Undergraduate Student Coauthors a Research Paper in Mathematics

Mathematics major Devyn Lesher and Dr. Chris Lynd recently had their research paper accepted for publication in Mathematics Magazine, which is a widely read, peer-reviewed journal. The paper is titled Convergence Results for the Class of Periodic Left Nested Radicals and it appears in the December 2016 issue of Mathematics Magazine.

This research was made possible by two Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities (URSCA) Awards from the Center for Undergraduate Research at Bloomsburg University. These awards provided stipends support for Devyn during the summer of 2014 and the summer of 2015.  

During that time, Devyn learned about an area of mathematics that is rarely taught in an undergraduate program. He used his programming skills to perform computer simulations, discover patterns, and make conjectures about his mathematical patterns. Once the mathematical conjectures were formalized, Devyn got to see first-hand how to construct mathematical proofs, how to write a formal research paper in mathematics, and how to submit a paper for publication.

 This research resulted in both Devyn and Dr. Lynd receiving an invitation to present their research at the 2014 regional conference for the American Mathematical Association in Greensboro, North Carolina. Devyn received an Undergraduate Research Student Travel Award and a food allowance from the Center for Undergraduate Research at Bloomsburg University. This gave Devyn the opportunity to experience what it’s like to interact with other mathematicians at a conference. In addition, Dr. Lynd gave a presentation of their research at the 2015 national conference for the American Mathematical Association and the Mathematical Association of America in San Antonio, Texas.

 Both Devyn Lesher and Dr. Lynd would like to thank the Center for Undergraduate Research for all their support.

DEVYN A. LESHER, and CHRIS D. LYND. “Convergence Results for the Class of Periodic Left Nested Radicals.” Mathematics Magazine, vol. 89, no. 5, 2016, pp. 319–335. www.jstor.org/stable/10.4169/math.mag.89.5.319.