Fall 2013

MATH 1150 - Math Foundations Seminar
Title: Introduction to Random Walks on Graphs
Section 1, CRN 3080, 25 students, Meets MW 10-11:50AM in JGH 205
Instructor: Florian Sobieczky

The first part of the course consists of getting the basics of finite graph theory and random walks. This involves some classical topics of linear algebra, analysis, and probability theory. Key concepts such as symmetric matrices, random variables and finite probability distributions are explained in an introductory way. In the second part these concepts are applied to real-world problems such as electrical networks, queues, and games. The course is taught in a hands-on approach, with a special focus on applicability of the involved ideas.

MATH 1150 - Math Foundations Seminar
Title: Cryptography
CRN 3081, 30 students, Meets MTWR (2-2:50PM) in JGH 315
Instructor: Adriana Suarez

Cryptography (etymologically “secret writing") encompasses all the techniques allowing a secure communication in the presence of adversaries. Although it was originally mainly used by the military to prevent the enemy from learning the information exchanged, nowadays cryptography is widely used in our everyday life to guarantee secure online communication, electronic commerce, confidential data storage, etc.<
br />Cryptography provides solutions to keep the content of our messages or files secret, prevent their content from being modified, or helping us being sure about who sent a message, among others.

In this course, students will be introduced to the basic concepts of cryptography, from classical to public key cryptography, its main applications and the mathematical concepts involved. Stream ciphers, block ciphers, public key encryption schemes or digital signatures are some of the topics that will be covered.

Previously offered seminars

• 2, Infinity & Beyond (Carney, Ormes)
• Cryptography (Arias, Curran, Vojtechovsky)
• Games and Logic (Galatos)
• Graph Theory (Zenk)
• Graph Theory in the Real World (Locke, Reiber)
• Great Ideas in Mathematics (Trujillo)
• Heart of Mathematics (Pula)
• Logic and Games (Galatos)
• Mathematical Art (Gudder)
• Mathematics for Decision Making (Ormes)
• Mathematics in Art and Music (Dobrinen)
• Mathematics of Chance (Latremoliere)
• Mathematics of Chance and Gambling (Arias)
• Mathematics of Gambling (Arias, Gudder, Hagler)
• Mathematics of Games (Pavlov)
• Mathematics of Politics (Hagler)
• Mathematics of Voting (Hagler)
• Models of Computing (Ball)
• Non-Classical Logics (Galatos)
• Patterns and Symmetry (Ormes)
• Perspectives in Art (Dobrinen)
• Pi: The Story of a Number (Kinyon)
• The Geometry of the Universe (Latremoliere)
• Thinking Machines (Ball)