9/13/13 Gentry

2005 - 2006 Gentry Lectures

Dr. Arthur T. Benjamin
Harvey Mudd College

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Thursday, March 30, 2006

4:00pm, Annenburg Forum, Carswell Hall
Refreshments: 3:00pm in Manchester Hall, Room 336

(A talk for the General Audience)

Proofs That Really Count

The Art of Combinatorial Proof

Mathematics is the science of patterns, and mathematicians attempt to understand

these patterns and discover new ones using various tools. In this talk, we demonstrate
that many number patterns, even very complex ones, can be understood by simple
counting arguments. You will enjoy the magic of Fibonacci numbers, Lucas numbers,
continued
fractions, and more. You can count on it!

This talk is based on research with Professor Jennifer Quinn and many
undergraduates.

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Friday, March 31, 2006

3:00pm, Greene Hall Room 145
Refreshments: 2:00pm in Manchester Hall, Room 336

Counting on Determinants

We demonstrate how determinants solve many interesting combinatorial problems,

and how many interesting theorems about determinants can be viewed
combinatorially. Applications to Pascal's Triangle, Fibonacci numbers and Catalan
numbers will also be given. We end with a new combinatorial proof of Vandermonde's
determinant.

This talk is based on joint work with Naiomi Cameron of Occidental College and
Gregory Dresden of Washington and Lee University.

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