Report 2

Mathematical Modeling
Sharisse Gomez, Alyssa Onorario, Abegail Romas
Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science
University of the Philippines Mindanao
June 2021

The aim in this report is to demonstrate modeling using proportionality or geometric similarity,
and model fitting using the three analytic approaches: 1) the Chebychev approximation criterion,
2) minimizing the sum of absolute deviations, and 3) least-squares criterion. Each can be found in
the two separate parts of the paper, Part 1 and Part 2.

1 Modeling using proportionality or geometric similarity

1.1 Problem overview
Abalone is one of the most highly prized seafood delicacies that has a high production value in many
countries (Cook, 2014). The vendors who sell abalone in Barangay Ilangay think that carrying a
weighing scale around is too heavy, especially at their age. They wish to find an easier way to
determine the weight of the abalone, which is the basis of the pricing. In this report, the weight of
the abalone will be predicted as a function of size and average weight density.

Figure 1: Photo of an abalone (Dr. Abalone, 2014)

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1.2 Model formulation
In this section, a model will be constructed to find the weight of the abalone using the size. This
section consists of the assumptions, the variables and parameters, and the step-by-step formulation.

1.2.1 Assumptions
• All abalones are geometrically similar.
• The average weight density is constant.
• The effects of gender and season are negligible.

1.2.2 Variables and parameters

• r – the radius of the abalone
• V – the volume of the abalone
• W – the weight of the abalone

1.2.3 Formulating the model

First, observe Figure 2 below which shows abalones that are, as assumed, geometrically similar.
This shows that the ratio between corresponding pairs of points remains constant for all possible
pairs of points.

Figure 2: Scaled geometrically similar abalones (Abalone, 1902)

From this, it can be drawn that the volume V of the abalone is proportional to the square of its
radius r. Thus,
V ∝ r2 (1)
Next, given that weight is the product of the volume and the average weight density, the propor-
tionality can be expressed as follows:
W ∝V (2)
By transitivity, it follows from (1) and (2) that the weight W is also proportional to the square of
the radius r. Therefore, the model is given as

W ∝ r2

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1.3 Model solution and analysis
In this section, the formulated model above will be tested using obtained data. Then, the strengths
and weaknesses of the model will also be assessed.
Now, to test the model, consider the following data from Nash et al. (1994), with the radius in
mm and weight in gram (See Figure 3).

Figure 3: The abalone measurement data from Nash et al. (1994)

In Figure 4 below, the graph of the data is plotted as W versus r2 . A line has also been fitted
by minimizing the sum of absolute deviations since this has been found as the best fit among the
other approaches. The equation of the line is given by y = 19.64x − 0.12.

Figure 4: Graph of the abalone W vs. r2 with fitted line

The model W ∝ r2 indicates that as the radius of the abalone increases, the weight also increases
accordingly. In Figure 4 above, the graph of the data exhibits the same relationship between the
radius and the weight of the abalone. The slope of the fitted line is equal to 19.64, which represents
a positive relationship. Hence, the model is correct.
The model has some valuable strengths. One of which is its use in predicting the weight of the
abalone using the measured length, specifically the radius. The model is also easy to describe to
others, which is helpful for the abalone vendors. However, it also has a few notable weaknesses given

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the assumptions. It may not be valid for abalones that belong to different species and are distinct
in shape. It also may not be appropriate when the effects of gender and season are significant.

1.4 Discussion
In this report, a model has been formulated using geometric similarity to predict the weight of the
abalone using the measured radius. The constructed model was given by W ∝ r2 . This means that
the greater the radius of the abalone is, the greater its weight, considering that the average weight
density is constant.
Using the data, the graph of the weight versus the square of the radius has been plotted. A line
has been fitted and the equation is given by y = 19.64x − 0.12. It can be observed from the graph
and the line that there is a positive relationship between the abalone’s radius and weight. Hence,
the formulated model is correct.

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2 Model fitting using MS Solver
In this section, the equation y = mx + b will be fitted to the data found in Figure 5 using the three
analytic approaches: 1) Chebychev approximation criterion, 2) minimizing the sum of absolute
deviations, and 3) least-squares criterion.

Figure 5: The given data

Observe the plot of the data in Figure 6 below before proceeding to the model fitting.

Figure 6: Plot of the data

2.1 Chebychev approximation criterion

In this criterion, the largest absolute deviation over the entire collection has been minimized. After
it was minimized, the line fitted using Chebychev approximation criterion (See Figure 7) is given
by y = 98.56x + 11.84.

Figure 7: Fitted line using Chebychev approximation criterion

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2.2 Minimizing the sum of absolute deviations
For this approach, the absolute deviations between each data point and their corresponding point
on the fitted line are minimized. From this, the line fitted (See Figure 8) is given by y = 142.09x −
273.24.

Figure 8: Fitted line using minimizing the sum of absolute deviations

2.3 Least-squares criterion

This approach minimizes the magnitude of the vector whose coordinates represent the absolute
deviation between the observed and predicted values. Thus, the line fitted using least-squares
criterion (See Figure 9) is given by y = 130.38x − 249.64.

Figure 9: Fitted line using Least-squares criterion

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Discussion
All approaches indicate a positive relationship between the x-values and y-values in the data. The
slope of each line shows that as x increases, the value of y also increases. However, with Chebychev
approximation criterion, it can be observed from Figure 7 that the points are more spread out from
the fitted line. On the other hand, by minimizing the sum of absolute deviations (Figure 8), the
data points are closer to the fitted line. A close fit can also be observed with the least-squares
criterion in Figure 9. Although, the line has a steeper slope of 142.09 with minimizing the sum of
absolute deviations, and it intersects more data points than least-squares criterion. Therefore, the
best line of fit is by minimizing the sum of absolute deviations.

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References
[1] Abalone [Online image]. (1902). ClipArt ETC.
https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/14000/14059/abalone1 4059.htm
[2] Cook, P. A. (2014). The worldwide abalone industry. Modern Economy, 5(13), 1181.
[3] Dr. Abalone. (2014). World Record Red Abalone [Online Image]. The Hunt for Monster Red
Abalone. https://briantissot.com/2014/09/07/the-hunt-for-monster-red-abalone/

[4] Rowen, D.A. et al. (2020). Geometric Similarity. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/geometric-similarity
[5] Nash, W. J., Sellers, T. L., Talbot, S. R., Cawthorn, A. J., & Ford, W. B. (1994). The Population
Biology of Abalone (Haliotis species) in Tasmania. I. Blacklip Abalone (H. rubra) from the
North Coast and Islands of Bass Strait, Sea Fisheries Division, Technical Report No. 48 (ISSN
1034-3288)