Mathematical modeling is explored through the lens of contagion, using the ILOVEYOU computer worm and zombie apocalypse scenarios as parallel examples. The post introduces compartmental models (SI, SIZR), explains how populations are grouped by state and connected by flow rates, and derives equations showing exponential growth
Table of contents
Act 0 – What’s a model?Compartments: how to turn “stories” into equationsAct I — The cyber epidemicAct II — The Anatomy of a Zombie Apocalypse (S–I–Z–R)Act III — From well-mixed to networked worldsModeling as “compressed understanding”Sort: