Mathematical Models for Society and Biology

Mathematical Models for Society and Biology, 2e, is a useful resource for researchers, graduate students, and post-docs in the applied mathematics and life science fields. Mathematical modeling is one of the major subfields of mathematical biology. A mathematical model may be used to help explain a system, to study the effects of different components, and to make predictions about behavior.

Mathematical Models for Society and Biology, 2e, draws on current issues to engagingly relate how to use mathematics to gain insight into problems in biology and contemporary society. For this new edition, author Edward Beltrami uses mathematical models that are simple, transparent, and verifiable. Also new to this edition is an introduction to mathematical notions that every quantitative scientist in the biological and social sciences should know. Additionally, each chapter now includes a detailed discussion on how to formulate a reasonable model to gain insight into the specific question that has been introduced.

Offers 40% more content – 5 new chapters in addition to revisions to existing chapters Accessible for quick self study as well as a resource for courses in molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology and cell biology, medicine, ecology and evolution, bio-mathematics, and applied math in general Features expanded appendices with an extensive list of references, solutions to selected exercises in the book, and further discussion of various mathematical methods introduced in the book

PREFACE

1 Crabs and Criminals

2 It Isn’t Fair

3. While the City Burns

4. Clean Streets

5. A Bayesian Take on Colorectal Screening, Baseball, Fund Managers, and a Murder

6. What Are the Odds of That?

7 It’s Normal Not to Be Normal

8. Boom and Bust

9. Viral Outbreaks and Blood Clots

10. Red Tides and What Ever Happened to the Red Squirrel?

11. Spatial Patterns: The Cat’s Tail and Spreading Slime

12. The Coil of Life

Afterthoughts on Modeling

Appendix A: The Normal Density

Appendix B: Poisson Events

Appendix C: Nonlinear Equations and Oscillations

Appendix D: Conditional Expectation