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Presenter: |
John Christie |
| Title: |
Understanding Chemical Point Groups from a
Mathematical Perspective |
| Presentation: | Wed 7 Apr, 4:30pm, MCRey 315 |
| Abstract: |
The project
began by contemplating isometries, or symmetries, in three
dimensions. Apart from the usual isometries such as
reflection, rotation, translation, and glide reflection, I
found that three dimensions allowed for two new isometries:
the improper rotation and the glide rotation. From here I
explored chemical point groups using character tables
provided in the appendix of advanced chemistry texts and
attempted to prove which mathematical group they were
associated with. A chemical point group is a description
of the symmetries that particular molecules have. I also
explored the construction of character tables.
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| Advisor: |
Dr. Duff Campbell |
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Presenter: |
Tony Johnson |
| Title: |
Risk and Artificial Intelligence using QLearning |
| Presentation: | Thu 8 Apr, 4:00pm, MCRey 315 |
| Abstract: |
My project consisted of programming the classic board
game of Risk and creating an adaptive artificial
intelligence agent in the programming language of Java. The
motivation behind the project was to create a better
artificial intelligence agent than free games currently
available online. Three artificial intelligence agents were
created, two to provide baseline testing data at either end
of the aggression spectrum, and the third, the adaptive one,
using a well know learning algorithm called QLearning.
Numerous tests were performed with the adaptive agent, the
baseline agents, and a wide range of people with different
computer gaming experience.
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| Advisor: |
Dr. Gabe Ferrer |
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Presenter: |
William Longley |
| Title: |
Constructions of Fractals of Specified Dimension |
| Presentation: | Thu 8 Apr, 3:00pm, MCRey 315 |
| Abstract: |
The dimension of a geometrical set can be defined in
several ways. I begin by discussing the every day notion of
dimension and then introduce fractal dimensions, which are
not restricted to positive integer values. An explicit
construction of a fractal with a dimension of any given
positive real number is developed as the main result, and I
also present Mathematica code for generating pictures of
these constructions. |
| Advisor: |
Dr. Bill Wood |
| |
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Presenter: |
Claire Luikart |
| Title: |
Robot to Robot Avoidance with Lego Mindstorm NXTs |
| Presentation: | Thu 8 Apr, 4:30pm, MCRey 315 |
| Abstract: |
I focused on how to best approach the problem of robot
to robot avoidance using Lego Mindstorm NXT robots. These
robots needed to avoid in the context of a task to clear an
area of debris while avoiding each other. Two methods were
devised. One method involves using a robots sonar sensor to
try and detect other sonar sensors. The other makes use of a
robots ability to produce loud beeps and detect volume with
a microphone. These methods were tested against each other
with a control group of robots without a means of avoidance
acting as a baseline.
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| Advisor: |
Dr. Gabe Ferrer |
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Presenter: |
Sonya Morgan |
| Title: |
Pedestrian Evacuation Simulation |
| Presentation: | Wed 7 Apr, 4:00pm, MCRey 315 |
| Abstract: |
Pedestrian Evacuation Simulations are a crucial tool for
building design as they ensure that people can exit a
building safely and efficiently. The goal of this project
was to build a simple pedestrian evacuation simulator, using
agent based modeling, where each individual finds an exit by
following clues like walls and other pedestrians. The
results were then compared to other simulators to ensure
accuracy.
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| Advisor: |
Dr. Carl Burch |
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Presenter: |
Drew Tillis |
| Title: |
Complex Multiplication on Elliptic Curves |
| Presentation: | Thu 8 Apr, 3:30pm, MCRey 315 |
| Abstract: |
My project is an exploration of elliptic curves and the
structure of the rational points on such curves. The points
on an elliptic curve form a mathematical structure called a
group, and they form this group under an additive operation
that allows for adding two points on the curve to obtain a
third point on the curve. Moreover, some curves have what is
called complex multiplication, which is a specific mapping
of points on the curve. I determined that this complex
multiplication is a homomorphism, a mapping that acts on
groups and preserves operations. I also examined a few
examples of curves in finite groups to see what effect
complex multiplication had on their points.
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| Advisor: |
Dr. Duff Campbell |
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Presenter: |
Henry Wang |
| Title: |
Riemann Hypothesis and p-adic numbers |
| Presentation: | Wed 7 Apr, 3:30pm, MCRey 315 |
| Abstract: |
In my project, I will introduce the famous conjecture in
Number Theory known as the Riemann Hypothesis. Then I will
discuss a different number system from real numbers, which
is also built from the set of rational numbers . Finally I
will talk about how we can define the Riemann Zeta function,
which plays the central role in the Riemann Hypothesis,
on the set of p-adic numbers.
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| Advisor: |
Dr. Duff Campbell |
| |
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Presenter: |
Katie Wright |
| Title: |
Scheduling Courses Using a Genetic Algorithm |
| Presentation: | Mon 30 Nov, 3:10pm, MCRey 315 |
| Abstract: |
Course scheduling involves a significant amount of time
and effort on the part of faculty members of Hendrix
college. To lessen this problem, I created a program that
generates a schedule for Hendrix College with minimal human
intervention. This program uses a genetic algorithm as a
method of creating flawed schedules, which are then combined
and changed to produce better schedules. |
| Advisor: |
Dr. Gabe Ferrer |
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