MTH 352: Complex Variables (Schmidt, MW 7:30 PM). This course explores the complex number system, which turns out to have many intriguing properties and applications.
MTH 414: History of Mathematics (Wright, TuTh 7:30 PM). You should have completed MTH 351 in order to have the level of mathematical sophistication needed to understand the history of the subject as it will be taught here. Professor Wright usually stresses the history of calculus, using original sources. The course is required for majors who are in the Secondary Teacher Education Program (and an elective for other math majors), and it is offered every Winter.
MTH 453: Advanced Calculus II (Turett, MWF 1:20 PM). This is a continuation of MTH 351 and is required for the Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics (and is an elective for the Bachelor of Arts). It is offered every Winter, if enrollment warrants.
MTH 475: Abstract Algebra (Park, MW 3:30 PM). This course provides an introduction to groups, rings, and fields. It is hard to describe these topics before you study them, but if you liked the more abstract parts of linear algebra, you'll feel right at home in this course. MTH 475 is required of all mathematics majors, and it's offered every Winter.
STA 323: Design of Experiments (Taam, MW 5:30 PM). If you liked STA 226, and especially the time spent studying analysis of variance, you should look into this course. All statistics majors will take this course, and it is an elective for math majors. It is recommended that you have taken STA 322 first. This course is offered every Winter.
STA 324: Analysis of Categorical Data (Kushler, TuTh 7:30 PM). If you liked STA 226, and especially the time spent studying things like contingency tables, you should look into this course. This is not the easiest 300-level STA course, and STA 322 or 323 should be taken first.
STA 428: Mathematical Statistics (Pan, MW 7:30 PM). This is the continuation of STA 427. If you're taking STA 427 now, you're probably already planning to take this course. The STA 427-428 sequence is offered every year.
Note that APM 332 (Applied Matrix Theory) has been canceled.
In all cases, you can obtain further information by talking to the instructor.
If you have a request for future years, make your desires known to us! Also, don't forget that you can do independent studies of topics not regularly offered as courses. And if you meet the prerequisites, consider taking graduate courses or advanced computer science courses. In particular, look into MOR 554 this winter, a course in mathematical programming taught by Professor Tsui, MW 5:30 PM, as well as the analysis of algorithms course (APM 567, Professor E. Cheng, TuTh 5:30).
We are planning a wonderful wall tiling in the hallway outside the Department office (368 SEB). Designed and executed by a local artist who has taken graduate mathematics courses at Oakland, this work will feature intricate geometric patterns and tiles that tell the story of the development of mathematics. Stay tuned for an installation toward the end of the year and a grand unveiling ceremony early in 2000.
We also are looking for graders for our courses (particularly MTH 154-155) to correct homework the students turn in. Contact the Department office (368 SEB, 370-3430) if you are interested.
On a related front, you might consider being an orientation group leader (OGL) next summer, and have a chance to influence incoming students. Contact the New Student Programs Office (134 NFH, 370-3260) for further information and application procedures.
The department's Web Page has the following URL (it has an improved appearance and loads of information): http://www.math.oakland.edu). Come have a look! Netscape browsers are available on the computers in the computer laboratories on campus.
All faculty have e-mail addresses that are the same as their last names (followed by @oakland.edu), with certain exceptions: bjiang, echeng, pshi, schochet, and w2zhang. Phone numbers and office locations can be obtained from the Department office (368 SEB, 370-3430) or the Web.
All it takes to reactivate Students for the Advancement of Mathematics (S.A.M.) as an official campus organization is for a few energetic undergraduates to step forward and assume the roles of president and treasurer and plan activities for this year. Please contact Professor Grossman and get involved to keep it alive. The university provides funding for speakers and other activities. It's a great way to pursue your interests and socialize at the same time.
Keep the advisers busy Majors in mathematics or statistics should consult with their advisers at least once a year. Professor Grossman is currently the departmental chief adviser, and he can be found in Room 346 SEB most of every day (370-3443, grossman@oakland.edu). Sit down with him to review your progress, check the myriad graduation requirements, explore your options after you graduate, or just talk about mathematics. He has some nice give-aways, too, such as a booklet prepared by the Mathematical Association of America spotlighting careers in the mathematical sciences, and copies of recent issues of Math Horizons, a magazine for majors.
A mathematical modeling competition is also held each winter. If there is enough interest, Oakland can field a team. For information, visit http://www.comap.com/mcm/mcm.htm, and let us know if you want to participate.
Math majors honored The Department has selected Darrin Hanna to receive the third annual Louis R. Bragg Graduating Senior Award, given each year to the most outstanding major in mathematics or statistics. After graduation, he stayed at OU as a graduate student and teaching associate. Darrin had a double major in mathematics and computer engineering. He was (and continues to be) active in campus life, from running SI sessions in chemistry, to doing research in physics, to conducting volunteer math help sessions for his dorm mates. A reception will be held soon in his honor.
The Department is hosting a Seminar on Industrial Mathematics and Statistics on November 19 (8:00-noon, 372 SEB), at which speakers from within and outside the Department will discuss the applications of mathematics and statistics in industry. Students are very welcome to attend.
Each issue of the Newsletter will include a feature on one member of the Department faculty, telling you a little about his/her life and interests, both professional and personal. For this issue we focus on Professor Sze-Kai (Jack) Tsui, who has been at Oakland since 1975. He did his undergraduate work in Taiwan, and he received his PhD in mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Tsui's research interests revolve around operator algebras, optimization, and robotic control. In the latter field he has collaborated with faculty members from the School of Engineering and Computer Science (partly supported by a special grant from the state of Michigan), as well as a member of the School of Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has also lent his expertise to Fanuc Robotics, a firm in the Oakland Technology Park.
Professor Tsui has taught a wide range of classes at Oakland, and he served the Department a few years ago as Associate Chair, in charge of such things as class scheduling. He also values the time he spends as the faculty adviser for the Intervarsity Fellowship, a student evangelical Christian group that holds weekly meetings drawing 150 people.
Professor Tsui lives in the faculty subdivision with his wife Jan, who is currently working on her masters degree in counseling from OU's education school. He has three children: the oldest (Phil) doing computer networking for an HMO in the Detroit area, the middle (Jennifer) working on her PhD in immunology at Stanford, and the youngest (Jason) still in high school.
General Mills has introduced a new cereal -- a variant of Cheerios called Millenios. Rather than just pieces of cereal in the shape of 0's, it also has 2's, so that if you pick up a spoonful, you might be able to "spell" 2000. What fraction of 2's should they put in a box of Millenios if they want to maximize the probability that a spoonful of n pieces will contain at least one 2 and at least three 0's? What value does this maximizing fraction approach as n approaches infinity?
This problem was proposed in Technology Review, a magazine published by M.I.T. A hexagon is inscribed in a circle of radius 1, and three pairwise nonadjacent sides all have length 1. Show that the triangle whose vertices are the midpoints of the remaining three sides is equilateral.
Many times you will be faced with a mathematical or statistical problem that could be solved with the right tools, if you have access to them. In addition to graphing calculators, which most of you have, there are computer algebra systems like maple and mathematica, geometry systems like Geometer's Sketchpad, statistical systems like minitab and SAS, and others. Many faculty members are knowledgeable about the use of these packages and their availability on campus. Ask your instructors and give them a try! You'll be amazed at what they can do.