Can you hear the Shape of a Drum?
- Presenter
- Dr. Marty Ross
- Date
- Friday 31st October
- Time
- 12-1pm
- Place
- Lecture Theatre 2, Old Geology Building
- Abstract
- This talk will be used to discuss a problem posed in 1966 by the probabilist Marc Kac: Can you hear the shape of a drum? That is, if you know all the vibrational frequencies of the drum, is that enough to determine the shape of the drumface? This problem has led from some fundamental mathematical concepts to some beautiful research, and finally to a surprisingly simple resolution.
- This is a follow up seminar from Dr. Marty Ross's "Strange Harmonies: Mathematics and Music".
MUMS holds seminars throughout the year on a wide variety of topics that are
mathematically related. Past seminars have covered such topics as chaos
theory, Fermat's Last Theorem, coding theory, and performance of algorithms.
They are usually aimed at a general mathematical audience, and do not require any
specific background.
Seminars have now relocated and are usually held at 12 or 1pm on Fridays in Lecture Theatre 2 of the Old Geology Building. Anyone is welcome, and refreshments
are served afterwards.
MUMS welcomes offers for seminars. Please contact Narthana Epa, the society's education officer,
if you are interested.
Upcoming talks and their dates will be listed on this
page. Please check here regularly for new additions!
Seminars for 2008
- 24 October: Norman Do - "The Mathematical Art of Tiling" - Click here for the seminar slides.
- 19 September: Arun Ram - "Generalising Pascal's Triangle"
- 29 August: Dr. Chris Ormerod - "Solitons: The Weird and Wonderful World of Discrete Waves" - Click here for the seminar slides.
- 15 August: Dr. Marty Ross - "Strange Harmonies: Mathematics and Music"
- 8 August: James Saunderson - "Coding Theory 111000111"
- 1 August: Sam Chow - "733t Advice 4 n00bs: How to P.own at Classic 2 Player Games" - Click here for the seminar slides.
- 11 March: Dr. Marty Ross - "Pulp Fractions: Mathematics Goes to the Movies"
- 18 March: Dr. John Groves - "Newton & Brazil: Tropical Geometry for Beginners"
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