Mathematical Modelling

Content:
1) Introduction
2) Types of Mathematical Modelling
3) Preliminaries
4)What is Mathematical Modelling
* Understanding the problem
*Mathematical Description
*Interpretation
* Finding the Solution
5)Formula’s of Mathematical Modelling
6) Principle of Mathematical Modelling
7) Example Sum’s of Mathematical Modelling
*Example 1
* Example 2
*Example 3
*Example 4
*Example 5
*Example 6
*Example 7
*Example 8
*Example 9
*Example 10

Introduction
Mathematical modelling is becoming an increasingly important subject as
computers expand our ability to translate mathematical equations and
formulations into concrete conclusions concerning the world, both natural and
artificial, that we live in.

Preliminaries
Mathematical modelling is an essential tool for understanding the world. In
olden days the Chinese, Egyptians, Indians, Babylonians and Greeks indulged in
understanding and predicting the natural phenomena through their knowledge
of mathematics. The architects, artisans and craftsmen based many of their
works of art on geometric principles. Suppose a surveyor wants to measure the
height of a tower. It is physically very difficult to measure the height using the
measuring tape. So, the other option is to find
out the factors that are useful to find the height. From his knowledge of
trigonometry, he knows that if he has an angle of elevation and the distance of
the foot of the tower
to the point where he is standing, then he can calculate the height of the tower.
So, his job is now simplified to find the angle of elevation to the top of the tower
and the distance from the foot of the tower to the point where he is standing.
Both of which are easily measurable. Thus, if he measures the angle of elevation
as 40° and the distance as 450m, then the problem can be solved as given in
Example 1.

Example Sum of Preliminaries

1) The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from a point O on the
ground, which is 450 m away from the foot of the tower, is 40°. Find the
height of the tower.
Solution:
AB = h
tanθ= Opposite/Adjacent = AB/BO
 tan40 = h/450
0.839 = h/450
h = 450 × 0.839
h = 378m
The height of the tower is 378m

What is Mathematical Modelling

To apply mathematics to the real world, mathematicians must work with
scientists and engineers, to turn real life problems into mathematics, and then
to solve the resulting equations. We call this process mathematical modelling.
This article will explain the basic ideas behind mathematical modelling, and will
try to describe its power and its limitations.

Understanding the problem

This involves, for example, understanding the process involved in the
motion of simple pendulum. All of us are familiar with the simple
pendulum. This pendulum is simply a mass (known as bob) attached to
one end of a string whose other end is fixed at a point. We have studied
that the motion of the simple pendulum is periodic. The period depends
upon the length of the string and acceleration due to gravity. So, what we
need to find is the period of oscillation.

Interpretation
This involves finding an equation, inequality or a geometric figure using the
parameters already identified .In the case of simple pendulum, experiments
were conducted in which the values of period T were measured for different
values of l. These values were plotted on a graph which resulted in a curve that
resembled a parabola. It implies that the relation
between T and l could be expressed
T2=kl..(1)
It was found that k=4π2/g This gives of the problem.
T=2π√ l/g …(2)
Equation (2) gives the mathematical formulation of the problem.

Finding the Solution

The mathematical formulation rarely gives the answer directly. Usually we have
to do some operation which involves solving an equation, calculation or
applying a theorem etc. In the case of simple pendulums the solution involves
applying the formula given in Equation (2)
l 225 cm 275cm
T 3.04 sec 3.36sec
Table 1
The table shows that for l=225cm,T=3.04sec and l=275cm ,T=3.36sec

What are the advantages of mathematical

Modelling :
a. Models exactly represent the real problem situations.
b. Models help managers to take decisions faster and more accurately.
c. They typically offer convenience and cost advantages over other means
of obtaining the required information on reality.
d. Large and complex problems can be solved with ease.
e. Models act as communicators to others by providing information and
impact in changing condition.

Modelling with Simulations

Many problems may afford a mathematical formulation yet be
analytically intractable. In these situations a computer can implement
the mathematics literally and repetitively often times to extreme
advantage.

Interpretation
A mathematical model is an attempt to study, the essential
characteristic of a real life problem. Many times model equations are
obtained by assuming the situation in an idealised context. The model
will be useful only if it explains all the facts that we would
like it to explain. Otherwise, we will reject it, or else, improve it, then
test it again. In other words, we measure the effectiveness of the model
by comparing the results obtained from the mathematical model, with
the known facts about the real problem. This process is called validation
of the model. In the case of simple
pendulum, we conduct some experiments on the pendulum and find out
period of oscillation. The results of the experiment are given in Table 2.

Mass (gms) Length(cms) Time(secs)

385 275 3.371
225 3.056
230 275 3.352
225 3.042

Now, we compare the measured values in Table 2 with the calculated

values given in Table 1.
The difference in the observed values and calculated values gives the
error. For example, for l = 275 cm, and mass m = 385 gm, error = 3.371 –
3.36 = 0.011
which is small and the model is accepted.
Once we accept the model, we have to interpret the model. The process
of describing the solution in the context of the real situation is called
interpretation
of the model. In this case, we can interpret the solution in the following
way:
(a) The period is directly proportional to the square root of the length of
the
pendulum.
b) It is inversely proportional to the square root of the acceleration due
to gravity.
 Our validation and interpretation of this model shows that the
mathematical model is in good agreement with the practical (or
observed) values. But we found that there is some error in the
calculated result and measured result. This is because we have
neglected the mass of the string and resistance of the medium. So, in
such situation we look for a better model and this process continues.
This leads us to an important observation. The real world is far too
complex to understand and describe completely. We just pick one or
two main factors to be completely accurate that may influence the
situation. Then try to obtain a simplified model which gives some
information about the situation. We study the simple situation
with this model expecting that we can obtain a better model of the
situation.

Examples of Mathematical Modelling:

 One of the popular examples in computer science is the mathematical
models of various machines, an example is the deterministic finite
automaton (DFA) which is defined as an abstract mathematical
concept, but due to the deterministic nature of a DFA, it is
implementable in hardware and software for solving various specific
problems. For example, the following is a DFA M with a binary
alphabet, which requires that the input contains an even number of 0s:

The state diagram for M
M = (Q, Σ, δ, q0, F) where

 Q = {S1, S2},
 Σ = {0, 1},
 q0 = S1,
 F = {S1}, and
 δ is defined by the following state transition table:
  0 1
S1 S2 S1
S2 S1 S2
The state S1 represents that there has been an even number of 0s in the
input so far, while S2 signifies an odd number. A 1 in the input does not
change the state of the automaton. When the input ends, the state will
show whether the input contained an even number of 0s or not. If the
input did contain an even number of 0s, M will finish in state S1, an
accepting state, so the input string will be accepted.
The language recognized by M is the regular language given by the regular
expression 1*( 0 (1*) 0 (1*) )*, where "*" is the Kleene star, e.g., 1*
denotes any non-negative number (possibly zero) of symbols "1".

 Many everyday activities carried out without a thought are

uses of mathematical models. A geographical map
projection of a region of the earth onto a small, plane
surface is a model which can be used for many purposes
such as planning travel.[10]
 Another simple activity is predicting the position of a
vehicle from its initial position, direction and speed of
travel, using the equation that distance traveled is the
product of time and speed. This is known as dead
reckoning when used more formally. Mathematical
modelling in this way does not necessarily require formal
mathematics; animals have been shown to use dead
reckoning.[11][12]
 Population Growth. A simple (though approximate) model
of population growth is the Malthusian growth model. A
slightly more realistic and largely used population growth
model is the logistic function, and its extensions.
 Model of a particle in a potential-field. In this model we
consider a particle as being a point of mass which describes
a trajectory in space which is modeled by a function giving
its coordinates in space as a function of time. The potential
field is given by a function  and the trajectory, that is a
function , is the solution of the differential equation:
that c2an be written also as:
Note this model assumes the particle is a point mass, which is certainly known
to be false in many cases in which we use this model; for example, as a model of
planetary motion.

 Model of rational behavior for a consumer. In

this model we assume a consumer faces a
choice of n commodities labeled 1,2,...,n each
with a market price p1, p2,..., pn. The consumer is
assumed to have an ordinal
utility function U (ordinal in the sense that only
the sign of the differences between two
utilities, and not the level of each utility, is
meaningful), depending on the amounts of
commodities x1, x2,..., xn consumed. The model
further assumes that the consumer has a
budget M which is used to purchase a
vector x1, x2,..., xn in such a way as to
maximize U(x1, x2,..., xn). The problem of rational
behaviour in this model then becomes
a mathematical optimization problem, that is:
This model has been used in a wide variety of economic contexts, such as
in general equilibrium theory to show existence and Pareto efficiency of
economic equilibria.

 In computer science, mathematical

models may be used to simulate
computer networks.

Applications of mathematical modelling

A mathematical model usually describes a system by a set of variables
and a set of equations that establish relationships between the
variables. Variables may be of many types; real or integer numbers,
Boolean values or strings, for example. The variables represent some
properties of the system, for example, the measured system outputs
often in the form of signals, timing data, counters, and event occurrence
. The actual model is the set of functions that describe the relations
between the different variables.
 Principles of Mathematical Modelling
Mathematical modelling is a principled activity and so it has
some principles behind it.
These principles are almost philosophical in nature. Some of the
basic principles of
mathematical modelling are listed below in terms of
instructions:
(i) Identify the need for the model. (for what we are looking for)
(ii) List the parameters/variables which are required for the
model.
(iii) Identify the available relevant data. (what is given?)
(iv) Identify the circumstances that can be applied (assumptions)
(v) Identify the governing physical principles.
(vi) Identify
(a) the equations that will be used.
(b) the calculations that will be made.
(c) the solution which will follow.

Elements of a mathematical modelling

Mathematical models can take many forms, including dynamical
systems, statistical models, differential equations, or game theoretic models.
These and other types of models can overlap, with a given model involving a
variety of abstract structures. In general, mathematical models may
include logical models. In many cases, the quality of a scientific field depends
on how well the mathematical models developed on the theoretical side agree
with results of repeatable experiments. Lack of agreement between theoretical
mathematical models and experimental measurements often leads to
important advances as better theories are developed.
 Example sums of Mathematical Modelling
1) A farm house uses atleast 800 kg of special food daily. The special food
Is a mixture of corn and soyabean with the following compositions ?
Materials Nutrients Nutrients Cost per kg;
present per present per
kg protein kg protein
sCorn .09 .02 Rs 10
Soyabean .60 .06 Rs 20