Albion College Mathematics and Computer Science Colloquium

 Title: Adjusting Child Support Payments in Michigan Speaker: Michael A. Jones Asscoiate Editor Mathematical Reviews Ann Arbor, MI Abstract: Michigan uses an unusual formula in the calculation of child support payments. For divorced parents in Michigan, the base monetary support each parent is expected to contribute to raising their child is adjusted according to the number of (over)nights spent with the parents. Curiously, this adjustment is based on a rational polynomial function parameterized by $k$ that describes the amount of money that $A$ must pay $B$, where $B$ must pay $A$ if the result is negative. In the 2004 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual, $k = 2$, meaning the polynomials are quadratic; while $k=3$ (for cubic polynomials) in both the 2008 and 2013 editions. In this talk, we will brainstorm and collaborate in using calculus to examine this function, explain the effect of changing $k$, and point out an alternative form that stretches and translates a simpler function. This talk is based on joint work with Jennifer Wilson (New School University, New York). Location: Palenske 227 Date: 11/21/2013 Time: 3:30 PM

@abstract{MCS:Colloquium:MichaelAJones:2013:11:21,
author  = "{Michael A. Jones}",
title   = "{Adjusting Child Support Payments in Michigan}",
address = "{Albion College Mathematics and Computer Science Colloquium}",
month   = "{21 November}",
year    = "{2013}"
}