No label defined (Q4040370)

The object of this book, according to the preface is to introduce students to mathematical modelling and the possible applications of mathematics to science, technology and other fields. It commences with a preliminary chapter which discusses the ideas which lie behind modelling, and gives 36 characteristics which need to be considered in the modelling process. The plan is to consider a variety of problems, divided up according to the different kinds of mathematical model representing them, such as Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations, Difference Equations, Graphs, Functional and Integral Equations and Optimisation. The problems come from a variety of fields, for example various branches of Physics, Mathematical Biology, Economics, Management Studies, Tomography, Portfolio Selection. In some ways, this book is disappointing. In general, the mathematical model is merely stated, and a solution given to the mathematical model. There is hardly any derivation of mathematical models by simplification and idealisation of the actual problems. A large number of the exercises at the ends of the chapters are entirely mathematical and some of the problems, particularly in mechanics are rather well known. In some cases, it is by no means obvious how the solution is derived and in others insufficient boundary/initial conditions are provided for the mathematical problem to be well posed. There are references to Arrow's Impossibility Theorem without any formulation of explanation of its nature and in addition there are a number of misprints. Nevertheless, this is an interesting book. The first chapter provides a philosophical basis from which models can be derived, and it is refreshing to see a book of this type which involves fields of mathematics which do not involve calculus, and in the section on difference equations there is a mention of chaos. It gives a lively account of how mathematics can be applied in a number of fields, and as supplementary reading will widen students horizons considerably.