WSU Retention List Stories

Today is Pi Day, the date that is closest to the value of the mathematical constant Pi (3.14159…). Mathematicians are excited about this year. 2025 is a perfect square: it is 45 squared. The number 45 itself is a special number. It is one of the “triangular numbers.” That means that, starting at one, a sequence of natural numbers sum to it. In this case, 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 45. Because of these two facts, there is a cornucopia of curious mathematical expressions that are equivalent to the number 2025, such as this one: 1³ + 2³ + 3³ + 4³ + 5³ + 6³ + 7³ +8³ + 9³ = 2025.

The last year that had these mathematical properties was the year 1296. Such a year will not come again until the year 3025. Enjoy it while you can, math nerds!

The branch of mathematics that explores triangular numbers is Number Theory. One book on the Krueger Library retention list which discusses triangular numbers is:

Rademacher, Hans. Topics in Analytic Number Theory. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1973. 

Recap: In 2022, twenty-four Minnesota libraries joined together in a commitment to retain over a half-million print books which are scarcely-held in Minnesota. It is called the Minnesota Shared Print Collection. This is one of the stories from the Winona State share of the collection.

(Credit for pointing out to me these mathematical details goes to Paul Weiner, the retired Chair of the Math Department at St. Mary’s University, and to his number theory chums.)

Recap: In 2022, twenty-four Minnesota libraries joined together in a commitment to retain over a half-million print books which are scarcely-held in Minnesota. It is called the Minnesota Shared Print Collection. Here is one of the stories from the Winona State share of the collection.

Some books make you smile, even when the subject is serious and you should be more respectful. Within the realm of finite algebraic groups, one mathematical group is referred to as the Monster. One book on Winona State’s retention list studies the Monster, and—all kidding aside—the book’s first author is named Igor. … But does he pronounce it “Eye-gor”?

Frenkel, Igor, James Lepowsky, and Arne Meurman. Vertex Operator Algebras and the Monster. Boston: Academic Press, 1988.

Perhaps the primary criterion for a book on the retention list is that it is scarcely-held in the State of Minnesota.

George Boole was the 19^th century mathematician who pioneered the mathematics of logic—the algebra of ANDs, ORs, and NOTs—hence, there is a great deal of interest in his work among computer scientists. Books by or about George Boole are plentiful in Minnesota and none of them are on Winona State’s retention list; however, his wife Mary was a mathematics educator, and a selection of her writings is on our list.

Boole, Mary Everest. A Boolean Anthology: Selected Writings of Mary Boole on Mathematical Education. Compiled by D. G. Tahta. Nelson: Association of Teachers of Mathematics, 1972.

Recap: In 2022, twenty-four Minnesota libraries joined together in a commitment to retain over a half-million print books which are scarcely-held in Minnesota. It is called the Minnesota Shared Print Collection. Here is one of the stories from the Winona State share of the collection.