BENTON TOWNSHIP — Lake Michigan College will present “Do Dogs Know Calculus?” at its Napier Avenue campus on March 25, from 1 to 2:20 p.m.

A standard calculus problem might be to find the quickest path from a point on shore to a point in a lake, given that running speed is greater than swimming speed. Elvis, a Welsh Corgi, never had a calculus course, but when he and his owner played fetch at Lake Michigan, the dog appeared to choose paths close to the calculus answer.

Math professor, Dr. Tim Pennings (and Elvis’s dad) will present calculus in an entertaining and educational way during this Math Colloquium at Lake Michigan College. He will show students how to form a mathematical model and reveal what was found when he experimentally tested Elvis’s ability.

The colloquium is free and open to the public. High school students interested in mathematics or related fields, or anyone with a good grasp of high school-level algebra will enjoy watching Pennings bring math to life.

Pennings earned his PhD at Iowa State University. He taught at Hope College for 25 years, and now serves as chair of the Department of Mathematics at Davenport University. He led undergraduate research for 25 years concentrating on mathematical modeling. His research with Elvis the Welsh corgi includes “Do Dogs know Calculus?” “Do Dogs know Bifurcations?” and the recent paper, “Elvis Lives: Mathematical Surprises inspired by Elvis the Welsh Corgi.”

“Do Dogs Know Calculus” will be held in the Brown Lecture Hall Room at Lake Michigan College on 2755 E. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor. Call (269) 927-8626 for more information.