A Concrete Approach to Mathematical Modelling

by Mesterton-Gibbons, Mike

• ISBN13: 9780470171073
• ISBN10: 0470171073
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-05-18
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience

Summary

WILEY-INTERSCIENCE PAPERBACK SERIESThe Wiley-Interscience Paperback Series consists of selected books that have been made more accessible to consumers in an effort to increase global appeal and general circulation. With these new unabridged softcover volumes, Wiley hopes to extend the lives of these works by making them available to future generations of statisticians, mathematicians, and scientists." . . . [a] treasure house of material for students and teachers alike . . . can be dipped into regularly for inspiration and ideas. It deserves to become a classic." -London Times Higher Education Supplement"The author succeeds in his goal of serving the needs of the undergraduate population who want to see mathematics in action, and the mathematics used is extensive and provoking." -SIAM Review"Each chapter discusses a wealth of examples ranging from old standards . . . to novelty . . . each model is developed critically, analyzed critically, and assessed critically." -Mathematical ReviewsA Concrete Approach to Mathematical Modelling provides in-depth and systematic coverage of the art and science of mathematical modelling. Dr. Mesterton-Gibbons shows how the modelling process works and includes fascinating examples from virtually every realm of human, machine, natural, and cosmic activity. Various models are found throughout the book, including how to determine how fast cars drive through a tunnel, how many workers industry should employ, the length of a supermarket checkout line, and more. With detailed explanations, exercises, and examples demonstrating real-life applications in diverse fields, this book is the ultimate guide for students and professionals in the social sciences, life sciences, engineering, statistics, economics, politics, business and management sciences, and every other discipline in which mathematical modelling plays a role.

Author Biography

Mike Mesterton-Gibbons, PhD, is Professor of Mathematics at Florida State University.

Table of Contents

The Deterministic View

Growth and Decay: Dynamical Systems

Equilibrium

Optimal Control and Utility

Validating A Model

Validation: Accept, Improve, or Reject

The Probabilistic View

Birth and Death: Probabilistic Dynamics

Stationary Distributions

Optimal Decision and Reward

The Art of Application

Using a Model: Choice and Estimation

Building a Model: Adapting, Extending, and Combining

Toward More Advanced Models

Further Dynamical Systems

Further Flow and Diffusion

Further Optimization

Epilogue

Appendices

Solutions to Selected Exercises

References

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.