Book excerpt: The emphasis of this book lies in the teaching of mathematical modeling rather than simply presenting models. To this end the book starts with the simple discrete exponential growth model as a building block, and successively refines it. This involves adding variable growth rates, multiple variables, fitting growth rates to data, including random elements, testing exactness of fit, using computer simulations and moving to a continuous setting. No advanced knowledge is assumed of the reader, making this book suitable for elementary modeling courses. The book can also be used to supplement courses in linear algebra, differential equations, probability theory and statistics.