Frequently Asked Questions | Student Instructions | Faculty/Practitioner Instructions

This section answers your basic questions about MATHmodels.org.
If you have questions that are not addressed here, you can also consult our Student Instructions page or our Faculty/Practioner Instructions page which give more in depth details on the functions of MATHmodels.org.

Q What is mathematical modeling?
Q What does MATHmodels.org do?
Q I registered as a faculty/practitioner, Why have I not received my username and logon?
Q Who can submit a modeling problem?
Q How do I submit a modeling problem?
Q I want to see a particular student paper. Why does it ask me for a password?
Q How do I submit a student paper?
Q Who does the commentary on my student paper?
Q I have submitted a student paper. How long before I receive a commentary?
Q I am a student and want to work on a modeling problem. Do I need to work in a group? Do I need a faculty advisor?
Q How should I organize my student paper?
Q What is a commentary?
Q Who can submit a commentary?
Q How do I submit a commentary?
Q I want to contact the faculty/practitioner or student. Where is their email?
Q I submitted a problem, student paper or commentary. Why can't I see it on MATHmodels.org?
Q Who is COMAP?

Q What is mathematical modeling?
A Mathematical modeling is a process that studies and analyzes quantitative aspects of a real-world problem. The modeling process results in a model—where mathematics is used to describe the nature of the problem—and in many cases a proposed solution.

Mathematical modeling problems are often explored through a collaborative “team” approach that involves other disciplines. The best proposed solutions consider both the quantitative features of the problem and whether the model really makes sense in the given context.

Steps in Mathematical Modeling

Here is a summary of the main steps in mathematical modeling.

Step 1. Identify the situation. Read and, if you are working on a team, discuss the problem. Identify issues you wish to understand so that your questions are focused on exactly what you want to know.

Step 2. Simplify the situation. Make assumptions and note the features that you will ignore at first. List the key features of the problem. These are your assumptions that you will use to build the model.

Step 3. Build the model and develop a proposed solution. Describe in mathematical terms the relationships among the parts of the problem, and find an answer to the problem. Some ways to describe the features mathematically include:

• define variables
• write equations
• draw shapes
• measure objects
• calculate probabilities
• gather data and organize into tables
• make graphs

Step 4. Evaluate and revise the model. Check whether the answers make sense, and test your model. Go back to the original situation and see if the results of the mathematical work make sense. If so, use the model until new information becomes available or assumptions change. If not, reconsider the assumptions you made in step 2 and revise them to be more realistic.

Another way of visualizing the process of mathematical modeling is shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1.

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Q What does MATHmodels.org do?
A MATHmodels.org is a portal that promotes mathematical modeling as a core part of learning mathematics. On this portal:

• High school teachers, college faculty and practitioners (people who use mathematics in their work in government and industry) create modeling problems for students to explore
• Individual students and student teams submit papers that represent full or partial proposed solutions
• Faculty and practitioners provide commentary on the student papers, mentoring the students and encouraging them to improve their papers

Students, faculty and practitioners who comment on their work decide when the paper is final. At this point the paper may be published on MATHmodels.org for everyone to see.

The site in new, but we plan to add a wide range of resources including:

• Tools to help students collaborate with other students and educators
• Curricula for educators to create courses and add a modeling flavor to existing courses
• Materials to help recruit and prepare teams for COMAP’s Modeling Contests
  For more information about COMAP's Modeling Contests click here
  

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Q I registered as a faculty/practitioner, Why have I not received my username and logon?
A All faculty/practitioners must go through a validation process. We have developed this validation process to ensure that both students and faculty/practitioners have access to appropriate functions and resources on the portal. We make every effort to validate faculty/practitioners in a timely matter.
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Q Who can submit a modeling problem?
A Only faculty/practitioners can submit problems.
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Q How do I submit a modeling problem?
A There are detailed instructions for submitting a modeling problem at: Instructions for submitting a modeling problem.
Remember, only faculty/practitioners can submit problems.
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Q I want to see a particular student paper. Why does it ask me for a password?
A Student papers are restricted to the papers author and/or registered and validated faculty/practitioners. Students can only view their own papers. If you are a faculty/practitioner and wish to register click here.
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Q How do I submit a student paper?
A There are detailed instructions for submitting a student paper at: Instructions for submitting a student paper.
Remember, only students can submit student papers.
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Q Who does the commentary on my student paper?
A Commentary is done by faculty/practitioners. Often the commentator is the author of the problem, but it may be someone selected by the site manager who has particular interest or expertise in the field or mathematics area of the problem.
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Q I have submitted a student paper. How long before I receive a commentary?
A MATHmodels.org makes every effort to respond to student papers in a timely matter.
In most cases a mentor will provide commentary within a week of being posted on the MATHmodels.org Website.
Note: You will receive an Email notifying you that a commentary has been submitted for your paper.
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Q I am a student and want to work on a modeling problem. Do I need to work in a group? Do I need a faculty advisor?
A No. Both are recommended but not required.
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Q How should I organize my student paper?
A There are many factors in creating a successful student paper. A good first step is to understand the mathematical modeling process click here to learn about the modeling process. It is also a good idea to look at a successful student modeling paper. To view a sample student paper click here.

Here are some general ideas for organizing a student paper:

• Restatement Clarification of the Problem — state in your own words what you are going to do.
• Assumptions with rationale/justification — emphasize those assumptions that bear on the problem.
• List clearly all variables used in your model.
• Discuss strengths and weakness of your model or approach.
• Provide algorithms in words, figures, or flow charts (as a step by step algorithmic approach) for all computer codes developed.
• Conciseness and organization are extremely important. Key statements should present major ideas and results.
• Present an analysis of the problem, motivating or justifying the modeling to be used.
• Include a design of the model.
• Discuss how the model could be tested, including error analysis and stability (conditioning, sensitivity, etc.).
• Papers should be in English.

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Q What is a commentary?
A A commentary is an analysis of a student paper (either a partial solution or a final solution) by a faculty/practitioner.
The length and detail contained in a commentary is usually relative to the degree to which the student paper is complete.
To view a sample commentary click here.
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Q Who can submit a commentary?
A Only faculty/practitioners can submit commentaries on student papers.
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Q How do I submit a commentary?
A There are detailed instructions for submitting a commentary at: Instructions for submitting a commentary.
Remember, only faculty/practitioners can submit commentaries.
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Q I want to contact the faculty/practitioner or student. Where is their email?
A MATHmodels.org does not post the email addresses of its users. There is a Contact Mentor link connected to each problem, student paper and commentary that will send an email to the appropriate person. Users are free to use this form to share their contact information. For additional questions about this issue, please refer to our privacy policy.
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Q I submitted my problem/student paper/commentary. Why can't I see it on MATHmodels.org?
A MATHmodels.org is a moderated portal. All submissions are reviewed before they are posted to the site. Once they are approved the contact person will receive an email notifying them that the page is now available on the site.
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Q Who is COMAP?
A COMAP, the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications, is an award-winning organization whose mission is to improve mathematics education for students of all ages. Since 1980, COMAP has worked with teachers, students, and business people to create learning environments where mathematics is used to investigate and model real issues in our world. For more information about COMAP, its products, services and contests please visit www.comap.com.
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