With a focus on mathematical models based on real and current data, Models for Life: An Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Modeling with Excel guides readers in the solution of relevant, practical problems by introducing both mathematical and Microsoft Office Excel techniques. The book begins with a step-by-step introduction to discrete dynamical systems, which are mathematical models that describe how a quantity changes from one point in time to the next. Readers are taken through the process, language, and notation required for the construction of such models and their implementation in Excel. The book examines single-compartment models in contexts such as population growth, personal finance, and body weight and provides an introduction to more advanced, multi-compartment models via applications in such areas as military combat, infectious disease epidemics, and ranking methods. Models for Life: An Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Modeling with Excel also features: