Friday, May 14th, 3:00PM
Ellen Eischen, PhD
Department of Mathematics
University of Oregon
Title: An Introduction to the Bernoulli Numbers, from Pythagoras to Present
Abstract: Consider these basic questions: What can we say about finite sums of powers of consecutive whole numbers? What can we say about whole number solutions to polynomial equations? What about factorizations into primes? What about values of the Riemann zeta function? In interesting families of examples — elementary and sophisticated, ancient and modern — "Bernoulli numbers" unify these seemingly unrelated questions. After an introduction to the Bernoulli numbers, we will explore related developments for these intertwined problems, which lead to central challenges in number theory and beyond. This talk will be appropriate for undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty in all areas of math.