JH4 Performance Task

Mathematical Modelling
(10 % each for MA401 and MA402)
Problem Statement:
By collecting data on the height of Mung bean sprouts, construct an empirical model that can be
used to obtain the rate of increase in the height of the Mung bean sprouts at different times or
heights.

Background
The growth of plants is a natural phenomenon that can be described mathematically. Quantitative
studies on the growth of various plants provides perspectives on how different conditions may
improve the yield and quality of plants.

Deliverables
You are to submit the following documents in a single .zip folder and upload it onto the Google
Classroom page (Class code: tuyhfb). Submit your folder with the name in this format (JH4_math-
band_group-number.zip)
1. Report
Submit the report in a type-written Word document. Your report should be in prose form,
not point form.
2. Pictures
Collate the pictures in a single folder and name each image according to the date when the
picture was taken.
3. Excel document:
Include all data (both recorded and calculated) and graphs with clear labelling in the excel
spreadsheet document.

The submission deadline to the Google Classroom page is by 2.00pm on Friday, 4 August 2017.
Marks will be deducted for any late submission. There will be an automatic 20% penalty for any
submission that is late. Any submission handed in after 5pm will receive an automatic 50% penalty.
Any submission not received by the end of the day will receive an automatic zero.

1
Task 1
1. Grow and cultivate a number of Mung bean sprouts over a period of days.
State clearly the conditions used to grow these Mung bean sprouts. [1]
2. Record the height of a Mung bean sprout (h cm) over the time taken (t days). The first
record of the height of the Mung bean sprout when t  0 should be the first observation of
germination.
Represent the data collected clearly in a table and include daily pictures that document the
height of the Mung bean sprouts. [3]
3. Obtain the data of h and t for the growth of at least three different Mung bean sprouts until
t = 14.
Part A
1. It is suggested that ln h and t follows a linear relationship.
By referring to the Appendix A Part 1 on linear correlation, determine the r-values,
denoted by rt , starting from t = 3 as the data set increases each day. [2]

t h ln h rt
0 … … -
1 … … -
2 … … -
3 … … r3 
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
14 … … r14 

2. For each table, select a maximal set of data points which gives the maximum rt value.

(E.g. If 6 data points gives r5  0.85 , 7 data points gives r6  0.91 and 8 data points give a

r7  0.87 , we will take 7 data points as the maximal set.) [1]

3. Among all the different maximal sets of data points, choose the most representative
maximal set of data points with reasons. [2]
4. Using this representative set of data points, by referring to Appendix A Part 2 on linear
regression, plot your graph on the excel spreadsheet and determine the equation of the best
fit line using linear regression. [3]
5. Hence,
(i) express h in terms of t. [1]
(ii) determine the rate of increase in the height of the Mung bean sprouts when it is 1 cm
tall. [2]

2
Part B
Verhulst model, or logistic growth curve, is a model of population growth first published by Pierre
Verhulst in 1845. In 1959, F.J Richards extended the Verhulst model and proposed the Richards
model to describe growth after he observed that experimental data for the growth of plants and fish
becomes stationary after a certain period of time. The Richards model is described by the function
in Equation (1) below.
A
h t   1
  (1) ,
1  Be 
 Ct D

where h  t  is the height of the Mung bean sprout at a given time t  0 , and A, B, C and D are

positive constants to be determined.

1. State two assumptions made in Richards model given in Equation (1). [2]
2. By fitting Equation (1) to the representative set of data until t = 14, find suitable values of A,
B, C and D. Describe the method used to determine these values and explain why they are
suitable to the data. [4]
3. By contrasting the equation obtained in Part A with the equation obtained in Part B,
explain the benefit and limitation of using the different equations. [2]

Task 2
The height of a magical bean X is modelled as h  3t  b cm, for a period of time, 1  t  7 in days.
Given that its height is about 10 cm on the 3rd day,

(i) state its growth rate in cm/day. What is the value of b and what does it represent? [2]
dh
The growth rate of bean X is estimated to be  t  7  0.5 cm/day, for 7  t  15 .
dt
(ii) Determine the difference in height from 5th to 20th day, stating any assumption used. [5]

- End of Performance Task -