A model fix gone wrong: investigation of an SIS model with saturating treatment
Publication Name
International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology
Abstract
A textbook model of a contagious disease, the dynamics of which are represented by the SIS epidemic model with saturating treatment, is considered. I show that this model, as originally formulated, is not dimensionally consistent. The model can be fixed by including a dimensional constant a of value one (with units (Formula presented.)). At first sight, it appears that this is a cosmetic book-keeping exercise that will have no flow-on effects on the analysis of the model. In fact, we will discover that setting the value (Formula presented.) produces very unrealistic outcomes and that the parameter must have value (Formula presented.). Necessary skills for students to work through this model are an understanding of steady-state solutions and linearized stability for a scalar differential equation and, most importantly, an understanding of units.
Open Access Status
This publication is not available as open access
Volume
52
Issue
2
First Page
299
Last Page
309