Mathematical modeling is proposed as the unifying theme for courses in Finite Mathematics.

The course begins with teaching the strategies and skills required for analyzing (modeling) word problems, and ends with an introduction to Monte Carlo simulations. Using only a simple calculator with a random number generator key, simulation becomes both a natural springboard to probability distributions, including the normal, uniform, and exponential distributions, and also a realistic application of probability concepts to real world problems.

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Richard Bronson is Professor of Mathematics at Fairleigh Dickinson University with research interests in continuous simulation. He has written eight books, including Finite Mathematics: A Modeling Approach for West Publishers, and he was the 1994 recipient of the NJ Section's Award for Distinguished Teaching.