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BL5229 Intro

This document provides an overview of mathematical modeling. It discusses how modeling has evolved from primarily relying on reasoning and passive observation to utilizing computer simulations and massive data analysis. The document outlines the typical steps in mathematical modeling: defining the problem, simplifying it, representing it mathematically, translating it to a computational model, simulating it to obtain results, and interpreting those results by comparing them to the real world problem. It also provides a brief syllabus on topics to be covered, including Matlab tools, data analysis, modeling, clustering, Fourier analysis and simulations.

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32 views

BL5229 Intro

This document provides an overview of mathematical modeling. It discusses how modeling has evolved from primarily relying on reasoning and passive observation to utilizing computer simulations and massive data analysis. The document outlines the typical steps in mathematical modeling: defining the problem, simplifying it, representing it mathematically, translating it to a computational model, simulating it to obtain results, and interpreting those results by comparing them to the real world problem. It also provides a brief syllabus on topics to be covered, including Matlab tools, data analysis, modeling, clustering, Fourier analysis and simulations.

Uploaded by

esm2000
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mathematical Modeling:

Intro
Patrice Koehl
Department of Biological Sciences
National University of Singapore

http://www.cs.ucdavis.edu/~koehl/Teaching/BL5229
[email protected]
Science, then, and now…

At the beginning,
there were
thoughts,
and
observation….
Science, then, and now…
• For a long time, people thought
that it would be enough to reason
about the existing knowledge to
explore everything there is to
know.

• One single person could possess


all knowledge in her cultural
context.
(encyclopedia of Diderot and
D’Alembert)

• Reasoning, and mostly passive


observation were the main
techniques in scientific research
Science, then, and now…
Science, then, and now…

• Today’s experiment yields


massive amounts of data

• From hypothesis-driven to
exploratory data analysis:
- data are used to formulate
new hypotheses
- computers help formulate
hypotheses

• No single person, no group has an


overview of what is known
Science, then, and now…
Science, then, and now…
Computer simulations developed hand-in-hand with
the rapid growth of computers.

A computer simulation is a computer program that


attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular
system

Computer simulations complement theory and


experiments, and often integrate them

They are becoming widesepread in: Computational


Physics, Chemistry, Mechanics, Materials, …, Biology
Science, then, and now…
Mathematical Modeling

 Is often used in place of experiments when


they are too large, too expensive, too
dangerous, or too time consuming.

 Can be useful in “what if” studies; e.g. to


investigate the use of pathogens (viruses,
bacteria) to control an insect population.

 Is a modern tool for scientific investigation.


Mathematical Modeling
Mathematical Modeling

Define real world problem: Real World

- Perform background research

- Perform experiments,
if appropriate

Task: Understand current activity and predict future behavior


Mathematical Modeling

)Simplification: define model

Simplified
Identify and select factors to Model
describe important aspects of
the Real World Problem;

determine those factors


that can be neglected.
Mathematical Modeling

2) Represent: mathematical model

 Express the simplified model


in mathematical terms
Mathematical
Model
 the success of a
mathematical model depends
on how easy it is to use and
how accurately it predicts
Mathematical Modeling

3) Translate: computational model

 Change Mathematical
Model into a form suitable
for computational solution Computatonal
Model

 Choice of the numerical method

 Choice of the algorithm

 Choice of the software (Matlab)


Mathematical Modeling

4) Simulate: Results

 Run Computational Model Results

to obtain Results;
draw Conclusions.

 Graphs, charts, and other visualization


tools are useful in summarizing results
and drawing conclusions.
Mathematical Modeling

5) Interpret

 Compare conclusions with


behavior of the real world
problem

 If disagreement, modify Simplified


Model and/or Mathematical model
Syllabus

 Introduction to Matlab

 The tools of the trade

 Data analysis

 Data modeling

 Clustering

 Fourier analysis

 Simulations (Monte Carlo)


References

Cleve Moler, Numerical Computing with MATLAB, 2004.

(http://www.mathworks.com/moler)

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