Robert Kantrowitz ’82, professor and chair of mathematics, was a speaker at the fall 2011 meeting of the Seaway section of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) on Oct. 15 at St. Bonaventure University. In his talk, “Golf, tee ball, and triangles,” Kantrowitz discussed strategies for finding a manageable formula for the launch angle that maximizes the range of a projectile such as a golf ball or a tee ball. Various approaches from calculus, along with a computer algebra system, were applied to models both in the absence and presence of air resistance. The talk concluded with some geometric aspects of the optimal path of the projectile.
Hamilton College will host the next meeting of the MAA Seaway section April 13-14, 2012.
