Using the United States Census Data to Introduce Differential Equations

Document Type

Article

Department or Administrative Unit

Mathematics

Publication Date

2019

Abstract

This article describes a method for using the United States Census data to open a differential equations course. The question of finding a model for the United States population data gives students a first experience with creating a model using differential equations, and also understanding derivatives, what they mean, and how to calculate them in the context of real data. This model-building start motivates further exploration in many of the standard differential equations topics: the method of separation of variables, slope fields, autonomous equations, equilibria, and stability.

Comments

This article was originally published in PRIMUS. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.

Due to copyright restrictions, this article is not available for free download from ScholarWorks @ CWU.

Journal

PRIMUS

Copyright

Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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