The Method of False Position is a thousands-of-years-old method for solving linear equations, similar to our present day "guess and check". Iteration of the False Position method gives approximate solutions for nonlinear equations. A close relative, Newton's Method, plays a role in much of modern mathematics, such as chaos theory. It is of interest that a famous geometric theorem of Pascal explains the relationship between the two methods when applied to quadritic equations.

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Don Chakerian received his Ph. D. from U. C. Berkeley, and then started his career as an instructor of mathematics at the California Institute of Technology. For more than 30 years, he was a Professor of Mathematics at U. C. Davis. During this time he received several awards and prizes both for his teaching achievements and his publications in the areas of expository mathematics and math education. His scientific interests lie primarily in the theory of geometric inequalities and the geometry of convex sets.

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How to get to San Jose State University:

From 101 take the First street or Guadalope Expressway exit and go to Fourth Street. Take Fourth to San Salvador Street; turn left onto San Salvador and park in the Seventh Street garage ($2.00). The Engineering building is on San Fernando between Seventh and Eighth Streets.

From highway 280 take the 7-th street exit and turn left on Seventh Street. The garage is on the left after 5 or 6 blocks.
The Engineering building is on San Fernando between 7-th and 8-th
Streets.

To see a map of the campus Click here.

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Contact BAMA organizers
Last revised on October 21, 1999