Online Verisons of Some Presentations
of Robert Gardner
Robert 'Dr. Bob' Gardner in Alaska, 1989
(1989)

Departmental Seminars, Special Class Notes, and Presentations at Meetings by Topic

The presentations are in PDF format, unless otherwise indicated. These are housed on Google Drive, should be permanently available, and do not require any login.

Older versions of this information is posted on the ETSU server, but those files may be deleted at some point and are not updated; see the Online Versions of Some Presentations housed on the ETSU server webpage.

  1. COMPLEX ANALYSIS
    1. Bernstein Inequalities for Polynomials, a 20th anniversary presentation of my interview talk at ETSU; March 8, 2013.
    2. Some Results on the Location of Zeros of a Polynomial, presented at the 1001 Fall Southeastern Section Meeting of the American Mathematical Society, Meeting #970, University of Tennessee - Chattanooga, October 5, 2001.
    3. On the Location of the Zeros of a Polynomial, presented at Kent State University, September 29, 1994.
    4. "Bernstein Inequalities for Polynomials and Entire Functions, my interview presentation for my current job at ETSU from March 8, 1993.
    5. Ordering the Complex Numbers (used in Complex Analysis 1, MATH 5510).
    6. "Dr. Bob's Favorite Results on Complex Polynomials" (Departmental Seminar, September 2011) PowerPoint presentation (aimed at Complex Variables/Complex Analysis level students). An updated version prepared in Beamer is also available as a PDF (Departmental Seminar, March 2017).
    7. The Ilieff-Sendov Conjecture (aimed at Complex Variables/Complex Analysis level students).
  2. REAL ANALYSIS
    1. Translation Invariance and Finite Additivity in a Probability Measure on the Natural Numbers, based on work coauthored with Bob Price, presented to the ETSU Physics Department Seminar on April 19, 1999.
    2. The Banach-Tarski Paradox (used in Real Analysis 1, MATH 5210).
    3. The Axiom of Choice (used in Real Analysis 1, MATH 5210).
    4. An alternate approach to measure theory: Inner and Outer Measure (used as supplement in Real Analysis 1, MATH 5210).
    5. "Introductory Level Analysis: Synthesizing R, Rn, Metric Spaces and Topological Spaces,"82nd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the MAA, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, March 2003.
  3. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS
    1. Here are three presentation from ButtHead Seminars from the now inactive "Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences" (I.M.P.S.) dating from Spring 1998. These talks introduce ideas of Hilbert spaces and operators on Hilbert spaces, leading up to a discussion of the mathematics of quantum theory (the quantum material was presented by a former colleague, Dr. Nail Shanks [now deceased]).
    2. Infinite Dimensional Vector Spaces: How do you get there and what do you do when you're there?, presented in the ETSU Department of Physics Seminar, February 9, 1998. This was a precursor to the ButtHead presentations mentioned above.
    3. "Dealing with Infinite Dimensional Vector Spaces in Sophomore Linear Algebra," 80th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America at Huntingdon College in March, 2001.
  4. DESIGN THEORY
    1. "What the Hell do Graph Decompositions have to do with Experimental Designs," presented to the Math and Statistics Department, January 27, 2012. A PowerPoint version (prepared in PowerPoint 2010) is online. This motivates one of my areas of research.
    2. "Cyclic and Bicyclic Decompositions of the Complete Graph into the 4-Cycle with a Pendant Edge" with Daniel "Lupo" Cantrell and Gary "Hoser" Coker, presented at the 2010 Southeastern MAA Conference Elon University; Elon, NC. A PowerPoint version is online.
    3. Triple Systems from Graph Decompositions, AMS Fall Southeastern Meeting, Huntsville, AL, October 25, 2008. A PowerPoint version is online.
    4. "Some Graph, Digraph, and Mixed Graph Results Concerning Decompositions, Packings and Coverings," Joint AMS MAA Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, January 2005.
  5. ALGEBRA
    1. Introduction to Modern Algebra (MATH 4127/5127) Supplement: A Student's Question: Why the Hell am I in this Class?. This is a motivational presentation which explains how classical algebra relates to modern algebra (group theory, ring theory, and field theory).
    2. Introduction to Modern Algebra (MATH 4127/5127) Supplement: Small Groups.
    3. Introduction to Modern Algebra (MATH 4127/5127) Supplement: Alternating Groups are Simple.
    4. Introduction to Modern Algebra (MATH 4127/5127) Supplement: Finite Simple Groups.
    5. "The Bicentennial of Evariste Galois," presented to the Math and Statistics Department, October 14, 2011. A Website for the presentation and photos is available.
    6. "Permutation Groups: Cycles, Transpositions, and Futurama," presented at special Kappa Mu Epsilon, TN Beta meetings. A PowerPoint version is online.
    7. Modern Algebra (MATH 5410/5420) Supplement: The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra - A History. This includes an intuitive argument as to why the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra is true. A PowerPoint version is online.
    8. Modern Algebra (MATH 5410/5420) Supplement: The Quaternions: An Algebraic Approach. A PowerPoint version is online.
    9. Modern Algebra Supplement: The Quaternions: An Algebraic and Analytic Exploration (presented at Auburn University, August 7, 2018.
  6. GEOMETRY
    1. The Shape of Space.
    2. The Big Bang and the Shape of Space. This is an updated version of "The Shape of Space" presentation. A PowerPoint version is online.
    3. Non-Euclidean Geometry, highschool version.
    4. Notes on Euclidean Geometry are available.
    5. Notes on NonEuclidean Geometry are available.
    6. Euclid's Elements - A 2,500 Year History: A history of Euclid's book, with little mathematical content. This is a web version of the presentation.
  7. BIOLOGY
    1. Introduction to Biological Evolution (used as a supplement in Mathematical Biology, MATH 5900).
    2. Evolution as Optimization (used in Mathematical Biology, MATH 5900).
    3. Natural Selection and the Fundamental Theorem (used in Mathematical Biology, MATH 5900).
    4. Adaptive Topographies (used in Mathematical Biology, MATH 5900).
  8. PHYSICS, APPLICATIONS, PHILOSOPHY, AND TEACHING
    1. The Seminar on the History and Exploration of Math Problems. This is a webpage listing the talks given in the "S.H.E.M.P." seminar.
    2. A Mathematician Looks at Chaos, presented in the ETSU Department of Physics Seminar, March 24, 1997.
    3. A Mathematician Looks at the Phase Plane, presented to the ETSU Department of Physics during 1997 or 1998.
    4. A mathematically clean derivation of Kepler's Three Laws of Planetary Motion. (from Calculus 3, MATH 2110).
    5. Special Relativity Notes for Great Ideas in Science (used in Great Ideas in Science, (BIOL 3018/3028).
    6. "Albert Einstein - A Centennial Celebration of His Miraculous Year." This web-based presentation has supplements including a webpage about the famous equation E = mc2 in the "E = mc2 Supplement" and a derivation of the equation in "E = mc2 Turns 100".
    7. Notes for the Meaning of Mathematics (used in most upper level math classes and Great Ideas in Science).
    8. Notes on Infinity (used in Great Ideas in Science, BIOL 3018/3028).
    9. Supervised Teaching (MATH 5019) introductory notes: Teaching - The Mechanics.
    10. Supervised Teaching (MATH 5019) introductory notes: Teaching Policies.
    11. Some apparently paradoxical mathematical results explained: Magical Math Results... and Their Explanations. A PowerPoint version of the presentation is available, and a flyer is online.

History of ETSU and the Math and Stats Department

  1. The ETSU Analysis Program: Graduate and Undergraduate; Real, Complex, and Functional - A Presentation Inspired by the 50th Anniversary of the Publication of Halsey Royden's Real Analysis, presented in the Fall 2013 Departmental Seminar. A PowerPoint version is online.
  2. The ETSU Mathematics and Statistics Graduate Program: A Brief History - With a Healthy Side Order of Local History, presented in the Spring 2016 Departmental Seminar. A PowerPoint version is online.
  3. A Brief History of ETSU, Gilbreath Hall, and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics - In Commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the Department, presented in the Fall 2016 Departmental Seminar. A PowerPoint version is online.

History of Math, Science and other Topics

  1. Johnson City History: Some of the Downtown Buildings: PowerPoint version. The script for this talk is also available.
  2. "The Bicentennial of Evariste Galois," presented to the Math and Statistics Department, October 14, 2011. A Website with links to the presentation and some photos is available.
  3. "Archimedes: 2,000 Year Ahead of His Time," presented to the Math Department, March 18, 2011. A PowerPoint version is online, and a transcript of this talk is also available.
  4. Euler Tricentennial Presentation: A historical presentation with some mathematical content. This web-based presentation includes links to other sources and photos from the presetation.
  5. "The Wright Brothers: A Centennial Tribute." This is a web-based presentation. Of related interest is my presentation on The Wright Brothers, Bernoulli, and a Surprise from Upper East Tennessee.
  6. "Albert Einstein - A Centennial Celebration of His Miraculous Year," a web-based presentation from 2005.
  7. The Space Age Turns 50 - Ideas of Spaceflight from the Early 20th Century," a web-based presentation from 2007.

American Astronomical Society Posters

After about 20 years of effort, my interest in astronomy is finally taking on a tiny bit of a professional air! I have given the following poster presentations at meetings of the American Astronomical Society:

  1. Visualizing the Big Bang: An Introduction to Topology and 3-Manifolds for Undergraduates At the 194th Meeting in Chicago, IL in June 1999.
  2. A Mathematically Sound Introduction to Relativity for Math, Physics and Astronomy Majors at the 195th Meeting in Atlanta, GA during January 2000.

Planetarium Shows

I developed a few planetarium shows and presented them at the ETSU Planetarium. I have created "virtual planetarium shows" of each as a web-based presentation.

  1. "The Milky Way and Beyond!"
  2. "Mars: A Century of Exploration"
  3. "Relativity and Black Holes"
  4. "Dinosaurs: Their Lives, Their Deaths, and Their Evolution!"
  5. "Albert Einstein - A Centennial Celebration of His Miraculous Year."
  6. The Space Age Turns 50 - Ideas of Spaceflight from the Early 20th Century."

Observatory Open Houses

I have given a couple of different web-based presentations at the open houses of the Harry Powell Observatory. They include:

  1. "The Shape of Space"
  2. "Mars, Here We Come!"

Astronomical "Expeditions"

Here are some simple webpages with photos of some astronomical events observed from Johnson City:

  1. Though the weather wasn't very cooperative, I did mount an "expedition" to the local Kroger parking lot to view the recent transit of Venus. Deatils are online.
  2. The ETSU 2005 solar eclipse "expedition" also was plagued by clouds. Details are online.

Teaching Math and Statistics Using The Three Stooges

  1. "The Three Stooges, Conic Sections, Trigonometry, and Implicit Differentiation" with Robert Davidson, presented at the ETSU Mathematics and Statistics Seminar on April 6, 2012. This was part of "Three Stooges Week" which was celebrated to coincide with the release of the new The Three Stooges movie by 20th Century Fox. This presentation goes into the details contained in the article "Mathematical Lens: The Three Stooges Meet the Conic Sections," Mathematics Teacher, 105(6) (February 2012), 414-418. A PowerPoint version is online.
  2. "Integrating The Three Stooges into Trigonometry" with Robert Davidson, presented at the 2010 Southeastern MAA Conference Elon University; Elon, NC: PowerPoint version.
  3. On January 28, 2008, an ETSU Math Department Seminar was given by Davidson and Gardner. This seminar was the first public presentation of the ideas from this project. An advertisement for the seminar is available as a webpage and as a Word document. A PowerPoint version is online.
  4. On February 15, 2008, Davidson and Gardner presented "Using the Three Stooges as a Data-Source for Motivation of Statistics Students" at the 15th Georgia Conference On College & University Teaching at Kennesaw State University. The web-version contains all of the information presented at the conference, except for the several minutes of Stooges shorts which are referenced. The PowerPoint component of the talk is available online as a PowerPoint presentation.
  5. "Using the Three Stooges as a Data-Source for Motivation of Statistics Students" was presented again at the Upper East Tennessee Council of Teachers of Mathematics Final 2007-08 Meeting, April 2008 at ETSU. The PowerPoint version of this talks is online.
  6. "Using the Three Stooges as a Data-Source for Motivation of Statistics Students" was presented again at The Tennessee Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges at Northeast State Community College in April 2008. The PowerPoint version of this talks is online.
  7. Davidson and Gardner gave the 2008 College of Arts and Sciences Jewell Friend Lecture on August 21. The PowerPoint version is online.
  8. An updated version of the usual presentation was given on September 29, 2008 in the ETSU Department of Physics and Astronomy Seminar. The updated PowerPoint version is online.
  9. "A Data Gathering Demo Using Three Stooges Films" was presented by Davidson and Gardner at the Joint A.M.S./M.A.A. Meeting in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday January 6, 2009. The abstract is number 1046-Z1-484 and is online on the AMS webpage.
  10. "A Research Problem Involving Films of the Three Stooges" was presented by Davidson and Gardner at Western Carolina University on January 27, 2009. The presentation was given in two sections of 'Research Methods and Writings' (CJ 300). This is part of an ongoing research project exploring the effectiveness of the technique of using Stooges-related data in the classroom. The research is joint work of Davidson and Gardner of ETSU's Math Department, and Steve Brown and Lisa Briggs of Western Carolina's Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice. The PowerPoint version of the talk is online.
  11. "The Three Stooges, Conic Sections, Trigonometry, and Implicit Differentiation" was presented by Davidson and Gardner on April 6, 2012 to kick off Three Stooges Week which climaxed with the premiere of the new Three Stooges movie. The presentation elaborates on the details of the paper "Mathematical Lens: The Three Stooges Meet the Conic Sections," Mathematics Teacher, 105(6) (February 2012), 414-418. The PowerPoint version of the talk is online.

Return to Bob Gardner's webpage
Last updated: June 6, 2024