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Math 450 • Seminar: AI Tools • Research Starters

Library resources and information for Dr. Swain's MATH 450 Seminar

What is ChatGPT?

"ChatGPT says its primary purpose “is to generate human-like text, which can be used for a variety of applications, such as chatbots, automated content creation, and language translation” - OpenAI ChatGPT



screen shot chat gpt prompt

ChatGPT Screen Grab, Perfect Numbers, 1/12/24


Options for Use

ChatGPT is a tool that may be carefully used as a starting point for research prompts and information.  It has been compared to Wikipedia; it should not be taken as an authoritative source on any subject and results will change on a daily basis.

Keep in mind there have been many instances reported of ChatGPT simply making up facts and citations when it does not know the answer to a query.


Academic Integrity & ChatGPT

Use of ChatGPT is covered in Ashland University's academic integrity policy. Submitting content generated by ChatGPT as your own is a form of plagiarism.

References

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT 3.5 [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com

Using ChatGPT

ChatGPT Prompts • Perfect Numbers

View the chat transcript here: Perfect Numbers Research

The following questions were posed to ChatGPT:

  • How would I identify and research perfect numbers?
  • Describe the steps needed to begin research on the subject of perfect numbers.
  • Explore recent research on perfect numbers and how it might be applied for everyday use
  • Identify the research resources, journals, articles, books, used for the response. 

What do you think?

How did the change in question prompts affect generated results? From a research standpoint, what purpose to the many caveats posed by ChatGPT serve? Can the information be identified as authoritative?

Final Prompt • Excerpt with Caveats

I must clarify that my responses are generated based on a vast dataset that includes information up to January 2022. Therefore, I do not have the capability to browse the internet or access specific external sources such as recent articles, journals, or books. However, I can provide you with general information on reputable resources, journals, and publications commonly associated with mathematical research on perfect numbers:

Research Resources and Journals:

  1. Journal of Number Theory: A peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes research articles, papers, and reviews related to number theory, including perfect numbers, prime numbers, and related topics.
  2. Mathematics of Computation: A journal focusing on computational mathematics, algorithms, and numerical methods used in researching perfect numbers, Mersenne primes, and related mathematical concepts.
  3. ArXiv.org: A preprint repository where mathematicians, researchers, and scholars upload research papers, articles, and publications related to perfect numbers, number theory, and mathematical sciences.
  4. Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS): A comprehensive online database containing sequences, patterns, and properties related to integers, including perfect numbers, Mersenne primes, and mathematical sequences.

Please note that the aforementioned resources, journals, books, and publications serve as examples based on existing knowledge and general references related to perfect numbers and number theory. For recent research articles, publications, or specific resources, I recommend consulting academic databases, mathematical journals, libraries, or online repositories for up-to-date information and scholarly contributions on perfect numbers. - ChatGPT Prompt & Response, 1/12/14

 

 

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