Jay Kappraff
Home
Address: Professional
Address:
102 Rynda Road Assoc. Prof. of Math.
(973)
763-7703
Education:
Ph.D.
(Applied Mathematics) 1974
M.S. (Chemical Engineering)
1960 Iowa State Univ.
B.Ch.E. (Chem.
Professional Experience:
Academic
Appointments
- Assoc. Prof (Math.) NJIT 1974 - present
- Instructor (Math.)
Non-Academic
Employment
- Aerospace Engineer NASA (Lewis Res. Lab.) 1962 - 1965
- Teacher of Math.
- Chem.
Consultant Dept. of Energy 1976
Refereed Papers
Kappraff, J. “Ancient Harmonic Law.” Bridges 2007. (2007)
Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. “Generalized DNA Matrices, Silver Means, and Pythagorean Triples.” Unpublished. (2006).
Kappraff, J. “The Lost Harmonic Law of the Bible.” Proceedings of London-Bridges 2006. Edited by J. Sharp.
Kappraff, J. and McClain, E.G. “The Proportions of the Parthenon: A work of musically inspired architecture” International Journal for Music Iconography, Vol. XXX, no. 1-2 Spring-Fall 2005
Kappraff, J. In Search of the Golden Mean. FORMA Vol. 19, No. 4 (2005)
Kappraff, J. Growth of Plants: A Study in Number. FORMA Vol 19, No. 4 (2005).
Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. Generalized Binet Formulas, Lucas Polynomials, and Cyclic Constants. FORMA vol. 19, No. 4 (2005)
Kappraff, J., Jablan, S., Adamson, G.W., Sazdonovich, R. Golden Fields, Generalized Fibonacci Sequences, and Chaotic Matrices. FORMA vol. 19, No. 4 (2005).
Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. Polygons and Chaos. Journal of Biological Systems and Geometric Theories, Vol. 2 pp79-94 (Nov. 2004).
Kappraff, J. The Anatomy of a Bud. In Bridges:2004
edited by R. Sarhangi.
Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. The Relationship of the Cotangent Function to Special Relativity Theory, Silver Means, p-cycles, and Chaos Theory. FORMA. Vol.18, No. 3 pp 249-262 (2003)
Kappraff, J. The Anatomy of a Bud. In Bridges:2004
edited by R. Sarhangi.
Kappraff, J. and Adamson, G.W. Polygons and Chaos. Journal of Dynamical Systems and Geometric Theories, Vol. 2 pp79-94 (Nov. 2004).
Kappraff, J. Complexity and Chaos Theory in Art. Chaos and Complexity Letters,
Vol 3.. Special Issue on Chaos and Complexity in Arts and Architecture. In press.
Kappraff, J. and McClain,E. The System of Proportions of the Parthenon: A Work of Musically Inspired Architecture. Music in Art: International Journal of Music Iconography. In press.
Kappraff, J and Adamson, G.W. A Unified Theory of
Proportion. Conference
Proceedings of ISAMA-Bridges 2003. J. Barrallo,
et. al. editors (2003) and in
Journal of Visual Mathematics (www.member.tripod.com/vismath
(2003).
Kappraff, J. “The System of Proportions of the Parthenon and
its Meaning.”
Proceedings of
the 5th Bridges
Conference, ed. by R. Sarhangi (2002).
Kappraff and Adamson, G.W. “Polygons and
Chaos.” Symmetry
: Art and Science No. 1/2 (2001).
Kappraff, J. “Beyond Measure: Essays in Nature Myth, and
Number.” 600 pages.
Kappraff, J. "A Secret of Ancient Geometry." In Geometry at
Work edited by C.Gorini. Mathematics Association of
Kappraff, J. Ancient
Harmonic Law. unpublished
Kappraff, J. and
Hawkins, G. “The Music of the Spheres: Was
Kepler Wrong?” unpublished (2000)
Kappraff,
J. and Adamson, G.W. “A Fresh Look at Number.” Visual
Mathematics (an
electronic journal,
www.members.tripod.com/vismath) Vol. 2, No. 3 Fall 2000.
Also
appeared in Bridges: 2000 edited by
R.Sarhangi.
Kappraff, J. “The Arithmetic of Nicomachus of Gerasa and its
Applications to
Systems of Proportion”Nexus Network Journal (an
electronic journal, www.nexusjournal.com)Vol. 4, No. 3
October
2000.
Kappraff,
J. Towers of Hanoi.Unpublished.
Kappraff, J. “The Hidden Pavements of
Michelangelo’s Laurentian
Library.” Article in the Mathematical Tourist section of Mathematical
Intelligencer.
June 1999.
Kappraff, J.
“Systems of Proportion in Design and Architecture
and their relationship to Dynamical Systems.” In Visual
Mathematics (an electronic journal). Issue
1. Feb. 1999.
http:members.t. ripod.com/vismath/Also published in the Proceedings
of the Bridges Conference edited by R. Sarhangi (1999)
Nicholson, B., Kappraff, J., and Hisano,
S. "The Hidden
Pavement Designs of the Laurentian
Library." In Nexus '98 edited
by K.Williams.
Nicholson, B., Kappraff, J., and Hisano,
S. "A Taxonomy of
Ancient Geometry
Based on the Hidden Pavements of Michelangelo's
Laurentian
Library." In Proceedings of the Second International
Conference on Art
and Mathematics edited by J.Barrallo.Also
published in the Proceedings of the Bridges Conference
edited by
R. Sarhangi
(1998)
Kappraff, J.,
Blackmore, D., and Adamson, G. "Phyllotaxis as a
Dynamical System:
A Study in Number." In Symmetry in Plants
edited by R.V. Jean and D. Barabe.
In print (1996).
Kappraff, J. "Musical Proportions at the Basis of
Architectural
Proportions both Ancient and Modern." In Nexus '96
edited by
K.Williams. Fuccechio: Edizioni Dell' Erba. In print
(1996).
Kappraff, J.
"Linking the Musical Proportions of Renaissance,
the
Modulor, and Roman Systems of Proportions."
Space
Structures, Vol. 11, Nos. 1 and 2 (1996).
Blackmore, D. and
Kappraff, J. "Phyllotaxis and Toral
Dynamical
Systems." ZAMM (1995).
Kappraff, J. "Tangrams, Amish Quilts, and Sacred Geometry".
Kappraff, J. "Connections: The Geometric Bridge between
Art and
Science " 470 pages.
Kappraff, J. "The Relationship between Mathematics and
Mysticism
of the Golden Mean through History." In Five-fold
Symmetry
in a Cultural Context edited by Istvan Hargittai.
Kappraff, J.
"The Spiral in Myth, Mathematics, and Nature."
In
Spiral Symmetry edited by I. Hargittai and C.A. Pickover.
Kappraff, J. "A Course in the Mathematics of
Design." In
Symmetry:Unifying Human
Understanding. Edited by I.
Hargittai. Pergamon Press.
1986. Also appeared in Comp. and
Math.
with Appl., Vol 12B, Nos. 3/4, pp 655-671. 1986
Kappraff, J. "The Geometry of Coastlines: A study in
Fractals."
In Symmetry: Unifying Human Understanding edited by
I. Hargittai. Pergamon Press.
1986. Also appeared in
Comp. and Math. with Appl., Vol. 12B, Nos. 3/4, pp. 913-948,
1986.
Other
significant publications:
1.
Kappraff, J. and Marzec, C. "Properties
of Maximal Spacing
on a Circle Related to Phyllotaxis
and the Golden Mean." of Theor. Biol Vol. 103,
pp.201-226. 1983.
2. Burridge,
R., Kappraff, J., and Moshedi, C. "A Mathematical
Model of
the Sitar String: A boundary value problem with
inelastic constraints."
No.6,
Dec. 1982.
3. Kappraff, J. and Cohen, S.
"Passive Solar Heating." UMAP
Module. 1982.
4. Kappraff, J. and Grossmann, W.
"Effect of Hall Current and
Rotation
of Tearing Modes
of a Theta Pinch." J. of Plasma
Phys.
Vol. 25, Prt 1, pp. 111-131. 1981.
5. Kappraff, J. and Tataronis, J.A. "Resistive Effects on
Alfven Wave Heating." J. Plasma Phys ,
Vol. 18, pp. 209-226. 1977.
Videotapes:
Completed 11 half-hour videotapes on
"Mathematics of Design." The videotapes were broadcast over
Cable TV of New Jersey and several other public TV networks.
Grants:
1. Graham Foundation. To write the
book, Beyond Measure. $9000
1.
Graham Foundation. Production of a Telecourse in
Mathematics
of Design. $9817. 1993-1994.
2. National Endowment for
the Arts. To write A Workbook on
Spatial
Design Mathematics. $7500 Mr. 1991 - Mar. 1992
3. Graham Foundation. To write the book, Connections.
$7500.
Sept. 1987 - Sept.
1988.
4. New
Jersey Department of Higher Education.
Experimental
Mathematics
and Communications Summer Program. PI. $15,000.
1985.
5. Schumann Foundation.
Exp. Math. and Comm. Summer Program.
PI.
$37,500. 1983.
6. Schumann Foundation.
Exp. Math. and Comm. Program. PI.
$33,000.
1983.
7. Graham Foundation. To
write a set of Lecture Notes on The
Mathematics of Design. $3000.
1980. 8. Naval
Research Lab. PI. to investigate a mathematical
model for the suppression of the "tearing mode" instability in a
controlled thermonuclear plasma. $40,000. 1977 - 1978.
Service Activities:
Institute
1. Organizer of three major
public forums on Nuclear War at
NJIT
and the AAAS.
2. Organizer and Director
of the Experimental Mathematics and
Communications
Summer Program for inner city children from
3. Initiator and Director
of the Treisman Program at NJIT to
improve
retention at the undergraduate level - 1991.
4. Member of the Faculty
Council
5. Chairman of the NJIT Technology and Society
Forum committee. Since 2004-
present we have produced 24 Forums and
concerts with such notable speakers as Freeman
Cirincione, and Michael
Oppenheimer on such topics as stem cell research, global
warming,
nuclear non-proliferation, nanotechnology, sustainable development,
electronic
voting machines, peak oil,
Community
1.
Wrote and directed a program “The Musicians and Artists of
Terezin.” Performed at the
May 1999.
2. President of a local civic group dedicated
to sound
development
in
3. Organizer of a local
Chamber Music Workshop. 1991 -
present.
4. Member of the Village
Baroque Ensemble
5. Member of the Essex
County Voting Task Force helping
rational
selection of electronic voting machines to replace their lever machines..
Professional Activities
1. Mathematics Association
of
2. On
editorial board of the International Journal of
Biological Systems - a new interdisciplinary
journal
3. Guest editor of the special
issue on the Golden Mean of the journal FORMA Vol
19, No. 4 (2005)
Honors and Awards:
1. Selected for Who's Who
in Science and Technology. 1983,2006.
2. Program Recognition
Award of the New Jersey Department of
High
Education for an educational summer program. 1985.
3. Selected for Who's Who
in American Education. 1993, 2006.
4.
Selected for Who’s Who in America 2006
4.
Association of American Publishers award for the best book in Chemistry,
Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy Professional and Reference for 1991 for the
book Connections.
5.
Course
of 1996.
6. Excellence in Teaching Award 2001 -
2002
Personal Interests:
Violin, chamber music,
tennis, tai chi