The last topic of the course(!) is Markov Models, which are probabilistic models of the state transitions in a system.
These models, like the one in the image above, combine:
⭐️ Graphs (as you can see)
⭐️ Probabilities (the weights on the edges),
⭐️ Matrix multiplication (to model the dynamic behaviour of the system),
⭐️ Logistic growth (which is a common pattern of dynamic growth in Markov processes), and
⭐️ Solving systems of equations (to find the system's equilibrium state).
It's a five star mathematical experience! And I hope an interesting way to end the course.
Please help me improve!
I hope you will take a few minutes to fill out the Course Improvement Questionnaire 📝, and the official course evaluation. As I said in last week's email, the things I do right are the result of years of suggestions and ideas from students. Be one of them. 😇
Excel again
I'll be using Excel in class again this week. Not doing anything new, but feel free to bring your laptop if you'd like to follow along.
MMULT troubles in Excel? Try this
Speaking of which, if MMULT was/is not working for you in Excel, give Google sheets a try. I've tried it in two different browsers and it Just Works for me: sheets.google.com
End of the semester endgame
The semester is almost done, we're in the final sprint, (even the emails are getting shorter!) finish strong 💪.
