The University of Georgia's Math Club

Future Meetings 5:00 p.m., Thursday, September 10 in Boyd 304

Math Major Career Advice
by Charles Perry
Career Consultant at UGA in charge of math majors will give a general presentation on preparing for a job search or grad school with some tips about resumes, cover letters and interviews.
Pizza and drinks will be served afterwards

Past Meetings

5:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 31 @ Boyd 303
Solving Rubik's Cube Using Matrix Multiplication
by Dr. Andrew T. Sornborger



Abstract: I will describe the seat of the pants method that I used to solve Rubik's Cube without ever having tried to solve a cube by hand. All you need to know to understand this lecture is how to multiply matrices (which I will briefly review, in case you've forgotten). No group theory required, because I don't know any..

followed by an election for next year's officers.
(pizza and drinks will be served afterwards)


April 15, 16, & 17, 2009
15th Annual Cantrell Lectures



Dr. David Mumford
University Professor of Applied Mathematics
Brown University

(Details on the Main page.)


(Cancelled due to inclement weather)
5:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 3 @ Boyd 322
Planimeters and the Isoperimetric Inequality
by Dr. Robert L. Foote, Wabash College



Abstract: A planimeter is a simple mechanical instrument used to calculate the area of a region in the plane by tracing around its boundary. I will show how to use two planimeters (one with no moving parts!), and explain why they work. Then the ideas involved will be used to give a simple proof of the isoperimetric inequality, L^2 >= 4*(pi)*A, where A is the area of the region and L is the length of its boundary. I will have some planimeters available for those who want to try one.
For pictures and additional information on planimeters, see http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/footer/.
(pizza and drinks will be served afterwards)


4:30 - 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 4 @ Boyd 328
2009 Math Major Fair
A short introduction to the mathematics major at UGA (5-10 minutes).
Two 15-minutes talks on some real life aspects of mathematics, by current faculty members (Dr. Hersonsky, Dr. Lorenzini).
Two 5-minutes talks by current math majors on their experiences doing paid summer research experiences at other institutions (Betsy Katz, Chris Pryby).
Social gathering, networking with faculty and mathematics majors, and refreshments (pizza and drinks will be served).


Saturday, December 6th @ Boyd
William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition
Annual mathematics competition administered by the Mathematical Association of America
for undergraduate students in the U.S. and Canada since 1938.
Past problems and solutions may be found in the Putnam Competition Directory.
For more information, contact Dr. Malcolm Adams (email here or drop by his office at 405 Boyd)



5:30 p.m., Thursday, December 4 @ Boyd 304
"The Brouwer fixed point theorem and an introduction to algebraic topology"
by Dr. Will Kazez

Dr. Kazez: "Start with a rectangle's worth of dots. Repeatedly deform and fold, but do not tear, the rectangle. Finally press the crumpled page so that it sits within the boundaries of the original. You will have succeeded in changing the original position of many of the dots, but the Brouwer fixed point theorem guarantees that there is at least one point that ends up at its starting position.

I will use this theorem, and related results, to introduce some of the basic goals of algebraic topology. I won't assume any background beyond an intuitive notion of continuity. "

Saturday, November 8th @ Student Learning Center
UGA High School Math Tournament


(pictures from last year's tournament)



5:30 p.m., Thursday, October 23 @ Boyd 304
"Mathematical Quilts - The Mathematics Within" by Dr. Diana Venters








5:00 p.m., Thursday, September 18 @ Boyd 304
"Mapping N to NxN and Their Countability" by Kyle Istvan
followed by an introduction to the UGA High School Math Tournament