Week of November 29 - December 3

Tuesday, November 30

 2:30 ALGEBRA SEMINAR  - Room 447 MSC
      Ramiro Lafuente-Rodriguez, Mathematics and Statistics, BGSU 
      "Groups of divisibility"

 2:30 SCIENTIFIC COMPUTATION SEMINAR  - Room 459 MSC
      Tong Sun, Mathematics and Statistics, BGSU 
      "Fractal interpolation functions and multi-resolution analysis"
      Abstract: We use two fractal interpolation functions and their
        translates to generate V_0. The dilates of V_0 form a
        multi-resolution of L^2(R). Wavelet space W_k can be
        constructed with two functions as the generators. The
        advantage: small support, orthogonality, AND smoothness. There
        will be some interesting stuff beside the fractals.  For
        example, you will see a function which is continuous almost
        everywhere, but it looks discontinuous everywhere.

Wednesday, December 1

 2:30 ANALYSIS SEMINAR  - Room 459 MSC
      Rebecca Sanders, Mathematics and Statistics, BGSU 
      "A Banach space which admits no chaotic operators"
      Abstract: We discuss a paper by Bonet, Martinez, and Peris.
        They show that the dual of a reflexive separable hereditarily
        indecomposable complex Banach space of Gowers and Maurey
        admits no chaotic continuous linear operator.

Friday, December 3

 3:30 Refreshments
 3:45 COLLOQUIUM  - Room 459 MSC
      David Meel, Mathematics and Statistics, BGSU 
      "Looking at mathematical understanding: Highlights from
       different perspectives"
      Abstract: This talk surveys two particular theoretical
        frameworks: Pirie and Kieren's model of understanding and
        Dubinsky's APOS theory.  Initially, the historical search for
        a clear definition of 'understanding' will be discussed
        focusing on Skemp's identification of instrumental and
        relational understanding.  This talk will then briefly
        delineate Pirie and Kieren's model of understanding and
        Dubinsky's APOS theory while explicating the definitions,
        elements and qualities of the theories.  Following this, a
        discussion of a variety of interconnections between Pirie and
        Kieren's model of understanding and APOS theory will be
        discussed focusing on the constructivist origins,
        organizations, and implications for assessment and pedagogy.