Colin Adams delivered the Doris M. and Ralph E. Hansmann Lecture on February 25 in the Chapel.
Adams, the Francis Christopher Oakley Third Century Professor of
Mathematics at Williams College, discussed hyperbolic geometry in his
talk, "Real Estate in Hyperbolic Space: Investment Opportunities for
the New Millennium."
Adams assumed the character of Mel Slugbate, a real estate agent
with a polyester suit and quirky quips. Mel applied the
abstract concepts of hyperbolic geometry to more familiar facets of
life such as art, urban planning, the Big Bang and, of course, real
estate. Adams/Slugbate asks, "Need to escape from the humdrum
everyday boredom of Euclidean geometry? Time for a vacation from
the same old straight lines, that tiresome parallel postulate and the
usual formulas for area and perimeter of a circle? Then you are
ready for Hyperbolic Condos, situated in lovely hyperbolic space.
It's not just one of the most beautiful spots one can conjure up, it's
an investment opportunity of Gaussian proportions." Adams's talk
interspersed humor and mathematical knowledge, making it both
entertaining and informative.
Although presented in comedic style, the applications of
hyperbolic geometry are serious. Current discussion in the field
includes using this cutting-edge mathematics to determine the shape of
the universe.
