Mathematics has got to be the most interesting of all subjects. As I was telling the wonderful math faculty at Berkshire Community College, even arithmetic is fascinating. Addition and multiplication are commutative: 4+7=7+4 and 4×7=7×4. I recall MIT Professor Michael Artin saying: When I ask my kids what’s 4×7,… Continue reading »
Annual π Day Missive from Nick Yates ’06 Once again, Pi Day has arrived! As you probably know, pi (π) is a mathematical constant found in circles and throughout mathematics! Since pi’s decimal expansion starts off 3.14…, and today’s date is 3/14, we celebrate pi and all things mathematical on… Continue reading »
An official World Cube Association Rubik’s Cube Competition filled Goodrich Hall Saturday March 2, 2014, organized by local school student Ric Donati and Professor Mihai Stoiciu. Competitors included Adam Reich ’14. Williams Record account. Continue reading »
Williams Professor Julie Blackwood’s research on bats has been featured in an article in the Berkshire Eagle: It was previously featured in an article by NBC News on “Why killing vampire bats won’t stop spread of rabies” and… Continue reading »
Williams professor Steven J. Miller and his class built the Legos Star Destroyer in 10 minutes and 21 seconds. Click here for video. Coverage in Williams Record and Williams Magazine. Course homepage Video from camera 1 Video from camera 2… Continue reading »
The annual joint mathematics meetings in Baltimore January 15-18, 2014, featured many Williams and SMALL speakers. A Williams/SMALL gathering followed Prof. Colin Adam’s humorous theater. SMALL alum Sarah Peluse won the AWM Alice Schafer Prize for undergraduate research. Continue reading »
Math at Oxford II: Reflections After the First Term Hey Williams! Congratulations on finishing up finals. I hope everyone has an amazing break. In this post, I'll focus on what I have learned about the math(s) curriculum at Oxford since the beginning of term. Then, I will discuss sports at Oxford in comparison to sports at Williams and conclude by sharing a few more pieces UK slang. Continue reading »
Nathan Kaplan, who worked with Prof. Allison Pacelli in our 2005 SMALL Undergraduate Mathematics Research Project and who gallantly competed September 13 on Million Second Quiz, gave our Faculty Seminar Friday November 22 on “Curves and Surfaces Over Finite Fields and Coding Theory.” Kaplan is… Continue reading »
After two cloudy Fridays, this Friday President Falk sounded the bells, canceled classes, and we all headed out to celebrate Mountain Day. My special thanks to Scott Lewis, Gail Donohue, and Bob Volpi. (See large photo gallery at end below.) The scene had brightened from… Continue reading »
Math seniors gathered for pizza and a program on the coming year by introduced by Colloquium Czar Professor Pacelli and Department Chair Professor Stewart Johnson. Professors Miller and Stoiciu announced coming contests and puzzles. Philippe Demontigny received the 2012-13 nonsenior colloquium attendance prize. Professor Garrity explained how… Continue reading »