A special appearance by Elvis, the dog who ’knowsâ? calculus, intrigued MathFest attendees who came to the lecture ’Do Dogs Know Calculus? Bifurcations at the Beachâ? by Timothy Pennings and his dog, Elvis. Elvis demonstrated his ability to retrieve a tennis ball tossed in the lecture hall, while Professor Pennings discussed the mathematics behind Elvis’ talent to enter the water at the optimal point, quickly find the ball that had been tossed down the beach into Lake Michigan, and bring it back. Statistical data on many replications of the experiment backed up the theoretical analysis of the problem. Elvis enjoyed being the center of a mathematical investigation, while audience members were captivated by the data and analyses of these applications of calculus.

Timothy Pennings is a Professor of Mathematics at Hope College. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of North Dakota, and his Ph.D. degree from Iowa State University. He is actively involved in research projects with undergraduate students, with special professional interests in dynamical systems and infinity.