Thread: Topics for a math modeling project?

I'm currently taking a college level math modeling course. I have to give a 20-30 minute presentation on any topic I choose. I basically just have to choose a topic, create a model of the situation, and analyze anything about the model. I was wondering if you guys have any ideas. Or if you know where I can read about some good ideas.

Things that interest me(extent of my knowledge): Gambling theories(strong), business models(poor), economy(poor), sports(strong/mediocre), physics(mediocre), anything that involves a lot of statistics.

I don't even know if this is a good place to ask this question, but I thought it couldn't hurt to try.

Originally Posted by splash

I'm currently taking a college level math modeling course. I have to give a 20-30 minute presentation on any topic I choose. I basically just have to choose a topic, create a model of the situation, and analyze anything about the model. I was wondering if you guys have any ideas. Or if you know where I can read about some good ideas.

Things that interest me(extent of my knowledge): Gambling theories(strong), business models(poor), economy(poor), sports(strong/mediocre), physics(mediocre), anything that involves a lot of statistics.

I don't even know if this is a good place to ask this question, but I thought it couldn't hurt to try.

Models of conflict, in particular the work of Lewis Fry Richardson. See
chapter 9 of "The Pleasures of Counting" by T. W. Korner.

RonL

Originally Posted by splash

I'm currently taking a college level math modeling course. I have to give a 20-30 minute presentation on any topic I choose. I basically just have to choose a topic, create a model of the situation, and analyze anything about the model. I was wondering if you guys have any ideas. Or if you know where I can read about some good ideas.

Things that interest me(extent of my knowledge): Gambling theories(strong), business models(poor), economy(poor), sports(strong/mediocre), physics(mediocre), anything that involves a lot of statistics.

I don't even know if this is a good place to ask this question, but I thought it couldn't hurt to try.

Since your interests are in gambling theories, sports and statistics, I suggest a topic involving sports betting, which is very statistically oriented. This thread has a thought that I'd like to see a model of.

I think the biggest problem with betting systems is not about the data, it is that the behavior of bettors, NBA players, coaches, etc, changes in response to what happened in the past. So a system that worked successfully against them in the past, very likely will not continue to work against them in the future.

Have you seen economic models of the hog cycle where hog production goes though boom and bust cycles because everyone reacts to past prices? I'm thinking of bettors such as in the thread who every period all develop new betting models based on past data. But since everyone is using a new betting model, the past data that reflected their behavior in the past no longer applies and the predicted profits based on the past data never materialize. Perhaps you could develop a simple model with two bettors each reacting the other's past betting behavior. (Maybe this suggestion is really about some modelling I should do. )

Anyway, I think going with your strengths and interests as you've indicated is a good idea. You'll have more fun and your presentation will have more energy.

Originally Posted by splash

I'm currently taking a college level math modeling course. I have to give a 20-30 minute presentation on any topic I choose. I basically just have to choose a topic, create a model of the situation, and analyze anything about the model. I was wondering if you guys have any ideas. Or if you know where I can read about some good ideas.

Things that interest me(extent of my knowledge): Gambling theories(strong), business models(poor), economy(poor), sports(strong/mediocre), physics(mediocre), anything that involves a lot of statistics.

I don't even know if this is a good place to ask this question, but I thought it couldn't hurt to try.

1)Use the Predator-Prey equations from biology.
2)The Heat Equation.

Try a gambler's ruin problem where you would tell how quickly the house could bust a player in different situations like the house has more money than the player and vice versa, etc.

Dave