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Election Chaos - By the Numbers

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Hosts Sept. 30 Talk

Donald G. Saari

What:

A mathematical approach to the chaos behind this election year will be presented in the Titan Student Union Theatre at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Cal State Fullerton. To be demonstrated are the unpredictable and sometimes surprising results possible in elections, especially if there are three or more candidates.

Who:

Based, in part, on chaos theory but with nothing more than basic addition needed to track the results, what can happen will be demonstrated by Donald G. Saari, director of the Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Studies at UC Irvine, in his talk: “What a ‘Chaotic’ Election Year!”

More:

“Expect to leave this lecture worrying about whether the ‘correct person’ won in the last important election for you,” Saari said.

Saari has lectured extensively on mathematical approaches to elections, voting, voters and the social sciences on levels ranging from fourth-grade students in a Pittsburgh elementary school to major conferences for mathematicians. He is the author of the book “Chaotic Elections! A Mathematician Looks at Voting,” published in 2001 by the American Mathematical Society.

Cost:

The talk is open to the public free of charge.

Info:

For more information, contact Alain Bourget, CSUF assistant professor of mathematics, at 657-278-4321.

 

Media Contact:
Russ L. Hudson, Public Affairs, 657-278-4007 or rhudson@fullerton.edu