Ryan Stuffelbeam has an uncanny interest in fractions\u2014particularly “weird fractions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Weird fractions are fractions that enjoy a ‘correct’ invalid reduction,” explains the assistant professor of mathematics. “For instance, students often want to (incorrectly) reduce a fraction by canceling ‘like’ digits in the numerator and denominator. When such a cancellation is made in a weird fraction, the resulting fraction remains equal to the original.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stuffelbeam uses an algorithm developed by others to prove a uniqueness result for weird fractions and to count certain types of weird fractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stuffelbeam’s interests are far from one-dimensional, however. He conducts research on number theory, representation theory, and transcendental numbers. He’s also presented to the Mathematical Association of America on incorporating writing into the undergraduate math curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Critical reasoning and effective communication skills are hallmarks of Transylvania’s liberal arts curriculum,” he says. “Through the process of writing proofs and constructing counter-examples, math students routinely use these intellectual traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mathematics is a vibrant subject accessible on some level to any undergraduate.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n “Mathematics does not exist in a vacuum,” Stuffelbeam concludes. “The breadth of knowledge acquired through a liberal arts education allows students to place the big ideas and events of math into context.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ph.D., University of Iowa, 2004 Number Theory “How Weird are Weird Fractions?” (under peer review)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Number theory and representation theory<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bingham Award winner – May 2011<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4522,"template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"academic_division":[28,7],"class_list":["post-250","faculty","type-faculty","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nAcademic History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
B.A., Knox College, 1998<\/p>\n\n\n\nCourses Taught at Transy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Abstract Algebra I and II
Higher Analysis
General Topology
Modern Geometry
The Mathematician’s Toolkit
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
Calculus I, II, III
Statistics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nRecent Publications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Areas of Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Awards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n