MTH214 Modeling of the Environment
Lead Faculty: Dr. Igor Ya Subbotin
A course offering a thorough and useful beginning-level understanding of mathematical modeling. Examines diverse applications from the physical, biological, business, social and computer sciences. Discusses the limitations, as well as the capabilities, of models applied in understanding the real world and its inhabitants.
- Enter data into the computer and plot equations. The student will also determine variable dependency and characterize data.
- Solve equations on the computer, substitute data points into equations, and manipulate the equations, and manipulate the equations on the screen.
- Understand the concept of a linear model on the computer to describe appropriate data.
- Formulate an appropriate linear model to describe carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, global warming and ocean level fluctuations.
- Formulate an appropriate quadratic model to describe carbon dioxide emissions from autos and power consumption in the U.S. or other appropriate problems.
- Understand the concept of a quadratic relationship and the difference to other models. The student will be able to develop a quadratic model on a computer to describe appropriate data.
- Understand the concepts of exponential and logarithmic relationships and their difference from other models.
- Summarize models to environmental or economic problems such as those connecting carbon dioxide emissions, people and money, models of the gross national product, population growth, and the efficiency of alternative energy sources developed.