his article appeared in the Fall 2017-Spring 2018 Bryn Mawr Math Alumnae Newsletter.
See below for the surprising results!
1. What is your dream vacation spot?
A. Somewhere scenic with hiking
B. Tropical beach at the end of the world
C. Ardmore
D. Italy
E. Colorado
F. Ireland
2. What is your favorite math class BMC offers?
A. All of them
B. Senior Conference
C. Linear Algebra
D. Combinatorics
E. Differential Equations
F. Math and Sustainability
3. What is your favorite spot on campus?
A. Math professor’s office
B. Sunken Garden
C. Collier Library
D. Rhoads Pond
E. The Gym
F. Merion Green Hammocks
4. What is your favorite color of chalk to use?
A. White with a little red for emphasis
B. Purple
C. White
D. Yellow
E. Combo of white and yellow
F. Blue
5. If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
A. Squirrel
B. I’m not a fan of animals
C. Small dog
D. Butterfly
E. Cat
F. Puppy
6. What is your favorite type of pie?
A. Crustless Pumpkin Pie
B. Savory Fillo Cheese Pie
C. Apple Pie
D. Key Lime Pie
E. Pumpkin Pie
F. I’ll only eat Pumpkin Pie
7. If you didn’t pursue math, what would you do?
A. Hmmmmmm, hard to know
B. This never occurred to me
C. Sleep
D. Be a chef
E. Be a piano teacher
F. Be a community organizer
8. What is your favorite beverage of choice?
A. At least 2 liters of water
B. Scotch
C. Coffee
D. Red wine
E. Plain water
F. Decaf Earl Grey tea
9. What is your favorite math textbook?
A. The Knot Book, Colin Adams
B. Understanding Analysis, Stephen Abbott
C. Depends on the class
D. Abstract Algebra, Dummit and Foote
E. Calculus, Larson and Edwards
F. Differential Equations, Paul Blanchard
10. Besides math, what do you like to do for fun?
A. Exercise
B. Scroll through new websites
C. Nothing really
D. Cook, take walks, and attend art events
E. Hike, dance, and knit
F. Play sports and sing
Mostly A: Congratulations! You are most similar to Prof. Lisa Traynor. You love a nice, healthy breakfast filled with oats and fruits. Getting deliveries of fresh fruits and veggies from a local farm is one of your favorite parts of the week. You love both DMC and the colloquium, and you think your office is the best there is in all of Park. You love discussing the topics you read for homework and cannot wait for the Park classrooms to be done. On a deserted island, you would just sit back, grab some sunscreen, put on a hat, and never forget your water.
Mostly B: Congratulations! You are most similar to Prof. Djordje Milićević! Some of your favorite mathematicians include Hermann Weyl, David Hilbert, and Bernhard Riemann. You have enjoyed attending Bryn Mawr’s colloquium since 2012. If you were stranded on a deserted island, you would bring a beach towel, sunscreen, several books, and an internet connection. Your ideal day is sunny and unstructured. You read the newspaper, do some math while strolling through the park, and then end the day by cooking dinner on the grill. You also love (proper) chocolate!
Mostly C: Congratulations! You are most similar to Prof. Peter Kasius! Mathematics is your true passion in life. Your ideal day would be to wake up early around 4 AM, prepare for class, review your notes a few times, teach, eat, prepare for tomorrow, and then sleep. You always do math in pen, appreciate the work of Herbert Federer, and believe all equations are special in their own way. You have been at Bryn Mawr for over 30 years and are always down for some good dim sum.
Mostly D: Congratulations! You are most similar to Prof. Amy Myers! You love exploring new cities, discovering interesting places, and enjoying food like tacos. You prefer to do math in pencil and have one of the nicest offices in the department. You love the work of Nicolas Bourbaki and long polynomial equations in the form of generating functions. And if you were stranded on a deserted island, the only thing you would need is a deck of cards with which to play FreeCell.
Mostly E: Congratulations! You are most similar to Prof. Danielle Smiley. You're the new kid on the block as far as teaching is concerned, but you love Euler just as much as any math veteran. Your biggest love outside of math is music, which makes you pretty classy. But that doesn't mean you can't be tough when you need to be—after all, you wouldn't be caught dead on a deserted island without a knife.
Mostly F: Congratulations! You are most similar to Prof. Victor Donnay. You love teaching concepts visually, so you're never far from a set of pencils and lots of colored markers, and your classrooms always involve students working in groups. Because mathematics and sustainability are extremely important to you, you want nothing more than to wake up and be Tom Pfaff. You have a soft spot for chicken wings and enjoy warm, sunny walks outside. You would never be stuck without books and sun tan lotion.