Mathematics

Faculty Research

Professor Mark R. Snavely

Chair of the Mathematics Department
http://marksnavely.us

Research Interests
Dr. Snavely has a productive undergraduate research program in discrete dynamical systems and mathematical modeling. Recent project have studied the dynamics of train layouts, pollution in ecosystems, and polyominoes.

Research Students
Ben Burch, James Beaman, Erin Beyerstedt, Jennifer Everson

Presentations and Publications
"Counting Train Track Layouts," M. R. Snavely, J. D. Beaman, E. J. Beyerstedt, in Mathematics Magazine.


Professor Erik R. Tou

Research Interests

  • Theory of prime numbers
  • History of science and mathematics
  • Translation from original sources
  • Geometry and arithmetic in higher dimensions

Presentations and Publications

  • Leonhard Euler and the Longitude Problem (Carthage Math SURE Program)
  • Letters relating to a Theorem of Mr. Euler ... for correcting the Aberrations in the Object-Glasses of refracting Telescopes (Translation from French)
  • Explicit Constructions of Arithmetic Lattices in SL(n, R) (International Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science, 2009, Vol. 4)

Professor Aaron Trautwein

Research Interests
Dr. Trautwein specializes in knot theory. Knot theory is a subfield of topology, the area of mathematics that examines shape. In particular, he studies the physical and theoretical properties of harmonic knots and their applications. He has presented numerous talks on this research and on the teaching of mathematics.

Research Students
William Oliver, Sean Chiapetta

Presentations and Publications
"An Introduction to Harmonic Knots" in Ideal Knots, World Scientific Publishing, 2000.

Professor Erlan Wheeler

Research Interests

  • Analysis of games and puzzles
  • Computer graphics
  • Combinatorics
  • Programming
  • Probability

Academics at Carthage

Prospective Students

Summer Research Project


Students in the Mathematics Department test the Road Coloring Theorem. Watch the video.