Erich Prisner

Professor, Mathematics and Computing

Habilitation, Universität Hamburg, Germany
Ph.D. Universität Hamburg, Germany
Diploma (M.A.) Universität Hamburg, Germany

Office: Lowerre Academic Center, North Campus, Office 11
Phone: +41 91 986 36 55
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Profile:

The teaching and research experience of Professor Prisner includes the University of Louisville, the University of Maryland University College (Schwäbisch Gmünd), the Technical University of Cottbus (Germany), the Technical University of Berlin, and Franklin University Switzerland. Dr. Prisner has published extensively on intersection graphs and graph-theoretic operators, to include a book on graph dynamics. A recipient of numerous research awards and grants, he also has been particularly active in integrating information technology in his teaching.

2020-2021 Courses:

MAT 103	College Algebra	FALL 2020
The first part of this course reviews the basic concepts of algebra, real numbers, first-degree equations and inequalities, rational expressions, exponents and radicals, and polynomials, systems of equations and inequalities. The second part strongly emphasizes graphs and functions. The most important functions for applications are introduced, such as linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, and rational functions.
MAT 115T	Measuring the Alps	FALL 2020
People live in three-dimensional space but are restricted to the earth surface which is usually locally flat, two-dimensional. But when entering the Alps, the third dimension of height becomes important when describing location or movement. This is also expressed by the fact that in the mountains a map is not too useful---rather a topographic map is needed. Starting with a description of the Alps or any mountains by topographic maps, or mathematically as functions with two independent variables, students will investigate how certain well-known features are reflected by the topography of the area . Examples are the location of mountain brooks, watersheds, movement of glaciers, avalanches, and rockfall. Students will also investigate the question of visibility in the mountains, whether and how it is possible to predict what can be seen from where. A further aspect is GPS technology. During the travel, the class will visit various places in the Swiss, Austrian, and Italian Alps, such as Davos, Innsbruck, Villnoess. Students will hike and measure, but will also discuss questions relevant to Alpine life, such as glaciers, avalanches or rockfall forecasts. If possible, the class will also visit places where such research is conducted. The course includes one mandatory weekend hike in September in addition to the ordinary travel in October. Hiking boots are required.
MAT 180	Mathematics for the Humanities and Social Sciences	FALL 2020
In today’s world, data and “numbers” are constantly presented to us: Opinion polling, election results, data on income distribution, or the probability of health outcomes. News media often come with supporting data. This course provides students with an understanding and awareness of the basic mathematics behind such data and how to correctly evaluate them. Using everyday examples from news media, this course will help students learn how to visualize data properly and how to use logic and data analyses to formulate valid hypotheses and reach solid conclusions.
MAT 104	The Mathematics of Inequality	SPRING 2021
Among the central questions of every society are questions about poverty and wealth, and the unequal distribution of goods, income, wealth, or resources. This courses analyzes inequity by mathematical methods. Based on real data collected throughout the course, students construct measures of inequity, like Lorenz curve, Gini index and others. Students will investigate what effect certain policies, like taxes or even marriage patterns, have on these measures, and also try to answer the question of whether inequity is increasing or decreasing within different nations and worldwide. Students will also critically discuss literature and opinions on these inequality trends, and may have a glimpse on the recent modeling of inequality from "econophysics". The basics of Excel will also be taught in this class, since Excel will be used heavily for analysis and modeling. (Not open to students who have completed MAT 199).
MAT 180	Mathematics for the Humanities and Social Sciences	SPRING 2021
In today’s world, data and “numbers” are constantly presented to us: Opinion polling, election results, data on income distribution, or the probability of health outcomes. News media often come with supporting data. This course provides students with an understanding and awareness of the basic mathematics behind such data and how to correctly evaluate them. Using everyday examples from news media, this course will help students learn how to visualize data properly and how to use logic and data analyses to formulate valid hypotheses and reach solid conclusions.
MAT 200	Calculus	SPRING 2021
The course begins with a review of functions and their graphs, after which students are introduced to the concepts of differentiation and integration. Understanding is reinforced through extensive practical work, with a strong emphasis on applications in economics, statistics and management science.
CPT 150	Intro Computer Programming	SUMMER 2021
This course offers an introduction to computer programming using some high level language. Students will learn how to formulate, represent, and solve problems using the computer. Emphasis will be on the features common to most of these languages. After introducing data structures, expressions, functions, control structures, input and output, the course will proceed to classes, events, user interface construction, documentation, and program testing. Both procedural and object-oriented programming paradigms will be discussed.
MAT 109	Introduction to Game Theory	SUMMER 2021
This course is an elementary introduction to Game Theory. It focuses on how to ana-lyze situations and make rational decisions based on the information gathered. Students will analyze parlor games, gambling, and real-world situations. As mathematical basis for the analysis, Probability Theory and some Algebra are needed, but will be developed in detail

Publications:

“Best Response Digraphs for Two Location Games on Graphs”, in: Contributions to Game Theory and Management. Vol. IV (Petrosyan, Leon A. et al. ed.), Collected papers of the 4th international conference game theory and management (GTM 2010), June 28-30, 2010, St. Petersburg, Russia, 378-388 (2011).

Radius versus diameter in co comparability and intersection graphs, Discrete Mathematics 163 (1997) 109-117.

Intersection multigraphs of uniform hypergraphs, Graphs and Comb. 14 (1998) 363-376.

Recognizing clique graphs of directed and rooted path graphs, (joint work with Jayme L. Szwarcfiter), Discrete Applied Mathematics 94 (1999) 321-328.

Generalized octahedra and cliques in intersection graphs of uniform hypergraphs, Discrete Mathematics 206 (1999) 187-195.

Recognizing k-path graphs, Discrete Appl. Mathematics 99 (2000) 169-182.

Bicliques in graphs I: Bounds on their number, Combinatorica 20 (2000) 109-117.

Source reversal and chip firing on graphs (joint work with E. Goles), Theoret. Comput. Sci. 233 (2000) 287-295.

A note on k-rotation graphs, Ars Combinatoria 55 (2000), 289-292.

Eccentricity-approximating trees in chordal graphs, Discrete Mathematics 220 (2000) 263-269.

Recognizing random intersection graphs, Discrete Math. 223 (2000) 263-274.

Eulerian iterated line graphs and digraphs, Discrete Math. 236 (2001) 315-323.

Additive tree spanners, (joint work with Dieter Kratsch, Hoàng-Oanh Le, Haiko Müller, Dorothea Wagner), SIAM J. Discrete Math. Fall 2003

The recognition problem for line bigraphs, Discrete Math. 268, No.1-3, 243-256 (2003).

Additive tree spanners, (joint work with D. Kratsch, Hoang-Oanh Le, H. Mueller, D. Wagner), SIAM J. Discrete Math. 17 (2003) 332-340;

Selected papers from the 1st international workshop on algorithms, combinatorics, and optimization in interconnnection networks (IWACOIN'99), co-guest editor (together with Roger Labahn and Art Liestman) of a special issue of Discrete Appl. Math. 137, (2004) 125-236;

k-Pseudosnakes in n-dimensional Hypercubes, Discrete Math. 17C (2004) 237-240.

AT-free graphs: Linear bounds for the oriented diameter, (joint work with Fedor Fomin, Martin Matamala, Ivan Rapaport), Discrete Appl. Math. 141 (2004) 135-148.