The Christian Mathematician Dr. Sharon Robbert trinity Christian College Table of Contents

Single Variable Calculus
1.1. Mathematical Modeling of Physical Phenomena: Should We Be Surprised?
1.2 Tools to Prevent Deception: Machine graphics flaws & trick images
1.3 Function Operations: God's Surgical Improvements of our Action
1.4 Development of the Derivative: Does God Change?
1.5 Derivative as a Rate of Change: Indicators for a Person's Heart
1.6 Limit definition of derivative: Secant Lines and Sanctification
1.7 Infinite Limits: Infinite Qualities of God
1.8 Symbolic Differentiation: Transformation under Christ
1.9 Chain Rule: Chain Reactions
1.10 Inverse Functions and Derivatives: Inversions in the Bible
1.11 Three BIG Theorems: MVT, EVT, IVT: Faith vs. Proof
1.12 Differential Equations: Growth Functions: Blessed Exponentially
1.13 Integration as a measurement tool: Measurement in the Bible
1.14 Numerical Integration and Error Bounds: God's Zero Tolerance for Error

Multivariable Calculus
2.1 Planar Approximation to Surfaces: Approximations and Intentions
2.2 Level Sets: Stratification in Christ's kingdom?

Discrete Structures
3.1 Overview: Conjecture and Proof: Proof of God's Will
3.2 Logical Operators: Epistle Implications
3.3 Logical quantifiers: Unique Existence of God
3.4 Proof writing: A Perfect Proof?
3.5 Recursion and Induction: Recursive Blessings and Curses
3.6 Disjoint Sets: Adopted Children of God
3.7 Definition of Function: The Jesus Function
3.8 Inverse Functions: Christ = Adam-1
3.9 Equivalence Classes: A Common Confession
3.10 Combinatorics: Countable or Uncountable?

Statistics
4.1 Probability/odds: Probability Defied
4.2 Measures of central tendency: Don't Be Average
4.3 Central Limit Theorem: Repeated Samples of Character

Linear Algebra
5.1 Spanning Set: The Span of God's Love
5.2 Independent and Dependent Vectors: Independent or Dependent?
5.3 Matrix Transformation: Transformed by the Spirit
5.4 Matrix Inversions: Our Inverted Actions
5.5 Determinants: The Mark of a Determinant
5.6 Generalized Vector space: Generalization and Fulfillment
5.7 Bases of a Subspace: THE Basis of the Law
5.8 Vector space Dimension: Dimension of God
5.9 Eigenspaces: In the Eigenspace of Christ
5.10 Eigenvalues: What is your Eigen?
5.11 Least-squares solution: Our Inconsistent System

The Christian Mathematician

Dr. Sharon Robbert

trinity Christian College

Table of Contents

White Buffalo Solutions

Trinity Christian College

Association of Christians in the

Mathematical Sciences (ACMS)

About Dr. Robbert

About Us

A message from Dr. Sharon Robbert:

How does one find a meaningful connection between Christianity and mathematics? I believe that there are two approaches to the connection which form an inverse relationship, in a mathematical sense. These are:

•What does it mean to have a Christian perspective of mathematics?

•How does thinking mathematically help to interpret Christian beliefs?

With any problem pair having an inverse relationship, one problem usually is more difficult than the other. The easier problem is labeled "direct" while the more difficult problem is labeled "inverse." My thesis is that to use mathematical thinking to understand the concepts of theological principles is the direct problem; development of a Christian perspective of mathematics is the inverse problem.

Characterization of the issue into these two directions helps me to give context for materials I created as devotionals for mathematics classes at Trinity. For several years I have been noting ways in which mathematics could effectively model theology. I found mathematical concepts in sermons, in scripture readings, and in Christian radio broadcasts. However, it wasn't until I taught an 8:00 a.m. statistics class that I decided to take action in an organized and deliberate manner--devotions for that class would be instances where the mathematics we were studying reflected God. The success in that statistics class motivated me to continue the project with an 8:00 a.m. multivariable calculus class. In 2001, I decided to do weekly devotions for all of my classes with the same ground rules.

This web-resource is a collection of these mathematical reflections of God. I hope that you find something interesting or inspirational in this collection. Feel free to adapt them for your own use. If you have suggestions for improvement or an idea for another devotional that is connected to a topic in an undergraduate mathematics course, please contact me at sharon.robbert@trnty.edu. I welcome additions to the collection.

If you are interested in tackling the more difficult problem, there are two important resources you should consult. One is a recent publication by Eerdmans, Mathematics in a Postmodern Age: A Christian Perspective (ISBN: 0-8028-4910-5). A second is an annotated bibliography of publications which addresses the connection between mathematics and Christianity. This resource was created by members of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences.

Dr. Sharon Robbert

trinity Christian College