Department of

# Mathematics

Seminar Calendar
for Undergraduate Friday Seminar events the year of Saturday, April 10, 2021.

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events for the
events containing

Questions regarding events or the calendar should be directed to Tori Corkery.
      March 2021             April 2021              May 2021
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa   Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1  2  3  4  5  6                1  2  3                      1
7  8  9 10 11 12 13    4  5  6  7  8  9 10    2  3  4  5  6  7  8
14 15 16 17 18 19 20   11 12 13 14 15 16 17    9 10 11 12 13 14 15
21 22 23 24 25 26 27   18 19 20 21 22 23 24   16 17 18 19 20 21 22
28 29 30 31            25 26 27 28 29 30      23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31


Friday, January 29, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, January 29, 2021

#### The Mathematics Behind Two Puzzles

###### Jared Bronski (UIUC)

Abstract: I plan to talk about two puzzles with very elegant mathematical solutions. I would encourage you to think about (but not Google!) these puzzles, particularly the easier version of the first puzzle, before the talk. All of them can be found in the attachment below. We'll also need volunteers for a demonstration on Friday, so if you'd like to help please email undergradseminar@math.illinois.edu. For Zoom info, please email undergradseminar@math.illinois.edu

Friday, February 5, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, February 5, 2021

#### Satisfiability: Why some problems are easy, while others are hard

###### Vaibhav Karve (UIUC)

Abstract: I will introduce a 50-year-old problem called Boolean Satisfiability (or simply SAT) and I will explain why we should care about it. We will explore how an abstract-looking problem can end up being connected to circuits, airline scheduling, Rubiks cubes, chess, video games, and travelling salesmen. I will explain how small SAT are easy and how big SAT can be hard -- and how we quantify the hardness of a problem. By the end of the talk, we will have learned some computer science as well.

Friday, March 12, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, March 12, 2021

#### Primes represented by binary quadratic forms

###### Olivia Beckwith   [email] (UIUC Math)

Abstract: Let Q(x,y) = ax^2 + bxy + cy^2, where a, b, and c are integers. Which prime numbers are of the form Q(x,y), for some integers x and y? This classical number theory question is connected to rich areas of math, including algebraic number theory, class field theory, and modular functions. This talk will introduce one of the fundamental elements of this theory: the group structure on equivalence classes of binary quadratic forms of a fixed discriminant.

For zoom info, please email drthoma2@illinois.edu

Friday, March 19, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, March 19, 2021

###### AJ Hildebrand   [email] (UIUC Math)

Abstract: If one makes a list of the areas of all 200 countries in the world, one finds that around 30 percent of those numbers begin with the digit 1, around 17 percent begin with the digit 2, while only around 5 percent begin with the digit 9. Similar frequencies of first digits have been observed in all sorts of real world data—from populations of cities to heights of tallest buildings to numbers in tax returns and numbers of Twitter followers. This near-universal phenomenon is called Benford's Law. In the first part of this talk I will give an overview of Benford's Law and its applications and explain the math behind it. In the second part I will focus on Benford's Law for mathematical sequences such as the powers of 2. I will describe an undergraduate research project that started out back in 2015 as an IGL project, then turned into a multi-year research adventure full of surprises and unexpected twists, and ended up being the most fun, rewarding, and interesting undergraduate research project I have ever supervised.

For zoom info, email drthoma2@illinois.edu

Friday, March 26, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, March 26, 2021

#### To Be Announced

###### Eliot Kaplan   [email] (UIUC Math)

Abstract: TBA

Friday, April 2, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, April 2, 2021

#### Mathematics, big data, and mobility

###### Prof. Richard Sowers   [email] (UIUC Math)

Abstract: We look at some mobility data from New York city from a mathematical perspective. We use several recent techniques from big data to identify patterns. Our interests will be traffic accidents, matrix decompositions, and the topology of congestion. The goal of the talk will be to understand how mathematics can help us understand some properties of complex human behavior.

Friday, April 9, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, April 9, 2021

#### To Be Announced

###### Prof. Reuven Hodges   [email] (UIUC Math)

Abstract: TBA

Friday, April 16, 2021

4:00 pm in Altgeld Hall,Friday, April 16, 2021

#### To Be Announced

###### Prof. Joey Palmer   [email] (UIUC Math)

Abstract: TBA

Friday, April 23, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, April 23, 2021

#### "Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani" (documentary film)

Abstract: Filmed in Canada, Iran, and the United States, "Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani" examines the life and mathematical work of Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian immigrant to the United States who became a superstar in her field. In 2014, she was both the first woman and the first Iranian to be honored by mathematics’ highest prize, the Fields Medal. Mirzakhani’s contributions are explained in the film by leading mathematicians and illustrated by animated sequences. Her mathematical colleagues from around the world, as well as former teachers, classmates, and students in Iran today, convey the deep impact of her achievements. The path of her education, success on Iran’s Math Olympiad team, and her brilliant work, make Mirzakhani an ideal role model for girls looking toward careers in science and mathematics.

. For Zoom info, please email drthoma2@illinois.edu

Friday, April 30, 2021

4:00 pm in Zoom,Friday, April 30, 2021

#### Illinois Geometry Lab Information Session

###### Madie Farris (IGL Research Manager, UIUC)

Abstract: The IGL aims to get undergraduates at U of I involved in math research and outreach. During this talk I will outline the different ways you can get involved with the IGL, tips and tricks for applications, give an overview of some past and future research projects, and answer any questions you might have about our programs. If you've ever been interested in math outreach or research, then this is a great opportunity to hear about ways to get started!