On a hot summer day in Hanoi, Vietnam, colleagues toss ideas back and forth. There are drawings on a chalkboard. Concepts bounce off each other. Rules bend, break or are cast aside entirely. Ideas that aren’t working are shelved in favor of exploring more solid options. Finally, a creative breakthrough. Clearly, this is a room full of mathematicians. Steven Senger, associate … [Read more...] about Counting shapes for the future
Our lives are full of connections. You see someone you know in the grocery store two aisles over. What's the quickest way to get to them? Your parents live 2,000 miles away. There are no direct flights. Which flight has fewer layovers? Connections are rarely as easy as point A to point B. There are stops along the way, twists, turns and sometimes you may even get … [Read more...] about Looking for connections
Two players place their black or white stones on a 19 by 19 board to participate in an ancient board game, Go. It’s a strategy game, similar to chess. But for Dr. Xingping Sun, it’s more than a game: It’s been an inspiration for his research. “The simple rules of Go give rise to the most complicated board game, much like the evolution of modern mathematics from a few … [Read more...] about Keeping up with machines: Artificial intelligence in math
Rebaza, professor of mathematics, teaches numerical analysis and applied mathematics at Missouri State. His recent research interests range from showing how your brain processes language to exploring a way to predict the spread of waterborne diseases. “The work we’re doing is important” Math professionals usually specialize in one of two areas. One is pure mathematics, which … [Read more...] about Solving real-world problems with high-level math