Dr.

Bryan Dorner
dornerbc@plu.edu
Some capstones can deal with the intersection of computers and mathematics. Capstones
along this line can take many forms.
1. Famous problems.
The Four Color Theorem. This theorem says that you only need 4 colors to color
any map so that adjacent countries have different colors. The only proofs known
require a computer to check all the possibilities. The big ideas in the proof and a
complete proof of the 5 color theorem have made good capstones in the past.
The Halting Problem. This problem from theoretical computer science says that
its impossible to write a computer program that takes as input any other computer
program and outputs whether or not that other program will terminate after a
finite number of steps. The ideas a somewhat similar to Goedels proof that there
are statements that are true, but cannot be proved, and also to proofs that there are
numbers that cannot be computed.
2. Games and Puzzles. Sudoku has become a very popular pastime. One way to really
understand the strategies would be to write a computer program to solve (and then to
generate) such puzzles. A capstone would require presenting the logic of such a
solution clearly and engagingly.
3. Algorithms
In the past, two students worked on methods for factoring large integers which
lies at the heart of efforts to break the RSA security code. There are other
methods which they did not cover.
You could work on historical and new methods for computing square and
higher roots as well as values of trig functions.I know a non-standard way of
computing sine, cosine, sinh, and cosh that suggests a geometric way to
approach the CORDIC method of computing these functions that is simpler
than the approach usually given. (Many calculators use the CORDIC
method.)

Dr. Jessica Sklar

sklarjk@plu.edu
Past topics students have worked on include computational group theory, the Rubiks
cube, Galois theory (an advanced topic in abstract algebra), tilings, error-correcting
codes, and topology. I am good good-to person on topics involving abstract algebra,
topology, or recreational mathematics (e.g., games or puzzles).

Dr. Chris Meyer

meyernc@plu.edu
1. A surface in space on which the natural geometry is non-Euclidean
Student should have had non-Euclidean geometry (M321) and be proficient with
multivariable calculus.
2. Geometric properties of various map projections.
Mapping a portion of the spherical earth on a flat paper always introduces
distortions; this leads to some interesting mathematical analysis. Student should
be proficient with multivariable calculus.
3. Quadric surfaces
Ellipsoids, paraboloids, hyperboloids, etc. Linear algebra can be used to classify
them.
4. Stochastic Processes
This subject combines probability theory with using time as a variable; it has
applications to physics (Brownian motion) and economics (the stock market). I
do not know much about this subject, but I would enjoy learning with a student.
5. Topology
Topology is the study of the properties of shapes that remain the same even under
continuous distortion.
6. Information Theory
This is an attempt to quantify what information is. It uses probability.

Dr. Amy Shell-Gellasch

shellgae@plu.edu
Any topic in the history of mathematics would make an interesting and creative capstone
project. Topics can range from biographical pieces, overviews of the history of a topic in
mathematics, the history of an era or trend in mathematics, or the history of an idea over
time. Any other historical topic is also welcome. Note that any capstone project must
contain significant mathematical content. Pick an area of math that interests you and we
can narrow down the topic together.

Dr. David Muller

mullerdc@plu.edu
Math education topics
Writing lessons that integrate math and art.
Teaching math through visits to art museums.

Dr. Jeffrey Stuart

stuartjl@plu.edu
I have directed 19 capstone projects at PLU since the Fall of 2001. Prior to arriving at
PLU, I directed several undergraduate and masters projects that included an honors thesis
and a masters thesis.
Titles of capstones, projects and theses that my students have done:

Graph Theory
o Maximum Matchings for Complete, Multipartite Graphs
o Developing Algorithms for Finding Hamiltonian Cycles in Complete,
Multipartite Graphs
o Ramsey Theory
o The Optimal Pebbling Number for Various Graphs
o The Four Color Theorem
o Shortest Path Algorithms

Matrix Theory
o Who is #1? Ranking Round Robin Tournaments
o An Introduction to Subspace Iteration and the QR Algorithm
o Homotopy Methods for Finding Eigenvalues of Tridiagonal Matrices
o Generalized Inverses and Least Squares
o Markov Chains and the Perron-Frobenius Theorem

Mathematical Statistics
o AR(p) Models in Time Series
o Logistic Regression and Categorical Data Analysis
o Improved Confidence Intervals for Binomial Probabilities
o Surveys and Stratified Sampling
o Probability, Blackjack and Card Counting

Combinatorics
o Generalizations of Pascals Triangle

Optimization
o Three Interior Point Methods and Their Performance on Small, Dense
Problems
o The Traveling Salesman Problem
o Lemkes Algorithm

Financial Mathematics

o Options Pricing and the Black-Scholes Merton Model

o Financial Time Series
I would be happy to be the go-to person for any topic that interests you and that broadly
falls into one or more of the areas of graph theory, matrix theory (numerical or algebraic),
combinatorics (clever counting and interesting sequences), mathematical statistics and its
applications, optimization (numerical, analytic or combinatorial), financial mathematics.
If you do not have a particular topic in mind, but these areas interest you, we can discuss
possible topics.
Other topics you may want to consider:
o Generalized inverses of matrices (algebraic matrix theory)
o Bootstrap methods in statistics (mathematical statistics)
o Using asymptotic series and Pade approximation to efficiently compute the
trigonometric and exponential functions (numerical analysis)
o Linear and integer programming (optimization)
Some software you may want to use for a project of the types listed above:
o Minitab
o MATLAB

Dr. Mei Zhu

zhuma@plu.edu
1. Mathematical Models using differential equations and/or numerical analysis.
Developmental Biology: Why zebra has stripes and leopard has spots? Pattern
formation on Butterfly wings. Nonlinear partial differential equations.
Infection in placenta. Nonlinear partial differential equations.
Skin cancer. Nonlinear ordinary differential equations.
Mathematical Model of Marriage.
Population models (Logistic model. Nonlinear Models of Interactions of multiple
Predator-prey Model. Linearization and stability of the models.)
f. Infectious Disease models.Models for studying epidemics such as the Black
Death and AIDS. Elementary Epidemic Models: the SIR (susceptible-infectiveremoved) model (chickenpox), the SI model (AIDS), and the SIS model
(gonorrhea, common cold). Multiple Populations (sexually transmitted disease,
etc).
2. Numerical analysis.
Solving f(x) = 0 for x.
Numerical solution to differential equations.
3. Fractals.

Dr. Ksenija Simic-Muller

ksimicmuller@plu.edu
Logic
Building on the Halting problem: a study of Turing machines and other
formalizations of the informal idea of algorithm (e.g. computable functions,
lambda calculus etc.), showing that they are all equivalent, which leads to
Church's thesis
Godel's Incompleteness Theorems
Godel's Completeness Theorem and its consequences (this would require learning
first order logic first)
Study of first order logic and its relationship to mathematics more precisely,
looking at proof systems in logic and seeing how well proofs in mathematics
satisfy the general structure
Axioms of set theory and some of their consequences
Nonstandard analysis
Intuitionist logic -- seeing what you can prove if you are not allowed proofs by
contradiction
Hilbert's problems (this would be more of an exposition problem)
Category Theory
Math education
Literature review and curriculum development (writing a lesson or a series of
lesson) pertaining to social justice issues (teaching mathematics for social justice
is in David Mullers and my area of interest)
Comparing textbooks in algebra, geometry, or calculus, across curricula (reform
vs. non-reform) or countries. For example, an international student could do a
comparison of textbooks from her/his country and from the U.S. It is also possible
to focus on a particular topic, e.g. how are transformations taught across curricula.
Students' perceptions of, for example, functions (or a different concept): doing a
literature review plus a small study in a school, if possible
The gender gap in mathematics -- literature review and possibly conducting a
study
Ethnomathematics

Anne Cook
cookaw@plu.edu

1. The Student's t distribution and its relationship to the normal distribution

2. Proof of the Central Limit Theorem
3. Order statistics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_statistic).