Upcoming Events
Undergraduate Research Talks
Date: Thursday, November 6th
Time: Starting at 5:00 pm
Location: 351 Avery Hall
What: Undergraduate Research Talks
Who: Riley Brown and Anok Timothy
Information: Two of our excellent undergraduate students will present their recent research projects.
Talk 1 by Riley Brown
Title: Exploring Algorithms to Solve the Sumset Recognition Problem
Abstract: Sumset Recognition is a known NP-Complete problem, but we can still make efficient algorithms! This research project, which was conducted at Harvey Mudd College this summer, involved understanding all angles of the problem and creating algorithms to find our solution (relatively) quickly. This talk will dabble in complexity theory, algorithms, additive combinatorics, and graph theory.
Talk 2 by Anok Timothy
Title: Search for Symmetric Ribbon Number: Determinants and Alexander & Jones Polynomials
Abstract: Ribbon knots are a special class of knots obtained by starting with n+1 component unlinks or disks and resolving all attached bands. Every ribbon knot has a ribbon number, the number of ribbon intersections, or informally, the times a band crashes through itself. While it is possible for ribbon knots to have the same ribbon number and symmetric ribbon number, we find that this is not the case for all ribbon knots. Some might deem finding the symmetric ribbon number of a knot more difficult. A key indicator of symmetric ribbon numbers is Alexander polynomials. In this talk, we will determine the sets of Alexander polynomials of ribbon knots up to 11 crossings with symmetric ribbon numbers 2, 3, and 4. We will also look at determining the symmetric ribbon number of 12 crossing ribbon knots using determinants and Alexander and Jones polynomials. To do so, we restrict our attention to non-trivial, prime knots and involve presentation change methods.
Soda and Pizza will be provided!
About Math Club
The Math Club is an umbrella organization for mathematics-related activities open to all UNL students. The Math Club sponsors events throughout the academic year in association with the Nebraska Alpha Chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon and the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) undergraduate student chapter at Nebraska. Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to contact the Math Club's faculty advisors to discuss events and meetings that they would like to see throughout the academic year and to help organize additional event and meetings.
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Pi Mu Epsilon (ΠΜΕ)
Pi Mu Epsilon is a national mathematics honor society that promotes scholarly activity in mathematics among students in academic institutions. UNL's Nebraska Alpha Chapter, founded in 1928, was the 15th chapter out of over 350 chapters around the country.
Learn more about joining Pi Mu Epsilon.