MATHS 765 : Mathematical Modelling

Science

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced topics in mathematical modelling, including selected topics in a range of application areas, principally taken from the physical and biological sciences.

Course Overview

MATHS 765 is an applied mathematics course for the BSc(Hons), BAdvSci and PGDipSci programmes and will also be of interest to students majoring in Computer Science, Engineering Science, Physics or Statistics. The skills developed in this course are particularly useful for those wishing to have a career involving mathematical modelling techniques. After successfully completing MATHS 765 students will be well-prepared to decide what makes a model a good model for a given real-world problem, what a model can teach us, and what its limits of validity are. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: At least B- or better in both MATHS 340 and 361

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Graduate Profile: Master of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Formulate and explain mathematical models of example systems with time-dependent behaviour. (Capability 3 and 5)
  2. Critically analyse the validity of a mathematical model in its application context. (Capability 1 and 3)
  3. Constructively review and critique aspects of the system that have not been modelled. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Develop and demonstrate the ability to apply mathematical techniques to the investigation of mathematical models. (Capability 3 and 5)
  5. Explain and communicate what conclusions can be drawn from a mathematical model. (Capability 1, 4, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 100% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments

Key Topics

  • Basics of modelling: what is modelled, what is not? 
  • Periodic motion from the harmonic oscillator to the pendulum.
  • The upside-down pendulum with control.
  • Nonlinear oscillations in a driven laser: understanding the model and what it tells us.
  • Nonlinear oscillations in chemistry and biology.
  • Nonlinear waves in chemistry and biology.
  • The dynamics of intracellular signalling (if time permits).

Special Requirements

n/a

Tuākana

Whanaungatanga and manaakitanga are fundamental principles of our Tuākana Mathematics programme which provides support for Māori and Pasifika students who are taking mathematics courses. The Tuākana Maths programme consists of workshops and drop-in times, and provides a space where Māori and Pasifika students are able to work alongside our Tuākana tutors and other Māori and Pasifika students who are studying mathematics.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in. For each week of this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures,  3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, including lectures and and computer labs classes, to receive credit for components of the course. 
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

There are no required learning resources. 

The following text books can be consulted as reference texts:

  • Mathematical Modelling: A case studies approach by Illner, Bohun, McCollum & Roode
  • Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos: With applications to Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering by Strogatz

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

No changes will be made based on student feedback.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.