Mathematical Modeling in the Social and Life Sciences

Preface

The goal of this book is to encourage the teaching and learning of mathematical model building relatively early in the undergraduate program. The text introduces the student to a number of important mathematical topics and to a variety of models in the social sciences, life sciences, and humanities. Students with some mathematical maturity and a strong secondary school background will find many chapters quite accessible. A standard first year calculus course is sufficient background for the remaining chapters. While many of the models use differential equations or some elementary linear algebra, no previous experience with these topics is assumed. The text material will help students gain the necessary knowledge. Appendices on sets, matrices, systems of linear equations, and functions of two variables provide additional background material.

Particular problems in political science, ecology, biology, evolution, medicine, psychology, sociology, economics, finance, anthropology, criminal justice, epidemiology, philosophy, religion, opera, and hospital planning provide the motivation for the development of tools and techniques employed throughout applied mathematics. These include

Differential Equations	Discrete Dynamical Systems,
Axiomatics	Probability Theory
Regular Markov Chains	Absorbing Markov Chain
Matrix Algebra	Least Squares Fitting Of Data
Simulation	Theory Of Games

The curricula in many social science and life science disciplines are becoming increasingly ...