Date: Monday, September 18 (09/18/2023)

Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Witmer 309

Title: Is This a Circle?

Speaker: Jeremiah Bartz, Associate Professor of Mathematics, University of North Dakota

Abstract: Mathematics has a rich history of posing and solving challenge problems and puzzles. The figure above is the graph of the polar curve r = sqrt(cos(2t)) + (7/5)cos(t) in the Cartesian plane for values of t where sqrt(cos(2t)) exists. Originally posed by Gregory Dresden in Math Horizons, can you determine with justification whether the graph is a circle?

In this talk, several examples of challenge problems will be presented aimed at general undergraduate and graduate audience. Additionally, opportunities for UND students and broader community to engage in problem solving and problem competitions are discussed.

So, is it a circle or not a circle? Find out next Monday at 4:00 PM.