Chapter 1.
Mathematical Modeling,
Numerical Methods, and Problem
Solving
Prof. Kiho Park
Numerical Methods 1
You’ve got a problem !
• Predicting the velocity of a jumper as a function of
time
Numerical Methods 2
A Simple Mathematical Model
• A mathematical model can be broadly defined as a
formulation or equation that expresses the essential
features of a physical system or process in
mathematical terms.
Dependent independent forcing
f , parameters,
variable variables functions
– Dependent variable: a characteristic that usually reflects the behavior or state
of the system
– Independent variables: dimensions, such as time and space, along which the
system’s behavior is being determined
– Parameters: constants reflective of the system’s properties or composition
– Forcing functions: external influences acting upon the system
Numerical Methods 3
A Mathematical Model: Example
• Models can be represented by a functional
relationship between dependent variables,
independent variables, parameters, and forcing
functions.
dv cd 2
g v
dt m
v = 0 at t = 0
gm gc
vt tanh d t
cd m
Numerical Methods 4
Analytical Solution to the Model
• Bungee Jumper Problem
(velocity of a 68.1 kg jumper & a drag coefficient of 0.25 kg/m)
Numerical Methods 5
Numerical Solution to the Model (I)
• There are many mathematical models that cannot be solved
exactly.
• Numerical methods: Mathematical problem is reformulated so it
can be solved by arithmetic operations.
dv v vti1 vti
dt t ti1 ti
Numerical Methods 6
Numerical Solution to the Model (II)
• Bungee jumper problem
dv v vti 1 vti cd
vti
2
g
dt t ti 1 ti m
cd 2
vti 1 vti g vti ti 1 ti
m
0.25 2
vt 2 s 0 9.81 0 2 0
68.1
Numerical Methods 7
Numerical Solution to the Model (III)
• Step size
– Accuracy vs. the number of computation
Numerical Methods 8
Conservation Laws (I)
• One of the most important organizing principles in engineering
and science:
(Changes) = (Increases) – (Decreases)
Numerical Methods 9
Conservation Laws (II)
Numerical Methods 10
Numerical methods covered in this
course (I)
Numerical Methods 11
Numerical methods covered in this
course (II)
Numerical Methods 12
Course Structure
Part 1 Part 5
Part 3 Part 4 Part 6
Modeling, Part 2
Curve Integration Ordinary
Computers, Roots and Linear Sys-
and Differen- Differential
and Error Optimization tems Fitting tiation Equation
Analysis
Ch1. Mathematical modeling, numerical methods
and problem-solving
Ch2. MATLAB fundamentals
Ch3. Programming with MATLAB
Ch4. Roundoff and truncation errors
Numerical Methods 13