MATH 411 Section # 59188 - FALL 1996 MATHEMATICAL MODELING Time: 1:25 - 2:15 Monday, Wednesday and Friday Place: Ayres Hall 309B Instructor: Lou Gross, Professor of Mathematics and Ecology Office: 208 Ayres Hall. Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11-1 and by appointment, or whenever door is open. Phone: 974-4295, E-mail: gross@math.utk.edu, Home Page http://www.math.utk.edu/~gross/, Course Home Page http://www.math.utk.edu/~gross/411.html/ Course Text: A Concrete Approach to Mathematical Modeling By Michael Mesterton-Gibbons, Wiley, 1995. Course Goals: 1. Provide an introduction to the great diversity of applications of mathematics to fields outside of math. 2. Provide experience in preparing and giving a cohesive oral presentation on a mathematical topic. 3. Provide experience in researching the modern references in a scientific/engineering field and evaluating this research. 4. Enhance students' technical writing experience. 5. Provide experience in working as a team to analyze and solve a real-world problem requiring mathematical approaches. 6. Provide experience with a number of techniques which have been found to be useful in a variety of application areas. Course Structure: Before proceeding with material in the text, I will give an overview of the diverse fields in which modern mathematics is employed, including the physical, biological and social sciences, business and industry. This will be followed by a formal study of the modeling process. We will then proceed through much of the text at a rapid pace, emphasizing certain models and covering much of the first nine chapters. This will include detailed examples of mathematical models in a variety of fields. A few class meetings will be held in workshop mode - the class will work together to develop a math model for a particular situation. There will be a class project dealing with a real-world application, that all students will be expected to participate in as part of a team. The instructor will act as the team leader for this project, with students assigned particular tasks based upon their interests and expertise. Each student will be expected as well to carry out an individual project, analyzing, developing and/or modifying a model or set of models in an area of particular interest to them. Students Responsibilities: 1. For the homework assignments: Hand in any written assignments on time, written in a clear, concise form. These may be done using a technical word-processor, or handwritten. 2. For the class project: Carry out your part of the project according to the workplan agreed upon by the class, but continuing to consult with other class members as necessary for the whole team to successfully complete the project. 3. For the final project: (a) Pick a problem from one of the topics mentioned in class or according to your particular interests, in consultation with the instructor. (b) Research the literature in the chosen area to learn how the problem chosen has been approached mathematically. Give a brief 5 minute presentation to the class at mid-semester on the math models used on the problem. (c) Work on a particular model or group of models on the chosen topic until you convince yourself that you understand what's been done. (d) Demonstrate your understanding of the topic by (i) Explaining the work in detail in a formal presentation to the class near the end of the semester, utilizing audio-visual devices and handouts as necessary. (ii) Submitting a clearly written, well organized paper covering the problem. This should be written as a technical manuscript, including references to work done, an explanation of this work, and your evaluation of its quality and what areas remain to be investigated. The length of the paper should be about 15-20 double-spaced pages, excluding references and figures. Course Grading: The course grade will be heavily based upon the individual projects with the oral reports and the final written report together counting for 60% of the course grade. The homework assignments and class project will each account for 20% of the course grade. Note: This course satisfies a Capstone Experience requirement for the Arts and Sciences B.S. degree and is designated as a writing intensive course.