Crisis Management Days

Mathematical Models in Different Potential Crisis Situations

Iva Golubić

Veleučilište Velika Gorica

Marjana Kuliš

Veleučilište Velika Gorica

Dora Trbara

Veleučilište Velika Gorica

Keywords: mathematics picturing a crisis, mathematics constituting a crisis, mathematics formatting a crisis, mathematical models, differential equations

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Abstract

According to the Danish mathematician Ole Skovsmose, there are at least three connections between mathematics and crises: mathematics picturing a crisis, mathematics constituting a crisis and mathematics formatting a crisis. In this paper we explain and further explore the three relationships of mathematics and crisis in disease spread and cyber security.  Regarding mathematical models, the emphasis is on differential equations which we explain in simple language and show how they are connected to our reality by the use of concrete examples in economics, epidemiology (disease spread) and climate change. Altogether, the aim of this paper is to show and convey to the wider audience how mathematics and crisis are connected and how mathematics, through differential equations, embodies relationships, dynamics and changes of the objects from different areas of the real world, with an emphasis on crises situations.

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