Dealing with wave phenomena
in nature is inevitable. However, waves in nature are not always
sinusoidal. With non-sinusoidal waves, the superposition principle
cannot be used to analyze the system of waves. In this situation,
Fourier analysis is the proper tool. I will show how the Fourier
Series can be derived and how Fourier Analysis is used in real physical
systems.
John Slanina - Carving the Great Pumpkin
~~ Best Talk Award ~~
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful
biomedical rendering technique that allows layers of a patients body to
be analyzed. This procedure examines the water density of tissues
and other internal structures and ultimately creates a three-dimensional
array of shaded pixels, indicating water concentration. This presentation
will discuss the creation of an algorithm, for the 1998 COMAP Modeling
Competition, which projects the MRI date onto an oblique plane.
Vincent Lucarelli - Picking Digital Clocks with Elliptic Curves
Digital Information can be protected using
encryption methods that can be broken by factoring a large composite integer.
Hendrik W. Lenstra has developed a factorization algorithm based on unique
properties of elliptic curves. To understand this algorithm. the
basic theory of elliptic curves will be developed. An example factorization
will show how the algorithm can break an encryption system.
Erika Lyn Faires - Instant Insanity Six
Instant Insanity is a puzzle with four cubes each
having one of four colors per side. You are to stack the cubes so
that the four colors appear on each side of the stack. Instant Insanity
Six extends this puzzle to six cubes and colors and has a unique solution.
Joe Ferguson - Fractals, Geometry and their Dimensions
~~ Best Talk Award ~~
Have you ever looked at a piece of broccoli and
wondered what the dimensions were, or tried to calculate the actual distance
around circumference? If we know that lines have one dimension, planes
and spheres have two dimensions, and we live in a three dimensional world,
then what would be the dimensions of the piece of broccoli?
Phil Wilson - Relative Risk Estimation for Low Birth Weight Babies
The purpose of this project was to compare factors to develop a sound theory
as to the causes of low birth weight. We created contingency tables
which show the frequencies of occurrence of certain variables. These
tables are useful in comparing two separate variables to get a clearer
picture of their relationship. The probabilities of these variables
were then calculated. The probabilities can then be used to determine
the Relative Risk factor. The Relative Risk is used to link the two
variables and to determine if the risk factor has an effect on the occurrence
of the disease.
Jodie Matulja - A Long Line of Dead Men
In this presentation, I will examine the question when we conclude that people
are dying at too high a rate. This question is central to the novel,
"A Long Line of Dead Men" where a private investigator has to determine
if members of a private group are dying too quickly. Similar questions
arise in investigating disease clusters in communities across the country.
A disease cluster refers to a location where an extraordinarily high rate
of cancer or some other ailment seems to be occurring. I will discuss
probability calculations to determine if the number of outbreaks or deaths
is statistically significant.
Adam Messner and Vincent Lucarelli - Need for Speed
For the 1998 Mini Baja Competition, a team of Youngstown State University
designed and built a baja car that was raced against cars built by students
from universities all over the world. To enhance the handling of
the vehicle, the ratio between the turning angles of the outside and inside
wheels was optimized. A system of nonlinear equations describes the
steering geometry, also known as Ackerman geometry. The baja team
used the computer algebra program Maple V to obtain the optimal solution.
I will demonstrate the mathematical basis of this solution using a version
of Newton's method.
Rob King - Lottery Games in Ohio
I plan to make my speech on the expected winnings of various lottery games
in the state of Ohio. This will also include simple directions on
these games and the winnings of each game. The games to be discussed
are: the Pick 3, the Pick 4, and the Buckeye 5. I will prove that
the state makes a profit on the overall sales of these games.
Jason Jantson - Quick Cash from QuickDraw
I will take a look at the New York Lottery game QuickDraw to compare the
odds of winning on a "regular pay" day and on a "double pay" day.
I will also explain why it is probable that New York State will win money
and "regular pay" days and why there is a chance that the sate will lose
money on "double pay" days. I plan to show that, if QuickDraw is
played enough times on "double pay" days, it is almost a certainty to walk
away with positive net winnings.
Joyce Cannone - What does a Part Time Job Tell About High School Students?
The objective of this research is to determine if employment patterns of high
school students affect academic achievement., self-esteem, social relationships
and community involvement. Senior students from four inner-city high
schools located in Youngstown, Ohio, were surveyed. From the preliminary
observation, GPA appears to drop dramatically after a student works 20
hours per week. Students that work have a higher self-esteem, better
social relationships, and are more active in school and community.
It appears that students that work have a higher incidence of drug and/or
alcohol use.
