Christopher J. Sangwin

Senior Lecturer

[Picture of Chris - click here for personal pictures]

School of Mathematics
The University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
U.K.

Office: Watson 105
Phone: +44 (0)121 414 6197
Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3389
E-mail: C.J.Sangwin@bham.ac.uk

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 learning and teaching for the Maths Stats and OR Network, part of the Higher Education Academy.

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.

My applied mathematics research investigates dynamical systems and mathematical control systems.

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

Details of my work are available in the online publications, and slides of recent talks.

Teaching

Semester 2 of 2010-2011 session I am teaching the following courses:

MSM1Y Developing Mathematical Reasoning
MSM2P01 Sequences and Series

Publications

	How Round is Your Circle? John Bryant and Chris Sangwin © Princeton University Press, 2008.			Mathematics for the International Student: Pre-Diploma SL and HL (MYP 5 Plus) Pamela Vollmar, et. al. © Haese and Harris Publications, 2008.
	Mathematics Galore! Chris Budd and Chris Sangwin © Oxford University Press, 3 May, 2001.			Elements of Algebra © Tarquin Publications, 2007

Some mathematical highlights

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.

Stacking up dominoes

Apparently you can stack up dominoes in balance in the following way

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?

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.

Details are here.

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

Other fun things!

Have you seen

Prof. E. McSquared's calculus primer?
Tom Lehrer
Foolproof: A Sampling of Mathematical Folk Humor

Do you have a complaint? If so click here.

School of Mathematics
University of Birmingham

Last update: 22 October 2010

Stacking up dominoes Apparently you can stack up dominoes in balance in the following way 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?
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. Click here for more details.	The double pendulum A double pendulum consists of two rigid arms that are joined by a low friction bearing. Details are here.