JSM Preliminary Online Program
This is the preliminary program for the 2008 Joint Statistical Meetings in Denver, Colorado.

The views expressed here are those of the individual authors
and not necessarily those of the ASA or its board, officers, or staff.

Back to main JSM 2008 Program page

Activity Number: 483
Type: Contributed
Date/Time: Thursday, August 7, 2008 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
Sponsor: IMS
Abstract - #302017
Title: The Perfect Median Revisited
Author(s): Winston Richards*+
Companies: The Pennsylvania State University
Address: , , ,
Keywords: Perfect Median ; Pell Numbers
Abstract:

In the Fall 2005 issue of the Emissary, News Letter of the Mathematical Sciences Institute, David Gale posed this interesting problem and I set about attempting a solution. The Problem: Say that an ordered sequence of real numbers has a perfect median if there is a term such that the sum of the terms preceding it is equal to the sum of the terms following it. For instance, 6 is a perfect median of the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. For which n does the counting sequence 1, 2,., n have a perfect median? My approach that led to the discovery of a new formula in terms of the Pell Numbers for determining the Perfect Median will be presented.

  • The address information is for the authors that have a + after their name.
  • Authors who are presenting talks have a * after their name.

Back to the full JSM 2008 program


JSM 2008 For information, contact jsm@amstat.org or phone (888) 231-3473. If you have questions about the Continuing Education program, please contact the Education Department.
Revised September, 2008