Von Foerster equation

The McKendrick–von Foerster equation is a linear first-order partial differential equation encountered in several areas of mathematical biology – for example, demography[1] and cell proliferation modeling; it is applied when age structure is an important feature in the mathematical model.[2] It was first presented by Anderson Gray McKendrick in 1926 as a deterministic limit of lattice models applied to epidemiology,[3] and subsequently independently in 1959 by biophysics professor Heinz von Foerster for describing cell cycles.

  1. ^ Keyfitz, B. L.; Keyfitz, N. (1997-09-01). "The McKendrick partial differential equation and its uses in epidemiology and population study". Mathematical and Computer Modelling. 26 (6): 1–9. doi:10.1016/S0895-7177(97)00165-9. ISSN 0895-7177. S2CID 15550610.
  2. ^ Murray, J.D. (2002). Mathematical Biology I: An Introduction. Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics. Vol. 17 (3rd ed.). Springer. ISBN 0-387-95223-3.
  3. ^ McKendrick, A. G. (1926). "Applications of Mathematics to Medical Problems". Proceedings of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society. 44: 98–130. doi:10.1017/S0013091500034428. ISSN 1464-3839.