Networks

The focus of this Pull-Out is on networks - specifically, airline networks and social networks. Analysis of networks relies on the mathematical field of graph theory. Activity 1 provides students with an introduction to graph theory. In Activity 2, students represent airline networks with graphs and matrices. They learn to use their matrix representations to determine how efficiently (number of stops between starting point and destination) a person could fly from one airport to another anywhere within the network. In Activity 3, students work with social networks. They learn a method of grouping people into clusters and one means of recommending a potential friend to a newcomer to the social network.