Christopher J. Sangwin

Senior Lecturer


[Picture of Chris] School of Mathematics
The University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
United Kingdom
Office: Watson 105
Phone: +44 (0)121 414 6197
Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3389
E-mail: c.j.sangwin@bham.ac.uk
Skype: sangwinc

In mathematics we do not appeal to authority, but rather you are responsible for what you believe.
Richard Hamming, American Math Monthly, vol 105 no 7.

It is not knowledge, but the act of learning, not possession but the act of getting there, which grants the greatest enjoyment.
Karl Friedrich Gauss, 1808

On definitions in mathematics. (Goold et. al., (1906) Harmonic Vibrations)

* Research

I am currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics. I undertake research in mathematics and in mathematics education.

My educational research currently focuses on using computer algebra systems for assessment of mathematics. A practical outcome of this is the STACK computer aided assessment system. My interest in mathematical notation resulted in a project student, Alex Billingsley, creating the DragMath project.

In 2006 I was awarded a University of Birmingham Teaching Fellowship and a National Teaching Fellowship.

* Teaching

Semester 1 of 2012-2013 session I am teaching the following courses:

*Software Projects

STACK
STACK provides a question type for the Moodle quiz which is specifically designed to enable sophisticated computer-aided assessment in Mathematics and related disciplines, with emphasis on formative assessment.
      DragMath
DragMath is a free "drag and drop" equation editor, written in Java. The editor lets users build up mathematical expressions in a traditional two dimensional way, and then output the results in a correctly formed syntax.

* Publications

[The cover: Computer Aided Assessment of Mathematics] Computer Aided Assessment of Mathematics
Chris Sangwin © Oxford University Press, 2013.
[The cover: Teaching Problem-solving in Undergraduate Mathematics] Teaching Problem-solving in Undergraduate Mathematics
Christopher Sangwin, Matthew Badger, Trevor Hawkes
© National HE STEM Programme, University of Birmingham, 2012.
      [The cover: A Guide to Puzzle-Based Learning in Stem Subjects
] A Guide to Puzzle-Based Learning in Stem Subjects
Matthew Badger, Christopher Sangwin, Esther Ventura-Medina and Colin Thomas
© University of Birmingham, 2012.
[The cover: How Round is Your Circle?] How Round is Your Circle?
John Bryant and Chris Sangwin
© Princeton University Press, 2008.
      [The cover: MYP5] Mathematics for the International Student:
Pre-Diploma SL and HL (MYP 5 Plus)

Pamela Vollmar, et. al.
© Haese and Harris Publications, 2008.
[The cover: Mathematics Galore!] Mathematics Galore!
Chris Budd and Chris Sangwin
© Oxford University Press, 3 May, 2001.
      [The cover: Elements of Algebra] Elements of Algebra
© Tarquin Publications, 2007

* Some mathematical highlights

Euler's sum

One of my favourite results in mathematics is the following: \[ 1 + \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{9} + \cdots = \frac{\pi^2}{6}. \] Leonard Euler's wild and brave explanation is given here.
The game of Hex

Hex is a connection strategy game for two players. It is simple to learn, great fun to play and has some deep mathematics behind it.

Some hex resources.
Stacking up dominoes

Apparently you can stack up dominoes in balance in the following way
A balancing stack - click here for a `visual proof'!
To see how click here (PDF).
Roller which are not round!

Look at the picture below. It shows two `rollers' in the shape of a 50p with a book on top. What will happen to the vertical distance between the book and the table as you roll the book along?
A click here for an .avi movie (5Mb)
Normal vibration modes of a circular membrane

Imagine an elastic circular membrane fixed along its circular boundary but otherwise free to vibrate. There are a number of different normal vibration modes which are possible.
A vibration mode of a circular membrane
Click here for more details.
The double pendulum

A double pendulum consists of two rigid arms that are joined by a low friction bearing.
A double pendulum
Details are here.

Chris Sangwin's GeoGebra page with some geometry I find interesting.

* Other fun things!

Have you seen

Do you have a complaint? If so click here.


School of Mathematics
University of Birmingham
Last update: 15 April 2013

Copyright © 2013 Chris Sangwin.