Countering Gerrymandering with Math
Presentation by Professor Steven Dunbar
Thursday, March 14th, 5-6 pm in 351 Avery Hall
Gerrymandering is the age-old practice of manipulating voting districts for partisan gain. Recently there has been a surge of interest in using mathematics to detect and study gerrymandering. In fact, this topic is currently a combination of law, political science, politics and mathematics.
This talk will focus on a particular aspect of the mathematics behind the study of gerrymandering, namely the efficiency gap. This is an algebraic formula which appeared in arguments before the Supreme Court last October. Prerequisites for this talk are at the level of calculus and elementary algebra.
Refreshments will be provided at this talk!