RUTGERS EXPERIMENTAL MATHEMATICS SEMINAR

sponsored by the

Rutgers University
Department of Mathematics

and the

Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS)

Founded 2003 by Drew Sills and Doron Zeilberger

Former co-organizers: Drew Sills (2003-2007), Moa ApaGodu (2005-2006), Lara Pudwell (2006-2008)

Current co-organizers:
Andrew Baxter (baxter {at} math [dot] rutgers [dot] edu)
Doron Zeilberger (zeilberg {at} math [dot] rutgers [dot] edu)



Archive of Previous Speakers and Talks




Fall 2008 Schedule

Unless otherwise specified, seminars will be held in Hill 705 on the date indicated from 5:00 to 5:48 PM. Professor Zeilberger has promised to enforce the time limits.

Date: Thursday, September 11, 2008
Seminar cancelled due to football game. (Luis Medina's talk moved to September 18th.)



Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Speaker: Luis Medina, Rutgers University
Title: Asymptotic Valuations of Sequences Satisfying First Order Recurrences
Abstract:
           Let tn be a sequence that satisfies a first order homogeneous recurrence tn = Q(n)tn-1, where Q(n) is in Z[n]. The asymptotic behavior of the p-adic valuation of tn is described.



Date: Thursday, September 25, 2008
Speaker: Dan Romik, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Title: Random sorting networks and the oriented swap process
Abstract:
           I will talk about two fascinating random models for sorting a list of N numbers from increasing to decreasing order by applying N(N-1)/2 adjacent transpositions. In one model we simply choose uniformly from the list of possible ways to do this, and in the other model we repeatedly choose adjacent transpositions uniformly from the N-1 possibilities and apply them if they bring the list closer to being sorted. Computer simulations (which I will show) enable guessing the asymptotic behavior of the first model as N goes to infinity. But rigorous mathematical analysis (based on the theory of exclusion processes) enables proving almost everything about the second model, and (so far at least) only very little about the first.

Based on joint work with Omer Angel, Alexander Holroyd and Balint Virag.



Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008
Speaker: Gil Kalai, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Title: TBA
Abstract:
           TBA



Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008
No Talk (Yom Kippur)



Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008
Speaker: Bahman Kalantari, Rutgers University
Title: Back to the Future with Polynomials: Reinventing Applications in Math & Education, Science & Art
Abstract:
           TBA



Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008
Speaker: Debbie Yuster, DIMACS
Title: TBA
Abstract:
           TBA



Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008
Speaker: Dan Cranston, DIMACS
Title: TBA
Abstract:
           TBA



Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008
Speaker: TBA
Title: TBA
Abstract:
           TBA



Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008
Speaker: TBA
Title: TBA
Abstract:
           TBA



Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Speaker: Michael Fisher, West Chester University
Title: TBA
Abstract:
           TBA



Date: Thursday, November 27, 2008
No Talk (Thanksgiving)



Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008
Seminar cancelled due to football game.






This page is maintained by Andrew Baxter. Send comments to baxter {at} math [dot] rutgers [dot] edu.