Mathematical Modelling Techniques

"Engaging, elegantly written." — Applied Mathematical Modelling. A distinguished theoretical chemist and engineer discusses the types of models — finite, statistical, stochastic, and more — as well as how to formulate and manipulate them for best results. Filled with numerous examples, the book includes three appendices offering further examples treated in more detail.

Employing a practical, "learn by doing" approach, this first-rate text fosters the development of the skills beyond the pure mathematics needed to set up and manipulate mathematical models. The author draws on a diversity of fields — including science, engineering, and operations research — to provide over 100 reality-based examples. Students learn from the examples by applying mathematical methods to formulate, analyze, and criticize models. Extensive documentation, consisting of over 150 references, supplements the models, encouraging further research on models of particular interest. The lively and accessible text requires only minimal scientific background. Designed for senior college or beginning graduate-level students, it assumes only elementary calculus and basic probability theory for the first part, and ordinary differential equations and continuous probability for the second section. All problems require students to study and create models, encouraging their active participation rather than a mechanical approach. Beyond the classroom, this volume will prove interesting and rewarding to anyone concerned with the development of mathematical models or the application of modeling to problem solving in a wide array of applications.

"Engaging, elegantly written." — Applied Mathematical Modelling Mathematical modelling is a highly useful methodology designed to enable mathematicians, physicists and other scientists to formulate equations from a given nonmathematical situation. In this elegantly written volume, a distinguished theoretical chemist and engineer sets down helpful rules not only for setting up models but also for solving the mathematical problems they pose and for evaluating models. The author begins with a discussion of the term "model," followed by clearly presented examples of the different types of models (finite, statistical, stochastic, etc.). He then goes on to discuss the formulation of a model and how to manipulate it into its most responsive form. Along the way Dr. Aris develops a delightful list of useful maxims for would-be modellers. In the final chapter he deals not only with the empirical validation of models but also with the comparison of models among themselves, as well as with the extension of a model beyond its original "domain of validity." Filled with numerous examples, this book includes three appendices offering further examples treated in more detail. These concern longitudinal diffusion in a packed bed, the coated tube chromatograph with Taylor diffusion and the stirred tank reactor. Six journal articles, a useful list of references and subject and name indexes complete this indispensable, well-written guide. "A most useful, readable-and stimulating-book, to be read both for pleasure and for enlightenment." — Bulletin of the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications

This book provides basic tools for learning how to model in mathematical programming, from models without much complexity to complex system models. It presents a unique methodology for the building of an integral mathematical model, as well as new techniques that help build under own criteria. It allows readers to structure models from the elements and variables to the constraints, a basic modelling guide for any system with a new scheme of variables, a classification of constraints and also a set of rules to model specifications stated as logical propositions, helping to better understand models already existing in the literature. It also presents the modelling of all possible objectives that may arise in optimization problems regarding the variables values. The book is structured to guide the reader in an orderly manner, learning of the components that the methodology establishes in an optimization problem. The system includes the elements, which are all the actors that participate in the system, decision activities that occur in the system, calculations based on the decision activities, specifications such as regulations, impositions or actions of defined value and objective criterion, which guides the resolution of the system.

This book presents mathematical modelling and the integrated process of formulating sets of equations to describe real-world problems. It describes methods for obtaining solutions of challenging differential equations stemming from problems in areas such as chemical reactions, population dynamics, mechanical systems, and fluid mechanics. Chapters 1 to 4 cover essential topics in ordinary differential equations, transport equations and the calculus of variations that are important for formulating models. Chapters 5 to 11 then develop more advanced techniques including similarity solutions, matched asymptotic expansions, multiple scale analysis, long-wave models, and fast/slow dynamical systems. Methods of Mathematical Modelling will be useful for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students in applied mathematics, engineering and other applied sciences.

Assuming virtually no prior knowledge, Modular Mathematics encourages the reader to develop and solve real models, as well as looking at traditional examples. Accessible and concise, it contains tutorial problems, case studies and exercises.

Appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students, this text features independent sections that illustrate the most important principles of mathematical modeling, a variety of applications, and classic models. Students with a solid background in calculus and some knowledge of probability and matrix theory will find the material entirely accessible. The range of subjects includes topics from the physical, biological, and social sciences, as well as those of operations research. Discussions cover related mathematical tools and the historical eras from which the applications are drawn. Each section is preceded by an abstract and statement of prerequisites, and answers or hints are provided for selected exercises. 1984 edition.

Over the past decade there has been an increasing demand for suitable material in the area of mathematical modelling as applied to science, engineering, business and management. Recent developments in computer technology and related software have provided the necessary tools of increasing power and sophistication which have significant implications for the use and role of mathematical modelling in the above disciplines. In the past, traditional methods have relied heavily on expensive experimentation and the building of scaled models, but now a more flexible and cost effective approach is available through greater use of mathematical modelling and computer simulation. In particular, developments in computer algebra, symbolic manipulation packages and user friendly software packages for large scale problems, all have important implications in both the teaching of mathematical modelling and, more importantly, its use in the solution of real world problems. Many textbooks have been published which cover the art and techniques of modelling as well as specific mathematical modelling techniques in specialist areas within science and business. In most of these books the mathematical material tends to be rather tailor made to fit in with a one or two semester course for teaching students at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, usually the former. This textbook is quite different in that it is intended to build on and enhance students’ modelling skills using a combination of case studies and projects.

An important resource that provides an overview of mathematical modelling Mathematical Modelling offers a comprehensive guide to both analytical and computational aspects of mathematical modelling that encompasses a wide range of subjects. The authors provide an overview of the basic concepts of mathematical modelling and review the relevant topics from differential equations and linear algebra. The text explores the various types of mathematical models, and includes a range of examples that help to describe a variety of techniques from dynamical systems theory. The book’s analytical techniques examine compartmental modelling, stability, bifurcation, discretization, and fixed-point analysis. The theoretical analyses involve systems of ordinary differential equations for deterministic models. The text also contains information on concepts of probability and random variables as the requirements of stochastic processes. In addition, the authors describe algorithms for computer simulation of both deterministic and stochastic models, and review a number of well-known models that illustrate their application in different fields of study. This important resource: Includes a broad spectrum of models that fall under deterministic and stochastic classes and discusses them in both continuous and discrete forms Demonstrates the wide spectrum of problems that can be addressed through mathematical modelling based on fundamental tools and techniques in applied mathematics and statistics Contains an appendix that reveals the overall approach that can be taken to solve exercises in different chapters Offers many exercises to help better understand the modelling process Written for graduate students in applied mathematics, instructors, and professionals using mathematical modelling for research and training purposes, Mathematical Modelling: A Graduate Textbook covers a broad range of analytical and computational aspects of mathematical modelling.

A basic introduction to Mathematical Modelling, this book encourages the reader to participate in the investigation of a wide variety of modelling examples. These are carefully paced so that the readers can identify and develop the skills which are required for successful modelling. The examples also promote an appreciation of the enormous range of problems to which mathematical modelling skills can be usefully applied.