Math Club: "Do Dogs Know Calculus?"

Professor Tim Pennings of Hope College and his Welsh Corgi Elvis A standard calculus problem is to find the quickest path from a point on shore to a point in the lake, given that running speed is greater than swimming speed. Elvis, my Welsh Corgi, has never had a calculus course. But when we play "fetch" at Lake Michigan, he appears to choose paths close to the calculus answer. In this talk we reveal what was found when we experimentally tested this ability. Elvis will be available for follow-up questions. Elvis's last visit to Truax can be viewed by visiting: http://clubs.matcmadison.edu/mathclub/Lectures/Lec041050214Pennings/default.htm and to learn more about Professor Pennings, please visit: http://math.hope.edu/pennings/