Basic Concepts

Hassan Rana

HSR 1
HSR 2
 Models & Modeling

HSR 3
Models • Model is a representation of a situation or a problem

• Modeling is a strategy to represent the important

structures of problems so they can more easily be
explored and solved

HSR 4
 Model Types

HSR 5
Model Types • Architects make a physical model of a building
that they will construct

HSR 6
Model Types • Engineers develop scale models of chemical
plants called pilot plants

HSR 7
Model Types • A schematic model is a picture, drawing, or
chart of reality

HSR 8
Model Types • Mathematical model is a set of mathematical
relationships, expressed in equations and
inequalities

HSR 9
 Mathematical Model

HSR 10
Mathematical Model • Models describe our beliefs about how the
world functions
• In mathematical modelling, we translate those
beliefs into the language of mathematics

HSR 11
Mathematical Model • Often used in place of experiments when
experiments are too large, too expensive, too
dangerous, or too time consuming

HSR 12
Mathematical Model • Useful in “what if” studies; e.g. to investigate
the use of pathogens (viruses, bacteria) to
control an insect population
• A modern tool for scientific investigation

HSR 13
Types • When studying models, it is helpful to identify
broad categories of models
• Classification of individual models into these
categories tells us immediately some of the
essentials of their structure
• One division between models is based on the
type of outcome they predict
• Deterministic models ignore random
variation, and so always predict the same
outcome from a given starting point
• Stochastic model may be more statistical in
nature and so may predict the distribution
of possible outcomes
HSR 14
Types • Second method of distinguishing between
types of models is to consider the level of
understanding on which the model is based
• Mechanistic models uses a large amount of
theoretical information generally describes
what happens at one level in the hierarchy
by considering processes at lower levels
because they take account of the
mechanisms through which changes occur.
• Empirical models merely note occurrence
of a change and tries to account the
quantitative changes associated with
different conditions

HSR 15
Building Models • Identify the problem, define the terms in your
problem, and draw diagrams where appropriate
• Begin with a simple model, stating the
assumptions and constraints that define various
aspects of the phenomenon under study
• Identify important variables & constants and
determine how they relate to each other
• Flow chart the model especially complex models
describing all the variables and decision points
• Develop the equation(s) that express the
relationships between the variables and
constants

HSR 16
Problem • Develop a clear, concise statement of the
Problem
• Give direction and meaning to the succeeding
steps
• Go beyond the symptoms of the problem and
identify the true causes
• One problem may be related to other
problems; thus, it is important to analyze how
the solution to one problem affects other
problems or the situation in general

HSR 17
Assumptions & Constraints • Assumptions are beliefs that can be stated
• Future analysis of the system treats these
assumptions as being true, but the results of
such an analysis are only as valid as the
assumptions
• Constraints define the operating limits of the
model and the solution must satisfy defined
constraints:
• Equality constraints
• Inequality constraints

HSR 18
Variables & Constants • Three distinct types of quantities: output
variables, input variables, and parameters
(constants):
• Output variables give the model solution
• Input variables characterize a single
physical problem
• Parameters determine the context or setting
of the physical problem

HSR 19
Variables & Constants • For example  Modeling the decay of a single
radioactive material:
• Input: Initial amount of material and the
time interval allowed for decay
• Parameter: Decay constant for the material
• Output: Amount of material remaining after
the specified time interval

HSR 20
Flow Chart • Where the system being modelled is more
complex, we cannot simply jump from an
assumption to an equation
• Flow diagrams are a visual aid to this end
• In their most basic form, they consist of a
series of boxes linked by a network of arrows:
• Boxes represent physical entities which are
present in the system
• Arrows represent the way these entities
inter-relate

HSR 21
Equations • Equation express the relationships between
the variables and constants
•s=vxt
• 2x + 3y = 24

HSR 22
 Questions

HSR 23
HSR 24