• Names
  • Lecturer: Stephen Preston
  • Teaching Assistant: Nadia Masri


• Column correction
  • Poll: How many signed up because of the DP column?
  • Caution: Course satisfies "formal reasoning and analysis", not "quantitative data analysis"


• Textbook
  • "Mathematics and politics: Strategy, voting, power and proof" by Alan D. Taylor.
  • Will be in the bookstore by Friday.
  • Link from the course web page if you want to buy it online.
  • We will not need it for a couple of weeks.


• Registration
  • There is plenty of room in Section 203 if you haven't registered.
  • The other sections are full.
  • I'd prefer not to add people to full sections.


• Goals
  • Goal: you appreciate and enjoy math.
  • Class should be fun, topics should be interesting.
  • Math 170 is not a prerequisite, so we can modify the syllabus.


• Structure
  • Course is half liberal arts, half mathematics...
  • Homework assignments will include essays and standard problems.
  • Class discussion and participation will be essential. (Attendance is mandatory.)


• Suggestions
  • Comments, criticisms, and suggestions are very welcome.
  • If you are interested in a particular math or political topic, ask.
  • If I intimidate you, make suggestions to Nadia.


• Logic
  • Focus is on proof and logical analysis, not formulas and calculation.
  • Use formal reasoning to prove things that are unintuitive, or even paradoxical.


• Biases
  • Your political views don't have to agree with mine.
  • Purpose of the course is to be able to construct reasoned arguments, no matter your opinions.
  • Example: cost-benefit analysis.


• Models
  • Mathematical models can be helpful in real situations.
  • But one has to understand when they fail.
  • We will focus not just on analyzing the models, but on how well they can be applied.


• Politics and mathematics
  • We will mainly study the mathematics of politics...
  • But we will also study the politics of mathematics.
  • underrepresentation, "math anxiety", history of math...


• Topics
  • Math in society
  • Intro to mathematical logic
  • Escalation models
  • Game theory
  • Political power
  • Voting systems
  • Fair division
  • Students' choice?


• Syllabus
  • Yes, it's a syllabus.


• Office hours
  • Mine: Wednesday, 12-2, and by appointment. (Email!)


• Assignments
  • Find and read an article about mathematics in society, for class discussion on Thursday. Try to find something you can identify with personally.
  • Visit me in my office hours, or make an appointment.
  • Write a personal essay for Thursday.

The dollar auction

Rules:

• Prize is $1.00.
• Bid increments of $0.05.
• High bidder pays bid and gets $1.00.
• Second-place bidder pays bid, gets $0.00.

• What is the optimal strategy, if all players are "rational"?
• What does the dollar auction teach us about escalation of conflict?
• Are participants usually "rational"?