College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Mathematics

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Mathematics Colloquium: Combinatorial Trigonometry (and a method to DIE for)

2012-04-18

3:00 PM Neill 5W (refreshments in Neill Hall 216 Hacker Lounge 216 at 2:30 PM)

Arthur T. Benjamin Harvey Mudd College

Many trigonometric identities, including the Pythagorean theorem, have combinatorial proofs. Furthermore, some combinatorial problems have trigonometric solutions. All of these problems can be reduced to alternating sums, and are attacked by a technique we call D.I.E. (Description, Involution, Exception). This technique offers new insights to identities involving binomial coefficients, Fibonacci numbers, derangements, zig-zag permutations, and Chebyshev polynomials.

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Department of Mathematics, PO Box 643113, Neill 103, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-3113 Phone: 509-335-3926 Fax: 509-335-1188 Contact Us