Biocalculus Laboratory Projects

These projects were created for the Biocalculus courses at Benedictine University and College of DuPage. All projects were written by Timothy D. Comar unless noted otherwise. These files are in the process of continual updating. Comments are welcome.

Project	Mathematics	Biology	Platform
Drug Concentration: Modeling with Functions	Exponential and Piecewise-Defined Functions Geometric Series	Periodically Administered Intravenous Drug	Maple Derive
Bean Leaf Growth	Exponential and Logarithmic Functions Curve Fitting to Data Set	Logistic Growth of Bean Leaf	Derive
Regression, Nonlinear Scales, Allometry (with Lisa Townsley)	Regression and Curve Fitting to Data Set Nonlinear Scales Power, Exponential, and Logarithmic Functions Trigonometry (Data Collection Version)	Allometry (Scaling Relationships) Allometric Relationship between Tree Heights and Diameters Modeling the Number of AIDS cases Measuring Tree Heights and Diameters (Data Collection Version)	Maple and Excel
Classical Natural Selection via Difference Equations	Nonlinear Difference Equation Model Equilibria of Difference Equation Graphical Introduction to Local Extrema	Natural Selection Optimal Mean Fitness	Excel
Stability in the Ricker's Curve Model	Stability of Equilibira of Difference Equations Cobwebbing	Ricker's Curve Model for Population Growth	Maple
Logistic Population Growth (with Lisa Townsley)	Slope (Direction) Fields Equilibria and Stability Phase Line Analysis Euler's Method	Logistic Differential Equation for Population Growth	Maple
Logistic Population Growth with Harvesting (with Lisa Townsley)	Slope (Direction) Fields Equilibria and Stability Phase Line Analysis Euler's Method Bifurcation Diagrams	Logistic Differential Equation for Population Growth Logistic Equation with Harvesting	Maple
Introduction to Life Tables	Improper Integrals Discrete Approximations of Improper Integrals	Life Table Calculations Euler's Equation Stable Age Distribution Net Reproduction Rate Reproductive Value	Excel
Matrix Models	Eigenvalues, Eigenvectors Iteration	Age Structured Population Model Leslie Model Stable Age Distribution	MATLAB
Host Parasitoid Models	Nonlinear System of Difference Equations Equilibria and Stability, Jury Test Jacobians	Host Parasitoid Models Nicholson Bailey Model Other Models	Excel and Maple MATLAB and Maple
Lotka-Volterra Predator Prey Model	Nonlinear System of Differential Equations Equilibria and Stability Jacobians Separation of Variables Solutions of the System	Lotka-Voleterra Predator Prey Model	Maple
Lotka-Volterra Interspecific Competition Model	Nonlinear System of Differential Equations Equilibria and Stability Jacobians Solutions of the System	Lotka-Volterra Interspecific Competition Model Monoculture Equilibria Coexistence Competitive Exclusion Founder Control	Maple
Predator Prey Model and Enrichment	Nonlinear System of Differential Equations Equilibria and Stability Jacobians Solutions of the System	Predator Prey Model Enrichment Persistence Extinction	Maple

This work is currently funded by NSF CCLI Grant #DUE-0633232, "Biocalculus: Text Development, Dialog, and Assessment." The project summary for the grant proposal is located here.

For additional information, please contact the organizer of the seminar, Tim Comar, at tcomar@ben.edu or (630) 829-6555.