Pure Math Grad Student Seminar (PuMaGraSS)

Speaker: Chris Ryba

Title: Supermathematics: the dark side of maths

Abstract: At some point you may have encountered mathematical objects (such as vector spaces) with the prefix "super". In my experience, they are often explained as Z/(2)-graded versions of those objects, which invites the question "if a super[Object] is a Z/(2)-graded [Object], why don't you call it a Z/(2)-graded [Object]?". In this talk, I will answer this question, and give a few examples of how the adjective "super" modifies familiar mathematical objects.