Mathematical Models for Society and Biology

by Edward Beltrami

Overview

Mathematical Modeling for Society and Biology engagingly relates mathematics to compelling real-life problems in biology and contemporary society. It shows how mathematical tools can be used to gain insight into these modern, common problems to provide effective, real solutions. Beltrami's creative, non-threatening approach draws on a wealth of interesting examples pertaining to current social and biological issues. Central ideas appear again in different contexts throughout the book, showing the general unity of the modeling process. The models are strikingly novel and based on issues of real concern. Most have never appeared in book form. Through the relevance of these models mathematics becomes not just figures and numbers, but a means to a more refined understanding of the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780120855612
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	12/27/2001
Pages:	199
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

PREFACE; CRABS AND CRIMINALS; IT ISN'T FAIR: MUNICIPAL WORKERS, CONGRESSIONAL SEATS, AND THE TALMUD; WHILE THE CITY BURNS; CLEAN STREETS; THE COIL OF LIFE; MEASLES AND BLOOD CLOTS; SARDINES AND ALGAE BLOOMS; RED TIDES AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE RED SQUIRREL?; SUBMARINES AND TRAWLERS; AFTERTHOUGHTS ON MODELING; APPENDIX; CONDITIONAL PROBABILITY; REFERENCES; SOLUTIONS TO SELECT EXERCISES; INDEX

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

An essential reference on how to use mathematical models to gain insight into compelling problems in biology and contemporary society

Editorial Reviews

Reviews

"One has here a wealth of interesting applications — selected to motivate the large group of readers outside engineering and the physical sciences who can benefit from mathematical modeling but are seldom shown how it can be useful for their own areas."
- Thomas Seidman, University of Maryland

"This is a delightful collection of essays that take the reader from the specific application to the more general mathematical methods...I enjoyed reading the author's style that draws the reader into the subject and motivates the mathematical methods that follow."
- Daniel Zelterman, Yale University

"This is one of the best texts I have seen for undergraduate modeling courses. It is less formal and much more engaged than most in real questions from the very start. Yet the material is accessible and does not require an excessive amount of background."
-Bruce N. Lundberg, University of Southern Colorado

From the Publisher

A text for the upper-level undergraduate modeling course that draws on social and biological problems to illuminate mathematics. The volume's nine chapters include such themes as crabs and criminals; municipal workers, congressional seats, and the Talmud; measles and blood clots; sardines and algae bloom; and submarines and trawlers. An appendix addresses conditional probability. Includes solutions to select exercises. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)