her research on mathematical patterns in the folding of RNA.

Recent research in mathematical biology includes areas such as genomics, biochemistry and cell biology, heart physiology, kidney function, and protein folding.  Everyone is welcome!

Refreshments will be served at 2:15 p.m.

 

The Math Behind the Foldability of RNA

“This summer I was given funding to do some undergraduate math research on the mathematical patterns in how RNA folds. RNA, much like DNA, is made up of four building blocks called nucleotides: Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Uracil. These nucleotides form a string that likes to fold in on itself and bond together – Adenine with Uracil and Guanine with Cytosine. So, the order and number of nucleotides present will determine how many ways the string of RNA can fold. By assigning these properties to letters, we can study this in a general context. Doing this I was able to find several new ways of determining how many times a string will fold as well as how to build a string with a specific number of foldings. I was also able to find or strengthen connections between RNA and other areas of mathematics. In this talk, I will walk through how RNA folds, what I found in my research, and how RNA connects to other areas of mathematics. This research was funded by the Modified Student Summer Scholars Program from the Office of Undergraduate Research at Grand Valley State University.”