Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
Coronavirus, and COVID-19, is all that is talked about in the news today, and for good reason! To predict the spreading and severity of this virus, experts use what they call mathematical modeling, usually an SIR model, to predict change and take precautions. This web-page is designed to breakdown the modeling and mathematics that often gets neglected in explanations to help you better understand the complexities behind the spread of the Coronavirus.
What is Mathematical Modeling?
Mathematical modeling is a way to describe a dynamic system using mathematical ideas and language. Mathematical modeling is usually used by those in the natural sciences and engineering fields. Currently, these type of models, and visuals created from them, are all over the media because of the COVID-19 epidemic. Experts, such as epidemiologists, are using mathematical modeling to describe how the virus spreads, and how the outcomes of models can change as the parameters are modified. An example of a parameter could be the rate of social distancing in the general population. However, it takes a specific set of knowledge and skills to actually understand the models, let alone interpret results and make conclusions. Most times, these models will be translated into graphs or some of visual to help better portray the data found.
A common program modeling and simulation, and the one we used, is called MATLAB. This is a program that is used to do calculations, create data visualizations, and program. We used it to make our difficult calculations accurate and easier as well as to create data visualizations from the data we found. Mathematical modeling can help to predict change over time, quantify the behavior of a given system, and understand the world around you. In this site, MATLAB helps create a basic understanding of the virus and how it affects the world- an understanding we can all appreciate in this epidemic.
Use the tabs on the top of the web page to learn more about how different mathematical models are applied to COVID-19! If you are new to the concept of mathematical modeling, we suggest exploring the tabs from left to right- starting with the About page or the Basic Exponential Models.