Mathematical Model 1
Mathematical Model 1 : (a) A representation of a system, process, or relationship in mathematical form in which equations are used to simulate the behavior of the system or process under study. The model usually consists of two parts: the mathematical structure itself, e.g., Newton's inverse square law or Gauss's "normal" law, and the particular constants or parameters associated with them, such as Newton's gravitational constant or the Gaussian standard deviation. A mathematical model is deterministic if the relations between the variables involved take on values not allowing for any play of chance. A model is said to be statistical, stochastic, or random, if random variation is allowed to enter the picture. [Last, 1983: A Dictionary of Epidemiology]; (b) A formal framework to convey ideas about the components of a host_parasite interaction. Construction requires three major types of information: (a) a clear understanding of the interaction within the individual host between the infectious agent and the host, (b) the mode and rate of transmission between individuals, and (c) host population characteristics such as demography and behaviour. Mathematical models can aid exploration of the behaviour of the system under various conditions from which to determine the dominant factors generating observed patterns and phenomena. They also aid data collection and interpretation and parameter estimation, and provide tools for identifying possible approaches to control and for assessing the potential impact of different intervention measures. [Swinton, 1999: A Dictionary of Epidemiology]
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