A Concrete Approach to Mathematical Modelling - Hardcover

Mesterton-Gibbons, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0201129108 ISBN 13: 9780201129106

Publisher: Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Co, 1989

Synopsis

WILEY–INTERSCIENCE PAPERBACK SERIES

The Wiley–Interscience Paperback Series consists of selected books that have been made more accessible to consumers in an effort to increase global appeal and general circulation. With these new unabridged softcover volumes, Wiley hopes to extend the lives of these works by making them available to future generations of statisticians, mathematicians, and scientists.

" . . . [a] treasure house of material for students and teachers alike . . . can be dipped into regularly for inspiration and ideas. It deserves to become a classic."
London Times Higher Education Supplement

"The author succeeds in his goal of serving the needs of the undergraduate population who want to see mathematics in action, and the mathematics used is extensive and provoking."
SIAM Review

"Each chapter discusses a wealth of examples ranging from old standards . . . to novelty . . . each model is developed critically, analyzed critically, and assessed critically."
Mathematical Reviews

A Concrete Approach to Mathematical Modelling provides in–depth and systematic coverage of the art and science of mathematical modelling. Dr. Mesterton–Gibbons shows how the modelling process works and includes fascinating examples from virtually every realm of human, machine, natural, and cosmic activity. Various models are found throughout the book, including how to determine how fast cars drive through a tunnel, how many workers industry should employ, the length of a supermarket checkout line, and more. With detailed explanations, exercises, and examples demonstrating real–life applications in diverse fields, this book is the ultimate guide for students and professionals in the social sciences, life sciences, engineering, statistics, economics, politics, business and management sciences, and every other discipline in which mathematical modelling plays a role.

About this title

From the Author

Review quotes and author URL:

There is a wealth of ideas here for lecturers, both in how to present material, and for examination questions; and the persistent attempt to enliven the work by providing real practical contexts is most refreshing. ... This book is a treasure-house of material for students and teachers alike, and can be dipped into regularly for inspiration and ideas. It deserves to become a classic. (London Times Higher Education Supplement)

A tremendous amount of hard labour must have gone into the preparation of this interesting book. ... Balancing between a methodological and an example-oriented approach, the author seems to have found the way to structure an in-depth course on mathematical modelling in such a way that students will have to like it. (Short Book Reviews)

The author certainly takes the student carefully through the model building process. ... Each chapter discusses a wealth of examples ... Each model is developed critically, analyzed critically, and assessed critically. (Mathematical Reviews)

The author succeeds in his goal of serving the needs of the undergraduate population who want to see mathematics in action, and the mathematics used is extensive and provoking. (SIAM Review of Applied Mathematics)

It shows how all the basic first two years of undergraduate math is really useful, and...students see that they can... learn new math as necessary for the problem at hand. It has an emphasis on testing and evaluating models. ... Few books emphasize that good applied math is also good science, and Mesterton-Gibbons is one that does. (UME Trends)

Author URL: http://www.math.fsu.edu/~mesterto

From the Back Cover

Critical praise for A Concrete Approach to Mathematical Modelling

"...a treasure house of material for students and teachers alike...can be dipped into regularly for inspiration and ideas. It deserves to become a classic." London Times Higher Education Supplement

"The author succeeds in his goal of serving the needs of the undergraduate population who want to see mathematics in action, and the mathematics used is extensive and provoking." SIAM Review

"Each chapter discusses a wealth of examples ranging from old standards...to novelty ... Each model is developed critically, analyzed critically, and assessed critically." Mathematical Reviews

Michael Mesterton–Gibbons has done what no author before him could: he has written an in–depth, systematic guide to the art and science of mathematical modelling that′s a great read from first page to last. With an abundance of both wit and common sense, he shows readers exactly how the modelling process works, using fascinating real–life examples from virtually every realm of human, machine, natural, and cosmic activity. You′ll find models for determining how fast cars drive through a tunnel; how many workers industry should employ; the length of a supermarket checkout line; how birds should select worms; the best methods for avoiding an automobile accident; and when a barber should hire an assistant; just to name a few.

Offering more examples, more detailed explanations, and by far, more sheer enjoyment than any other book on the subject, A Concrete Approach to Mathematical Modelling is the ultimate how–to guide for students and professionals in the hard sciences, social sciences, engineering, computers, statistics, economics, politics, business management, and every other discipline in which mathematical modelling plays a role.

Cover Design / Illustration: Keithley Associates, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Co
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0201129108
• ISBN 13: 9780201129106
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 617