Posted on Monday, December 11, 2006
Six Westminster College mathematics majors will present their capstone posters Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 3-5 p.m. in the McKelvey Campus Center atrium.
Hometown and project information is listed below.
Pittsburgh, PA
Courtney Gilmore is a daughter of Robert and Marsha Gilmore. Gilmore, a senior mathematics major, is a graduate of Brentwood High School. She will present:
Moving Out: Modeling Population Migration Using Linear Algebra
A population migration model using linear algebra and Markov chains was examined. The model assumes that the total population of the system remains fixed, the migration rate for any two states is constant, and the eigenvectors of the population matrices are linearly independent. Changes were made to the model to incorporate relaxed assumptions. Limitations of the models were determined using proofs and an analysis of United States-Mexico population migration data.
Michael Henninger is a son of Paul and Edna M. Henninger. Henninger, a senior mathematics major, is a graduate of Brentwood High School. He will present:
There's Still Time to Change the Road You're On
This is a statistical investigation of students changing their major at Westminster College. Similar studies at other universities examine relationships between major-changing and graduation time. The study looks to determine if students who alter their course of study are more likely to finish their time here in one major versus another as determined by the major in which they began their career.
North Huntingdon, PA
Tracy Wolf is a daughter of Charles and Diane Wolf. Wolf, a senior mathematics major, is a graduate of Norwin High School.
Linear Programming and Game Theory
I am going to show how linear programming can be used to solve game theory problems. I am going to demonstrate this using a common game called Rock, Paper, Scissors and also by using two variations of this game. I am also going to extend this information in order to determine how linear programming can be used to solve the game theory problem called Undercut.
Bear Lake, PA
Amy Perkins is a daughter of Dennis Perkins and Diane Perkins, Pittsfield. Perkins, a senior mathematics major, is a graduate of Youngsville High School.
Statistical Analysis of Food and Drug Interaction: Metabolism of Ephedra-containing Diet Pills in Mice
Diet pills are commonly administered 15 to 30 minutes prior to mealtime to maintain effectiveness, but what are the effects of simultaneous dispensing of food and ephedra-containing drugs? Monitoring the respiration of mice establishes the metabolic rate and subsequent drug concentration in the blood. The proposed experiment will investigate whether a food and drug interaction exists with the ephedra-containing diet pills by utilizing three treatment levels on a simple random sample of mice. Future statistical analysis of the experimental data will utilize analysis of variance, confidence intervals, and the bioequivalence interval to quantify the anticipated interaction.
Kane, PA
Allison Rook is a daughter of John and Marianne T. Rook. Rook, a senior mathematics major, is a graduate of Kane Area High School.
It's Goal Time
The distribution of goals through a regulation game of soccer can be very useful data when considering the Poisson and exponential distributions. The number of goals in the 1998 World Cup in France fits the Poisson distribution, and, when considering the goal times of each goal throughout the tournament, can be fit to the exponential distribution. In considering the NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, the goals and goal times of the games can be fit not only to the Poisson and exponential distributions, but also the Poisson process.
Middlefield, OH
Curtis Yenyo is a son of Clifford and Cindy Yenyo. Yenyo, a senior mathematics major, is a graduate of Cardinal High School.
The Dimension of the Coast of Westminster's Lake Brittain: A Look at Fractal Dimensions
Fractal dimensions of objects, which are non-integer dimensions, differ from the standard Euclidean whole number dimensions. The fractal dimensions can found in many different ways: the Hausdorff method, compass setting method, and the box-counting method are just a few. So, what kind of a fractal dimension does Brittain Lake of Westminster College have? This is explored through looking at other fractals and fractal dimension methods, and the use of GPS and mapping software.
Contact the Westminster College Mathematics Department at (724) 946-7284 for more information.
