On-Line and Adversarial Algorithms

You are cordially invited to the talk

"On-Line and Adversarial Algorithms"

William T. Trotter, Regents' Professor

Department of Mathematics, Arizona State University
Email: trotter@ASU.edu
URL: http://math.la.asu.edu/~trotter/trotter.html

10:00am - 11:00pm, April 10 (Monday)
Room 114, Grimsley Hall
ABSTRACT
In introductory discrete mathematics and computer science classes, students learn about optimization problems in an "off-line" setting. But many real world problems, important from both the applications and theoretical perspectives, require an "off-line" and/or "adversarial" setting. These interpretations are necessary because decisions must be made incrementally on the basis of partial information. Also, in the implementation phase, we may experience interference from an adversary who may be relatively benign, for example, a careless employee, but who may also be a dedicated, clever and powerful opponent.

The purpose of this talk is to present natural examples of optimization problems requiring on-line and adversarial solutions. The talk will be accessible to undergraduate math, science, engineering and computer science students.

**-- -- -- About Dr. Tom Trotter -- -- --**

Dr. Trotter graduated as a mathematics major from The Citadel with the first honor in 1965. While at The Citadel, Dr. Trotter was a recipient of the Dean List and Gold Star every year. He was a Western Electric Scholar, the editor-in-chief of Guidon, and a member of the Round Table. He was also a battalion executive officer and a cadet major. Click here to learn more about Dr. Trotter's life at The Citadel (http://macs02.citadel.edu/~chenm/tom.dir/ttweb.html).

Dr. Trotter received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from University of Alabama in 1967 and 1969, respectively. He was an assistant professor of Mathematics at The Citadel during 1969-1972 before he joined the department of Mathematics at University of South Carolina. During his 14 years at USC, he was an Assistant Dean of College of Science and Mathematics in 1976-1979, Chair of Department of Mathematics in 1979-1985, and Carolina Research Professor in 1986-1987. He became the chair of the Department of Mathematics at Arizona State University in 1987-1991 and again in 1995-1997. Currently, he is Regent's Professor and Associate Chair and Graduate Director of the Department of Mathematics at Arizona State University.

Dr. Trotter's research is in the field of discrete mathematics. He is the author of 114 papers and 2 books and he is also the managing editor of ORDER, a mathematical journal on the theory of ordered sets and its applications. To learn more about Dr. Trotter, you may visit his web site (http://math.la.asu.edu/~trotter/trotter.html).