Karen Lange

Professor of Mathematics

Professor Lange's interests are in computability theory, an area of logic that explores the algorithmic content encoded in mathematical problems.

Professor Lange's interests are in computability theory, an area of logic that explores the algorithmic content encoded in mathematical problems. She studies the computational complexity of problems associated with algebraic structures such as real closed fields, fields that are generalizations of the real numbers, and free groups. Answering these computational questions often requires using tools from model theory, another area of logic, and algebra.

Education

  • B.A., Swarthmore College
  • M.S., University of Chicago
  • Ph.D., University of Chicago

Current and upcoming courses

Linear algebra is one of the most beautiful subjects in the undergraduate mathematics curriculum. It is also one of the most important with many possible applications. In this course, students learn computational techniques that have widespread applications in the natural and social sciences as well as in industry, finance, and management. There is also a focus on learning how to understand and write mathematical proofs and an emphasis on improving mathematical style and sophistication. Topics include vector spaces, subspaces, linear independence, bases, dimension, inner products, linear transformations, matrix representations, range and null spaces, inverses, and eigenvalues.