Mathematical Modeling of Social Phenomena
Dr. Courtney Brown
Assignment #4
This assignment has two parts, 4a and 4b. The first gives you practice getting difference equations from graph algebra. Click on the link below to see the graph algebra examples from which you will derive difference equations. Print it out, but then use a separate sheet of paper to work on the equations. The second part of this assignment (4b) gives you a chance to design your own model using graph algebra.
Assignment 4b: For this part of the assignment, you are to develop your own theory involving a political or social phenomenon. First, pick the phenomenon. Try not to be too general. The best models focus on well-defined phenomena that have clearly specified parts. For example, do not try to model the entire ecosystem of the planet Earth. (But you could model the destruction of a rainforest, which is a more manageable topic.) We will give examples of great phenomena to model in class (e.g., riots, elections, campaigns, advertising, environmental destruction, war, etc.). Then develop a time-dependent model that characterizes your chosen phenomenon. Be experimental. Try new things and combinations. You will eventually present this model (plus other models) in class, so try to understand what the parts of the model are, and how they are interacting. Since this is your first attempt at such modeling, it is OK for this to be a simple model. This is an especially fun assignment. "Fun" is the modeling spirit!
Staple all parts of your assignment together, and hand them in.