Monthly Archives: November 2017

“Becoming a Data Scientist: Skills, Interviews, and Industries” by Gerry Song

Title: “Becoming a Data Scientist: Skills, Interviews, and Industries”

Speaker: Gerry Song (Capital One)

Date\Time\Location: November 30, 2017, 12:50-2pm, N720

Abstract:

Data science is a currently a popular term, but what does it mean? How does one become a data scientist? What kind of work does one do as a data scientist? In this talk we will go over these questions and more.

 

“Calculus: WHY Differentiation Rules Work The Way They Do” by Thomas Johnstone

Title: “Calculus: WHY Differentiation Rules Work The Way They Do”

Speaker: Thomas Johnstone (NYCCT)

Date\Time\Location: November 16, 2017, 12:45-2pm, N719

Abstract:

You know HOW to find the derivatives of trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic, and radical functions. You know HOW to apply the power rule, the sum rule, the constant multiple rule, the product rule, and the chain rule. But do you wonder WHY any of these rules work the way they do? This talk will be accessible for anyone who is familiar with the basic differentiation rules of calculus, and the talk aims to shed light on the question why these rules work the way they do.

“The Symmetric Group and Fair Division: Does Knowledge Matter?” by Brian Hopkins

Title: “The Symmetric Group and Fair Division: Does Knowledge Matter?”
Speaker: Brian Hopkins (Saint Peter’s University)
Date/Room: Thursday Nov. 9, 2017, 12:00-1:00pm, Namm N720
Abstract:

Sports drafts and divorce settlements are examples of situations where players take turns selecting indivisible goods. Like other topics in fair division, the situation is made more interesting because people may value the goods in different ways. In this talk, we focus on the case of two players, where the machinery of permutations is surprisingly applicable. How many possible outcomes are there? In what circumstances do both players get their best possible outcomes? How can one best take advantage of knowing the other’s preferences? What happens when a player’s motivation switches from greed to spite, the common good, or selfless altruism? In this colorful talk, we’ll sample some applied algebraic combinatorics and address these issues along with the provocative question of the title.

This talk probably broke the record for the highest attendance for a Math Club talk. (talk slides)