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What a Coincidence!


Last updated September 30, 2015

By News administrator

Fall 2015 High Noon Schedule

What are the odds of two people in a room of 23 having the same birthday?  You may say not likely, but the math says it’s better than 50 percent.  Add another 52 people to the equation and the odds rise to 99.9 percent.

Dr. John Harris

Dr. John Harris

Furman University math professor John Harris will explain why that is so and talk about other amazing coincidences that may not be so coincidental when he speaks at the university’s High Noon fall lecture series Wednesday, Oct. 7 at noon at the Upcountry History Museum-Furman.

The lecture, “What a Coincidence!,” is free and open to the public.

In addition to working with colleagues and students on research projects in graph theory and sports analytics, Dr. Harris has co-authored articles for the Huffington Post and helped create various sports ranking systems for ESPN the Magazine.  A graduate of Furman who holds master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Emory University, he joined the faculty in 2000.

Harris’ talk is the second of seven consecutive lectures presented by Furman professors during the fall. All lectures are free and begin at noon on Wednesdays.

The Upcountry History Museum/Furman is located at 540 Buncombe Street in downtown Greenville’s Heritage Green area.

For more information, contact Furman’s Marketing and Public Relations office at 864-294-3107 or vince.moore@furman.edu.

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Clinton Colmenares
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