The California Mathematics Council,
Community Colleges
17th Annual Recreational Mathematics Conference
April 26 – April 27, 2013
MontBleu Hotel and Casino
Stateline, Nevada
OFFICIAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM
FRIDAY CONFERENCE PROGRAM
REGISTRATION
GAMING DEMONSTRATION
5:30-7:00 p.m.
6:00-7:00 p.m.
HOTEL LOBBY
CASINO FLOOR
HAPPY HOUR AND FRIDAY KEYNOTE
7:30-9:00 p.m.
COSMO B
Robert Lang
Alamo, California
From Flapping Birds to Space Telescopes:
The Modern Science of Origami
[email protected]
The last decade of this past century has been witness to a revolution in the development and application of mathematical
techniques to origami, the centuries-old Japanese art of paper-folding. The techniques used in mathematical origami
design range from the abstruse to the highly approachable. In this talk, I will describe how geometric concepts led to the
solution of a broad class of origami folding problems – specifically, the problem of efficiently folding a shape with an
arbitrary number and arrangement of flaps, and along the way, enabled origami designs of mind-blowing complexity and
realism, some of which you’ll see, too. As often happens in mathematics, theory originally developed for its own sake has
led to some surprising practical applications. The algorithms and theorems of origami design have shed light on longstanding mathematical questions and have solved practical engineering problems. I will discuss examples of how origami
has enabled safer airbags, Brobdingnagian space telescopes, and more.
SATURDAY CONFERENCE AT-A–GLANCE
Session 1
9:00 – 10:00
Session 2
10:30 – 11:30
Session 3
2:30 – 3:30
Session 4
4:00 – 5:00
Tityik Wong
The World Must be
Proportional
Stan Barrick
Problem Solving with
Mathematical
Amusements
Daniel Munton
th
Beyond the 13 Bak'Tun:
Math from the World
of the Maya
Joel Siegel
The Value of Lying
E.A. Giuliani
Infographics
Sam Brannen
Japanese Temple
Geometry
No Session
No Session
Richard Werner
Mathematical Art
Exploration
Eric Hutchinson
Are We There Yet?
Calculating Geographical
Distances
Denny Burzynski
5000+ Years of Technology
in Computation
Steve Blasberg
Problems Don't Amount
to a Hill of Beans
Metro A
Metro B
Metro C
SATURDAY CONFERENCE PROGRAM
REGISTRATION
8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
CONFERENCE AREA
SESSION ONE: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
[email protected]
Tityik Wong, College of Southern Nevada
METRO A
“The World Must be Proportional”
The talk consists of the presentation of more than twenty proportions, some involve using proportions to solve typical
textbook problems that are not normally solved by proportions (such as mixture problems), some are optimization
problems in calculus whose solutions can be presented as surprising and beautiful proportions. The audience will be
actively involved through some handout problems that range from easy applications of methods covered in the talk to a
few challenging problems that will require more time and effort to solve.
E.A.Giuliani, Sonoma State University
[email protected]
METRO B
“Infographics”
The talk presents information about the history of infographics including the visual, the content, and the knowledge.
The visual consists of colors and graphics. Statistics and facts usually serve as the content for infographics, and can be
obtained from any number of sources, including census data and news reports. One of the most important aspects of
infographics is that they contain some sort of insight into the data that they are presenting, and this is the knowledge
part of infographics. Audience members will be able to create their own infographic.
Richard Werner, Santa Rosa Junior College
[email protected]
METRO C
“Mathematical Art Exploration”
The speaker has created nine different pieces of mathematical sculpture and artwork which form the basis of a 2011
sabbatical leave project. Photos of each of the pieces along with descriptions, appropriate links and in many cases
problem sets have been organized into a website. The talk will explore the web site and provide insights into the
mathematics and construction of the sculptures.
SESSION TWO: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
[email protected]
Stan Barrick, Sacramento State University
METRO A
“Problem Solving with Mathematical Amusements”
This session will focus on problem solving from several different areas: patterns in Pascal’s Triangle, area problems,
palindromic numbers, poly-ominoes, and the Pythagorean Theorem. Problems selected are of varying difficulty from
pre-algebra to calculus. The set of problems demonstrate that sometimes the calculator is useful in problem solving and
sometimes not. Some of the problems can be solved using various mathematical methods. In any case, the problems
selected are meant to draw the student into more difficult mathematics and to make this mathematics part of their
vocabulary and tool kit. Audience participation is expected. So be prepared to problem solve. Bring your pencil,
calculator and sense of humor.
Sam Brannen, Sonoma State University
[email protected]
METRO B
“Japanese Temple Geometry”
From the early seventeenth century until a little past the mid-nineteenth century, Japan was free from civil war and was
mostly closed to foreign influence. In this environment people cultivated skills in medicine, poetry, the tea ceremony,
music, mathematics, and writing. Many poets and mathematicians traveled throughout the country, visiting temples
and friends and sharing their art and knowledge. A custom arose of hanging wooden tablets with geometrical problems
under the roofs of shrines and temples. Some problems may have been intended as challenges to fellow enthusiasts,
while others may have been offerings to gods. This talk will present an introduction to Japanese Temple Geometry as
well as solutions to some of the more interesting problems found on the wooden tablets.
Eric Hutchinson, College of Southern Nevada
[email protected]
METRO C
“Are We There Yet? (Calculating Geographical Distances)”
This presentation will describe various mathematical methods for calculating a geographical distance, which is the
distance between two points on the surface of the earth. Calculations will be compared while considering the earth as a
flat surface, a sphere, and an ellipsoid.
Lunch Break: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Your voucher is good at any time, Friday through Sunday, April 26 - April 28, 2013
at any of the MontBleu eating establishments
Keynote Presentation
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
COSMO A
Bernt Wahl
UC Berkeley
[email protected]
“How to Win at Roulette and Other Way-Out Mathematical Ideas”
Bernt Rainer Wahl will talk about his 1980’s experiences at UC Santa Cruz, where a group of researchers observed elements of
mathematics and physics in new ways. This world revolved around strange attractors in a fractal dimension, instead of relying on
standard Newtonian Mechanics. Their ideas would examine why there were gaps in the rings of Saturn, how bifurcation of water
drop patterns would lead to a realm of predictable patterns and ways to beat statically systems (ex. Roulette) within a physical world
– with a little help from a computer in your shoe. He will talk about how an unknown science transformed to become the decades
“new field” of discovery. He will also share some of his work in fractals and chaos and how the field has proliferated to aid in
understanding in different academic areas.
SESSION THREE: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Daniel Munton, Santa Rosa Junior College
[email protected]
METRO A
th
“Beyond the 13 Bak’tun: Mathematics from the World of the Maya”
The Mayan Calendar generated much interest prior to the end of the 13th Bak'tun. Now that we have finished
"partying like it's 12.19.19.17.19”, we can examine more closely the mathematics of the intricate calendar of the Maya,
including the Tzolk'in, Haab, Long Count and Lunar calendars, how they interconnect.
Denny Burzynski, College of Southern Nevada
[email protected]
METRO C
“5000+ Years of Technology in Computation”
The presenter will demonstrate computing technologies that have been used over the last 5000+ years. You can
participate in the demonstrations or just sit back and watch how computing was done back in the day as well as
how it is done now. Got a slide rule, bring it.
SESSION FOUR: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Joel Siegel, Sierra College
[email protected]
METRO A
“The Value of Lying”
Although the song tells us its a sin to tell a lie, in this talk we attempt to assess the value of lying. By developing a model
for lying and comparing it to truth telling we get some remarkable insights into the mindset of the liar as well as
developing criteria for determining when lying may be more advantageous. This may be helpful in setting public policy
and alerting consumers.
Steve Blasberg, West Valley College
[email protected]
METRO C
“Problems Don’t Amount to a Hill of Beans”
The Student Mathematics League is a national math competition for two-year college students featuring challenging and
interesting problems from algebra, geometry, trigonometry, combinatorics, and number theory. As the Test Developer for the
SML, the speaker will be presenting some of his favorite problems (and solutions!) from the last two years of the competition.
SPECIAL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT SPEAKER
COSMO 5:00 P.M.
Gabriel McHugh
Santa Rosa Junior College
 - Fi – Fo - Fum
According to Mathematician Albert Beiler, “Number theory is the queen of mathematics.” In this lecture, we will examine
a fascinating result from the queen: Euler’s  function. Also known as the totient function, this operation gives all the
numbers less than and prime to a given number. With vast applications in fields from number theory to computer
security, the  function will definitely be worth our time.
CMC3 thanks Debra Landry for her generous support for the student speaker scholarship
.
RECEPTION, RAFFLE AND DOOR PRIZES!
Immediately After the Student Presentation
Proceeds support the student scholarship program.
COSMO room
Join us for the CMC3 41st Annual Fall Conference!
Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey, CA
Friday December 13 – Saturday December 15, 2013
Visit cmc3.org for information
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Conference Coordinator
Program Chair
Registration
Treasurer
Larry Green
Mark Harbison
Joseph Conrad
Rebecca Fouquette
Lake Tahoe Community College
Sacramento City College
Solano College
De Anza College
CMC3 BOARD
President
Past-President
President-Elect
Secretary
Newsletter Editor
Membership Chair
Treasurer
Articulation Breakfast Coordinator
Business Liaison
MAA Liaison
Adjunct Advocate
CMC Liaison
Awards Coordinator
Web Page Coordinator
AMATYC Liaison
Foundation President
Monterey Speaker Chair
Monterey Hotel Liaison
Foundation Board Member
Foundation Board Member
Susanna Gunther
Barbara Illowsky
Mark Harbison
Greg Daubenmire
Jay Lehmann
Joseph Conrad
Rebecca Fouquette
Steve Blasberg
Randy Rosenberger
Wade Ellis
Tracey Jackson
Jenny Freidenreich
Katia Fuchs
Larry Green
Marcella Laddon
Debbie Van Sickle
Wade Ellis
Rob Knight
Bic Dovan
Hsiao Wang
Solano Community College
De Anza College
Sacramento City College
Las Positas College
College of San Mateo
Solano College
De Anza College
West Valley College
Sacramento City College
West Valley College
Santa Rosa Junior College
Diablo Valley College
San Francisco City College
Lake Tahoe Community Coll.
Cabrillo College
Sacramento City College
West Valley College
Evergreen Valley College
Santa Rosa Junior College
Sacramento City College
CMC3 wishes to express a Special “Thank You” to
Anna Vopalensky and the entire staff of the MontBleu Hotel and Casino!