RUTGERS EXPERIMENTAL MATHEMATICS SEMINAR

sponsored by the

Rutgers University
Department of Mathematics

and the

Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS)

Founded 2003 by Drew Sills and Doron Zeilberger.

Former co-organizers: Drew Sills (2003-2007), Moa ApaGodu (2005-2006), Lara Pudwell (2006-2008), Andrew Baxter (2008-2011), Brian Nakamura (2011-2013), Edinah Gnang (2011-2013), Matthew Russell (2013-2016), Nathan Fox (2016-2017), Bryan Ek (2017-2018), Mingjia Yang (2018-2020), Yonah Biers-Ariel (2018-2020), Robert Dougherty-Bliss (2020-2024)

Current co-organizers:
Doron Zeilberger (doronzeil {at} gmail [dot] com)
Stoyan Dimitrov (emailtostoyan {at} gmail [dot] com)
Lucy Martinez (lm1154 {at} scarletmail [dot] rutgers [dot] edu)

Archive of Previous Speakers and Talks You can find links to videos of some of these talks as well. Currently, our videos are being posted to our Vimeo page. Previously, we had videos posted on our YouTube page.


If you would like to be added to the weekly mailing list, email Lucy Martinez: lm1154 {at} scarletmail [dot] rutgers [dot] edu

Forthcoming Talks

Date: Thu., May 1, 2025, 5:00pm (Eastern Time) Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]

Speakers: Pablo Blanco (5:00-5:23 pm) and Aurora Hively (5:25-5:48 pm) (both from Rutgers University)

Pablo Blanco's talk information:

Title: Generating functions of sequences relating to spanning trees in certain graph families

Abstract: Generating functions of sequences relating to spanning trees in certain graph families Abstract: Kirchhoff's Matrix Tree Theorem allows us to compute the number of spanning trees of a graph by looking at its Laplacian matrix. For certain graph families (in our case, powers of cycles and paths), which are represented by finitely many states, we know by the Transfer Matrix Method that a rational generating function exists for sequences arising from structures in the family. Such a generating function can be found by computing sufficiently many terms of the sequence. In joint work with Doron Zeilberger, we found generating functions for the number of spanning trees and for a leaf-parameter by experimental methods.

Aurora Hively's talk information:

Title: Experimenting with Permutation Wordle

Abstract: Consider a game of permutation wordle in which a player attempts to guess a secret permutation in Sn in as few guesses as possible. In each round, the guessing player is told which indices of their guessed permutation are correct. How can we optimize the player's strategy? Samuel Kutin and Lawren Smithline propose a strategy called cyclic shift in which all incorrect entries are shifted one index to the right in successive guesses, and they conjecture its optimality. We investigate this conjecture by formalizing what a "strategy" looks like, performing experimental analysis on inductively constructed strategies, and taking advantage of Kutin-Smithline's findings related to Eulerian numbers.



Date: Thu., May 8, 2025, 5:00pm (Eastern Time) Zoom Link [password: The 20th Catalan number, alias (40)!/(20!*21!), alias 6564120420 ]

Speaker: Sheldon Goldstein, Rutgers University

Title: The mathematics and physics of Joel Lebowitz

Abstract: Joel Lebowitz (b. May 10, 1930) has made many important contributions to both mathematics and physics, some of them will be outlined in this talk.