Modeling The Dynamics Of Life : Calculus And Probability For Life Scientists - 2nd edition

Summary: Designed to help life sciences students understand the role mathematics has played in breakthroughs in epidemiology, genetics, statistics, physiology, and other biological areas, this text provides students with a thorough grounding in mathematics, the language, and 'the technology of thought' with which these developments are created and controlled. The text teaches the skills of describing a system, translating appropriate aspects into equations, and interpreting t ...show morehe results in terms of the original problem. The text helps unify biology by identifying dynamical principles that underlie a great diversity of biological processes. Standard topics from calculus courses are covered, but with particular emphasis on those areas connected with modeling: discrete-time dynamical systems, differential equations, and probability and statistics.

Benefits:

• NEW! Content has been slightly rearranged and expanded for greater clarity.
• The text introduces and develops mathematical methods to analyze three kinds of models: discrete-time dynamical systems, differential equations, and stochastic processes.
• Three dynamical principles that underlie diverse biological processes are woven throughout: growth, diffusion, and selection. Each theme is studied in turn with the three kinds of models.
• The final three chapters teach probability and statistics from a dynamical perspective.
• The author emphasizes the link between models of key processes and the fundamental statistical notions of likelihood, estimation, and hypothesis testing, so that students learn the principles of statistics rather than learning how to choose the correct formulas.
• Graphical and computer techniques are introduced and used throughout to support the text's focus on reasoning and interpreting models.
• Approximately 30 algorithms are clearly identified so that students can use them throughout the course.
• Several extended explorations are included to show students how to combine a set of processes into a coherent whole, and how to use models to clarify and answer specific questions.
• Each section of the text includes a wide variety of modeling problems, in addition to review problems.
• Each chapter includes at least two projects, suitable for group work, and concludes with supplementary application problems.
• The text contains more than 100 graphing calculator or computer exercises, designed to help students visualize and conceptualize key concepts.
• NEW! The first chapter now includes a review of functions, units, and linear functions before beginning with the new topic of discrete-time dynamical systems.
• NEW! The section on "Power Functions and Allometry" has been removed.
• NEW! There are two new sections in Chapter 8 describing the fundamentals of contingency table analysis.
• NEW! The number of problems has more than tripled, bringing the total to well over 3,000 problems.
• NEW! Exercises are now broken into 3 categories: "Mathematical Techniques," "Applications," and "Computer Exercises."
• NEW! Many new examples have been added to help students understand how to solve problems.
• NEW! Partial solutions to all the odd problems are now included in the back of the book, providing valuable guidance for students at no additional cost.
• The text integrates mathematical content with modeling, following the process of describing a system, translating appropriate aspects into equations, and interpreting results in terms of the original problem.

Edition/Copyright: 2ND 05
Cover: Hardback
Publisher: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
Published: 10/22/2004

Other Editions of Modeling The Dynamics Of Life : Calculus And Probability For Life Scientists:

Modeling the Dynamics of Life - 3 edition

ISBN13: 978-0840064189