Ed Packel, Volwiler Professor of Mathematics, Lake Forest College.
Symbolic Dynamics: A Mathematica(l) Window to Chaos
A brief overview of iteration and its central role in generating fractal
images and chaotic behavior will be followed by a mathematical definition
of chaos. Conceptual difficulties in establishing the chaotic nature of
"numerical" dynamical systems can be elegantly resolved by the introduction
of symbolic dynamics. This expository, Mathematica-based talk will explain
and illustrate these ideas, showing in the process the power and utility
of computer algebra systems in presenting mathematical ideas.
Puzzles and Paradoxes in Game Theory
Four intriguing problems from game theory will be presented and discussed.
They include Pascal's Wager, the St. Petersburg Paradox, the Prisoner's
Dilemma, and Newcomb's Problem.