All Questions
495 questions
12
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Topics for an Undergraduate Expository Paper in Number Theory
I am teaching an undergraduate course in number theory and am looking for topics that students could take on to write an expository paper (~10 pages). No new results are expected of them. Many of the ...
12
votes
10
answers
16k
views
Learning Algebra & Group Theory on my own [closed]
I'm learning Algebra & Group Theory, casually, on my own. Professionally, I'm a computer consultant, with a growing interest in the mathematical and theoretical aspects. I've been amazed with ...
12
votes
10
answers
2k
views
A place to find original papers
I currently use scholar.google.com to find papers in cases like Sophus Lie's original papers on "Transformation Groups". Does anyone know of other places that collect original works like this, i.e. ...
12
votes
4
answers
5k
views
A learning roadmap for Additive combinatorics.
Hello,
I'd love to learn more about the field of additive combinatorics. From what I've understand, there's a book by Tao and Vu out on the subject, and it looks fun, but I think I lack the ...
- 123
12
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Seeking a Geometric Proof of a Generalized Alternating Series' Convergence
Let $z \in \mathbb{C} \backslash \lbrace 1 \rbrace$ with $|z| = 1$. We consider the following infinite series, which necessarily converges:
$$S(z) := \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}\frac{z^n}{n}$$
Note that $S(...
- 7,831
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can formally differentiating give a derivative of a discrete function?
When I teach calculus, I really try to stress the importance of knowing the domain of a function.
One example that I sometimes like to use to show students the importance of inspecting the domain is ...
- 12.1k
12
votes
1
answer
521
views
Source of a quote by Ferdinand Rudio
I am looking for the source and context of this quote, found e.g. at St Andrews:
Only with the greatest difficulty is one able to follow the writings of any author preceding Euler, because it was ...
- 31.5k
12
votes
4
answers
929
views
Interesting examples of systems of linear differential equations with constant coefficients
In this paper, Gian-Carlo Rota wrote:
A lot of interesting systems with constant coefficients have been discovered in the last thirty years: in control, in economics, in signal
processing, even in ...
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Reference for a nice proof of "undetermined coefficients"
I'm teaching an honors differential equations class and have been using linear algebra heavily. I thought it would be interesting to include a proof of the method of undetermined coefficients along ...
- 7,273
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Introducing Cryptology to Undergraduates
This summer I am going to give some lectures to some REU students. I am still tossing around ideas for what I am going to talk about, but one thing I would at least like to give one or two lectures on,...
- 4,842
12
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is formal proof (formalized mathematics) interesting to practicing mathematicians? To educators? [closed]
Formalizing mathematical proofs so that they can be checked for correctness and manipulated by computer is a recurrent proposal, most notably stated in the QED manifesto (1994). The December 2008 ...
12
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is there a way to embed Clifford algebras into the corresponding tensor algebra?
$\newcommand{\talg}{\mathcal{T}(V)}$$\newcommand{\clalg}{\mathcal{Cl}_q(V)}$$\newcommand{\qalg}{\mathcal{I}_q(V)}$Is there a way to embed Clifford algebras into the corresponding tensor algebra?
There ...
- 2,680
12
votes
1
answer
775
views
Teaching Methods and Evaluating them
Hey,
As a lowly graduate student, I'm on a committee (I'm not sure how important my role really is) trying to evaluate how effective different approaches teaching undergraduates. We are looking at ...
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Teaching and students
Sometimes I get stumped by students' questions in my classes I teach. I am an algebraist by training and have just started teaching. Sometimes I have to teach analysis courses. My question is: Is it ...
- 127
11
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Applications of Liouville's theorem
I'm looking for "nice" applications of Liouville's theorem (every bounded entire map is constant) outside the area of complex analysis.
An example of what I'm not looking for : a non-constant entire ...
11
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Hard problems with an easy-to-understand answer
I am very interested by problem in mathematics which are difficult (go at least 10 years without a resolution, say) but which have a solution that is short and elementary.
In this video Launay gave an ...
11
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Reasons for the importance of planarity and colorability?
Could it have been foreseen that - exemplarily - planarity and colorability would turn out to be such important concepts in graph theory (there's almost no textbook on graphs without two chapters ...
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Why do mathematicians prefer one definition over the other when they both define the same concept?
Here is a basic, though very important, example:
Hilbert takes as primary the notion of “congruence” (or “equal”) between segments. His first axiom of congruence “requires the possibility of ...
- 2,437
11
votes
8
answers
4k
views
Leibnizian calculus textbook
Where can I find a calculus textbook that emphasizes differentials?
Is there such a book that I could realistically require my calculus students to use?
I want a textbook that supports me when I tell ...
11
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Topological examples of profinite groups
I am preparing a course on profinite groups, to be delievered to early graduate students. The first part of the course will discuss the equivalent characterizations of profinite groups. I will first ...
- 113
11
votes
3
answers
729
views
Why does inconstructibility of $\sqrt[3]{2}$ imply impossibility of cube doubling? [closed]
In this question "constructing" and "doubling" is meant in the compass-and-straightedge sense.
On my desk I have five Basic Algebra texts treating constructability in the plane $\mathbb{C}$ or $\...
- 802
11
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Place of Analytic geometry in modern undergraduate curriculum
I am a freshmen student in mathematics at Moscow State University (in Russia) and I'm confused with placing the subject called "analytic geometry" into the system of mathematical knowledge (if you ...
- 111
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Good examples of random variables whose image is not a measurable set?
Are their simple/natural examples of real-valued Borel-measurable random variables whose image is not a Borel set? Something that occurs "naturally"?
I am teaching Doob's lemma (for two real-valued ...
- 2,201
11
votes
3
answers
729
views
Calculus Teaching: Is it possible or desirable to give a severely abbreviated treatment of series convergence tests?
I will be teaching Calculus 2 this fall at a large U.S. state university. Our incoming students tend to have a limited or inconsistent background, which limits the amount of material we can cover.
...
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Teaching Experience for Graduate Students. [closed]
I am currently a graduate student, who will (hopefully!) graduate in the next year (or two..). I have slowly come to realize that I enjoy teaching, and consequently want to do more of it! My main ...
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is there evidence whether undergraduate math courses improve problem-solving?
The most commonly stated reason for why mathematics should be a required condition for graduating is }to improve problem-solving skills". Usually it's taken for granted that taking a mathematics ...
- 592
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Social Reading Platform for Math or LaTeX texts
Social reading is considered to be one of the big trends that could be catalysing learning by reading. Features could include:
Highlighting or annotating paragraphs or single steps in a proof for ...
11
votes
3
answers
448
views
Easy proof that reflections generate $N(T)/T$ for connected compact group?
I'm teaching a course on Coxeter groups and I'd like to provide an overview of the connection to compact Lie groups. Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group, $T$ a maximal torus and $N(T)$ the ...
- 156k
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Teaching stacks to differential geometry students
Does anyone have any experience teaching stacks over the category of manifolds to students whose background is, say, a semester-long course on manifolds? Does anyone know of any publicly available ...
- 1,710
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Good chalk in the UK
Sometime ago it was asked in Mathoverflow about good chalk in the US Where to buy premium white chalk in the U.S., like they have at RIMS?. I will be grateful for any recommendations on good chalk in ...
11
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Total spaces of tangent/cotangent bundles in a course where all varieties are quasi-projective
$\def\PP{\mathbb{P}}$In a course where all varieties are quasi-projective (as in Shafarevich Volume I), I am trying to figure out whether I can justify talking about the total spaces of the tangent ...
- 156k
10
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Power series with funny behavior at the boundary
Consider a power series
$$
\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}a_nz^n
$$
where $a_n$ and $z$ are complex numbers. There is radius $R$ of convergence. Let us assume that is a positive real number. It is well known that ...
- 2,384
10
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Proof that bases etc. exist in early linear algebra course?
I'm currently struggling to teach a 2nd course on linear algebra (in the UK, not at an Oxbridge quality university: the students have done a 1st course which concentrated upon algorithms you can apply ...
10
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Undergraduate Probability Topics
I am teaching undergraduate probability this semester, and I am looking for some suggestions about inspiring applications that could be reasonably covered over the course of two one-hour lectures or ...
10
votes
4
answers
667
views
Reference for shortest educational path to (Riemannian) hyperbolic plane
I am teaching an undergraduate class for math majors on axiomatic geometry, culminating in the proof that hyperbolic geometry is equiconsistent* with Euclidean geometry. I would like to make an end-of-...
- 2,218
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A proof without derivatives that a real polynomial of degree $n$ has at most $n-1$ local extrema
This question is about math education and is not research level, so do not hesitate to delete it if it feels inappropriate.
I already asked it here a year ago:
https://math.stackexchange.com/...
- 1,855
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
About the classification of commutative and of cocommutative, fin. dim. Hopf algebras
I want to prove that the cocommutative finite dimensional Hopf algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero are group algebras (for some finite group) and that the commutative f....
- 7,746
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Reference for working with the implicit function theorem
I just had a student come to my office hours and ask me a ton of questions, the answer to all of which was "that's a slight variant to the implicit function theorem, which is proved by formal ...
- 156k
9
votes
7
answers
7k
views
Review papers in mathematics
Are there review papers, literature reviews in mathematics that describe the recent developments in various fields for a newcomer? Or is the prerequisite knowledge always provided in research ...
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Books on the relationship between the Socratic method and mathematics?
Apart from books on heuristics by George Polya.
When trying to engage with and understand mathematical concepts and when applying abstract mathematical concepts to model "continuum" or real ...
- 107
9
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Assessing effectiveness of (epsilon, delta) definitions [closed]
There is much discussion both in the education community and the mathematics community concerning the challenge of (epsilon, delta) type definitions in calculus and the student reception of them. The ...
- 16.6k
9
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Mathematics seminar for "non-mathematicians"
Next term I am leading a seminar for students, who will become teachers for elementary school i.e. for kids of age 6-10. The students in the seminar will have no mathematical background beyond the "...
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Math History Question about the exponential function
While tutoring a student recently, I have come across the situation of explain logarithms by first introducing functions of the form $$f(x)= a^x$$ where $a \ge 0,x\in \mathbb{R}$. My student then ...
- 297
9
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Characterization of the Poisson law
This semester, I teach an introduction to probability course tailored for students with no science background and so with very very little prerequisites. We started with the basics of analytic ...
- 10.9k
9
votes
2
answers
637
views
Constructivist defininition of linear subspaces of $\mathbb{Q}^n$?
Let me preface this by saying I'm not someone who has every studied mathematical logic or philosophy of math, so I may be mangling terminology here (and the title is a little tongue in cheek).
I (and ...
- 2,478
9
votes
3
answers
12k
views
An image of the hierarchy of algebraic structures
Hello! Does anybody know an image of a graph featuring the hierarchy of algebraic structures? Something rather complete.
So far I've found similar images describing the hierarchies of classes/...
- 441
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Applications of Math: Theory vs. Practice
I have a problem: I learned about a lot of the applications of mathematics from academics. Neither they nor I have had much contact with the "real world" to go and see for ourselves how mathematics ...
9
votes
1
answer
617
views
Problems which use S₄ → S₃
I need examples of problems which use, directly or indirectly, the homomorphism $S_4\to S_3$ in the solution (its kernel is $\mathbb{Z}_2\oplus\mathbb{Z}_2$).
Obvious candidates:
Lagrange resolvent (...
- 45k
9
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Applications of Euler-Cauchy ODEs
The Euler-Cauchy ODE (2nd order, homogeneous version) is:
$$
x^2 y'' + a x y' + b y = 0
$$
Looking in various books on ODEs and a random walk on a web search (i.e. I didn't click on every link, but ...
- 26.8k
9
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Which topics/problems could you show to a bright first year mathematics student?
I am teaching a one semester course (January to June) to first year students pursuing various different degrees. Because there are students studying actuarial science, physics, other sciences, other ...