Monthly Archives: September 2011

Puzzle: Liebeck’s sequence

Posted on September 30, 2011 by strathmaths

The following problem is from Martin Liebeck’s book, A Concise Introduction to Pure Mathematics (2nd ed., Chapman and Hall, Boca Raton 2006). The book is based on an introductory course Liebeck teaches to students of Mathematics-based degrees at Imperial College. … Continue reading →

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The Igs are out…

Posted on September 30, 2011 by strathmaths

The good people at the Annals of Improbable Research have just announced the winners of this year’s Ig Nobel Prizes. (For those not familiar with the concept, the Ig Nobels are awarded a week before the “real” Nobel Prizes, “for … Continue reading →

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Cafe Scientifique

Posted on September 27, 2011 by strathmaths

If you have a general interest in science and technology and quite fancy finding out more about them over a drink (alcoholic or otherwise), it’s worth checking out the Glasgow programme for Cafe Scientifique. Meetings are held in the Victorian Bar of … Continue reading →

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Mathematics in Europe

Posted on September 26, 2011 by strathmaths

The European Mathematical Society has a new(ish) project: the Mathematics in Europe website. As well as information on mathematical activities and maths careers in Europe, it has general historical and “pop maths” articles, and links to “inspirations of the month”. … Continue reading →

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Nobel laureate to speak in Glasgow

Posted on September 26, 2011 by strathmaths

Professor Ahmed Hassan Zewail, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1999, will be giving a public lecture at Glasgow University on Monday 3 October with the intriguing title “Revolutions in Science and Society”: details here. (MG)

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Money for old maths: essay prize announced

Posted on September 15, 2011 by strathmaths

The British Society for the History of Mathematics has announced that they’ve inaugurated a  prize for the best undergraduate essay on a topic in the history of mathematics. (See here for full details.) This might be particularly interesting to final-year … Continue reading →

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From the Editors…

Posted on September 3, 2011 by strathmaths

Hello, and welcome to the first issue of Degree of Freedom. The phrase “degree of freedom” is a mathematical term, used in mechanics. We chose this title to remind you: a) that no-one is ever absolutely free and that to become … Continue reading →

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Puzzles

Posted on September 2, 2011 by strathmaths

This will become a regular feature. We’ll start with old chestnuts, and once we are finished with them, we’ll get to new chestnuts. Please write in with your solutions! There will be exciting prizes for the best solutions, and they … Continue reading →

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N. H. Abel: dealing with the Devil’s invention

Posted on September 2, 2011 by strathmaths

Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829) was a son of a Norwegian clergyman. He died of tuberculosis, unemployed and starving. Despite his short life, Abel is famous for his work on group theory (Abelian groups), polynomial equations, real analysis and elliptic functions (Abelian integrals). … Continue reading →

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Maths is a lot of balls…

Posted on September 2, 2011 by strathmaths

The Edinburgh Mathematical Society’s annual Popular Lecture will be held on the afternoon of Friday 17 February 2012. It will be given by Dr Colin Wright, a “pure” mathematician who specialises in the mathematics of juggling (and can demonstrate it … Continue reading →

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