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My Favorite Contest Problems

My Favorite Contest Problems #4

Subevent of My Favorite Contest Problems

Couch 223

Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Starts at: 2025-03-01 11:00AM

Ends at: 2025-03-01 11:15AM

Dandelin Spheres: the Unintended Benefits of Being Stumped

Stephen Davis ⟨stdavis@davidson.edu⟩

Abstract:

A lack of personal insight regarding a problem from the 2019 College of Charleston Math Meet Level III Written Test (#25: about the area illuminated by a spotlight) led to an encounter with the spheres of the 19th century French mathematician Germinal Dandelin. In this talk, we learn about Dandelin spheres and how they could be used to solve the CofC problem (and maybe also see a sketch of a sphere-less solution).

Notes:

(slides)

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