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  • Video
  • 5 minutes

A Taste of Mathematics & Statistics: Modelling & Testing the Spread of Disease in a Population

Updated Tuesday, 9 March 2021
Professor Simon Cox and Dr Kim Kenobi from Aberystwyth University's Department of Mathematics split the session into two parts: (I) developing a mathematical model and using graphs to analyse the solutions, (II) statistical interpretation – understanding conditional probabilities in a disease testing context.

Students see how differential equations can be used to model a real world scenario, in this case the spread of a disease within a population, and how features of the solution can be determined graphically without having to solve the equation directly.

In the second part students are given an opportunity to think critically about how to interpret the results of a biological test (for example the COVID-19 antibody test). Does a positive result always mean you have the disease? Are you definitely clear of the disease if you get a negative result?

 

 

The 'Taste of' Series

A superb showcase of subject disciplines at Aberystwyth University. These lively interactive events will engage students in discussion of contemporary issues, designed to enrich their current studies whilst bringing to life the wealth of academic possibilities available at university.

Read more on the Aberystwyth University website.

 


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This resource was provided by Aberystwyth University and is part of the University Ready hub.

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