William A. Cherry

William A. Cherry

Associate Professor of Mathematics

University of North Texas


 
 

Office Hours

Fall 2009

Office Location: General Academic Building (GAB) 405.
 
Office Hours:  Mondays: 3:30-5
 Tuesdays: 11-3
 Fridays: 9-11
 and by appointment

Contact Information

E-mail:  wcherry@unt.edu

Phone:  (940) 565-4303

Fax: (940) 565-4805
 
Mailing Address: Department of Mathematics
University of North Texas
1155 Union Circle #311430
Denton, TX  76203-5017
  
Delivery Address: Department of Mathematics
General Academic Building, Room 435
University of North Texas
225 Avenue B (Avenue B at Mulberry)
Denton, TX  76203

 
 

Fall '09 Courses

Math 5520 -- Modern Algebra
Class Meets MW 12:00-1:20 in GAB 206.
Final Exam: Friday, December 18: 10:30-12:30 in GAB 206.

 
 

Spring '10 Courses

Math 5530 -- Modern Algebra
Class Meets MW 12:00-1:20 in GAB 406.
Final Exam: Monday, May 10: 10:30-12:30 in GAB 406.
 
Math 4060 -- Foundations of Geometry
Class Meets TR 3:30-4:50 in PHYS 115.
Final Exam: Thursday, May 13: 1:30-3:30 in PHYS 115.

 
 

Summer '09 Courses

Math 1780 -- Probability Models
Class Meets MTWR 8:00-9:50 in GAB 317.
Final Exam: Friday, Aug. 14 8:00-9:50 in GAB 317.

 
 

Research Interests

I have done work that can be considered complex analysis, number theory, and algebraic geometry. I am especially interested in connections between rational solutions and functional solutions to systems of algebraic equations. For instance, consider the equation of the unit circle, x2+y2=1. This equation has many rational solutions, such as (3/5)2+(4/5)2=1, coming from Pythagorean triples. The unit circle equation also has the "functional solution" (sin t)2+(cos t)2=1. On the other hand, if n>3, then xn+yn=1 has only a few rational solutions (this is Fermat's Last Theorem/Weil's Theorem or the Mordell Conjecture/Faltings Theorem, depending on what one means by "few" and "rational"). Similarly, xn+yn=1 has no non-constant "entire function" solutions -- this follows easily from, for instance, the Uniformization theorem. One area I often work in is a field called "p-adic" analysis. Working with functions of p-adic numbers is sort of halfway in between algebra and analysis, so the idea is it might help us understand how functional solutions are related to rational solutions. Another area I work in is Nevanlinna theory, which extends the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra to meromorphic functions. Finally, I have research interests in classical complex analysis, particularly using geometric methods to better understand various inequalities.
 
 

Publications

  click here for a list of my publications
 
 

Faculty Profile (CV)

Click here to see my UNT Faculty Profile.
 
 

Other Research Related Links

11th International Conference on p-adic functional analysis, July 5-9, 2010, Clermont-Ferrand, France
18th International Conference on Finite or Infinite Dimensional Complex Analysis and Applications, August 13-17, 2010, Macau
One Day Function Theory Meeting, University College London, September 6, 2010

 
 

Educational/Professional History

  click here for a brief description of my educational and professional background
 
 
 

Maple Tutorial

Click here for a brief introduction to the computer algebra system Maple

 
 
 

Fun and Games

Click here to generate some "fractal" graphics associated with Newton's method.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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