MATH3104, Mathematical Biology, 2023

Assignment 1

Note: Use the short introduction into numerics of PDEs in 1D (“Finite

Differences Primer”) available in the folder Assessment on Blackboard.
1. [5 marks] Compute the 4th moment as a function time of the distribution
of particles undergoing diffusion on the real line and starting at x = 0. Note:
assume that the distribution of particles u = u(t, x) is normalised to unit mass.
2. [10 marks] For this warm-up exercise you may want to start reading the
Finite Differences Primer document and start by adapting the example code
provided there.
Assume that cells migrate randomly on a uniform 1D grid with fixed grid-size
∆x = 0.2. In each time interval of size ∆t = 0.1 they make either one step
to the left or to the right, both with probability 1/2. With the corresponding
2
diffusion coefficient D (D = ∆x2∆t
) simulate the diffusion equation
∂t ρ = D∂xx ρ
on the domain x ∈ [−20, 20] coupled to periodic boundary data
ρ(t, x = −20) = ρ(t, x = 20) and ∂x ρ(t, x = −20) = ∂x ρ(t, x = 20)
and with initial datum ρI (x) = 1000 δ(x − 10) + 500 δ(x + 10) (i.e. initially
1000 particles are located at x = −10 and 500 particles at x = 10. Think of δ
as of the fundamental solution at time t = 0). Plot the result at regular time-
intervals after or during the simulation and plot the result at time T = 150.
3. [15 marks] Consider Fisher’s equation in 1D for the function ρ = ρ(t, x) as
a model for the growth of a brain tumour (t given in days d refers to time and
x given in cm to space)
∂t ρ = D∂xx ρ + αρ(1 − ρ/K) . (1)
The parameters are given by D = 0.02 cm2 d−1 , α = 0.1d−1 and K = 1.

(a) Simulate the growth of the tumour starting with an initial tumour with
density ≡ 1/4 of diameter 1 cm located at x = 0, i.e. the initial datum
for your simulation is given by
(
1/4 −1/2 ≤ x ≤ 1/2 ,
ρ(t = 0, x) =
0 otherwise.

1
 Use periodic boundary conditions and a simulation domain chosen large
enough such that you are able to observe the growth of the solid tumour
after the carrying capacity is reached.
(b) Plot the solution starting from the initial condition at several consecutive
points in time until the entire domain is completely filled with tumour
cells.
(c) Based on your simulations estimate the growth rate (cm/d) of the tumour
and
√ compare with the theoretical prediction discussed in the lecture (v =
2 αD).