UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES
HMTHCS324:Mathematical modeling Assignment
dP
1. Suppose that you wish to model with a differential equation of the form= f (P ) where
dt
P (t) is the population at time t. Experiments have been performed on the population
that give the following information:
(i) The population at P = 0 remains constant,
(ii) A population close to zero will decrease,
(iii) A population of P = 20 will increase,
(v) A population of P > 100 will decrease.
(a) Sketch the simplest phase line that agrees with the experimental information, [1]
(b) Graph a rough sketch of the function f (P ) for the phase line in part (a). [1]
2. (a) Briefly explain what you understand by the term mathematical modeling, [5]
(b) State any three advantages of using mathematics language in modeling, [3]
(c) Outline the steps followed when one is engaging in mathematical modeling. [6]
3. Consider a logistic growth model described by ẋ = ( ab )x(b − x) where a > 0 and b > 0.
(a) Define what a and b represents in the model, [2]
(b) Find the fixed points of the model, [2]
(c) Determine the stability of each fixed point obtained above. [5]
4. A model is given by the following equation ẋ = 2x(x − 1)2 (x − 2)3 . Find the fixed points
of the model [4].
5. A mathematical model is given by the following system of equation
dS
dt = aR − bSI,
dI
dt = bSI − cI,
dR
dt = cI − aR.
(a) Write the state variables of the model, [3]
(b) State the parameters of the model, [3]
(c) Draw a schematic diagram to represent the model. [4]
6. (a) A certain company has 1000 employees. On a particular day a rumor began to spread
among the employees of the company that a senior
supervisor in a department had suddenly resigned. Assuming that the rate of the
spread of the rumor is proportional to the number of possible encounters between
employees who have heard the rumor and those who have not.
i. Find an expression for the possible meetings between employees who have heard
the rumor and those who have not, [3]
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ii. Write the differential equation that describe the model and solve it. [8]
iii. Given that when t = 0, the number of employees is 50 and when t = 1 the
number of employees who had heard the rumor was 100, Find the time when
800 people have heard the rumor. [10]
(b) When one is engaged in mathematical modeling, they undergo similar steps and
processes as for conducting a biological experiment. Outline the all the stages in-
volved. [9]
(c) i. A model is described by the following system of equations
x˙1 = −3x1 + 2x2 ,
x˙2 = x1 − 2x2
.
A. Write the Jacobian matrix, [2]
B. Evaluate the eigenvalues and eigenvectors, [2,3]
C. Draw the phase diagram for the model. [3]
ii. Given the following nonlinear system
ẋ = x(1 − x) − xz,
ẏ = ry(1 − y) − yz,
ż = z(2x + 2y − 1).
.
A. Find the Jacobian matrix, [9]
B. Show that the equilibrium in which all populations are zero is always
unstable, [5]
C. Show that the equilibrium points (1, 0, 0) and (0, 1, 0) are unstable. [6]
(d) Consider a model represented by the following system
x˙1 = x1 (3 − x1 − x2 ),
x˙2 = x2 (x1 − 1).
i. Find the fixed points of the system, [4]
ii. Evaluate the Jacobian matrix for the system, [6]
iii. At each equilibrium point find the eigenvalue and the associated eigenvetors and
classify the point. [20]
i. Consider the following SIR model:
dS
dt = −ρβSI,
dI
dt = ρβSI − κI,
dR
dt = κI.
where β > 0, κ > 0 and 0 < ρ < 1
A. State the biological meaning of all the state variables and the parameters in
the model, [6]
B. Explain why the change in S proportional to both S and I, [3]
C. Explain the reason why the terms ρβSI and κI appear in two different
equations and why are they positive in one instance and negative in the
other [6]
2
ii. Consider the following nonlinear system:
ẋ = x(3 − x − 2y),
ẏ = y(4 − 3x − y).
A. Find the stationary points of the system, [4]
B. Compute the linearization of the system around the nontrivial stationary
point, [6]
C. Solve the linear system from (b) and sketch its phase portrait. [5]
(e) Distinguish between:
(a) empirical vs mechanistic models, [2]
(b) deterministic vs Stochastic models, [2]
(c) discrete vs continuous models. [2]
(f) i. Briefly explain what you understand by the term mathematical modeling in
forensic science, [5]
ii. Give any four reasons for doing modeling in forensic science. [5]
iii. Define simulation modeling. [4]
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(g) The equation of motion of a linear spring with no damping is m ddt2x + kx = 0. What
are the units of the spring constant. [4]
