ABSTRACT
For centuries, mathematics has been used for multiple purposes, and in lots of different ways, in a wide variety of extra-mathematical domains, i.e., areas outside of mathematics itself. This chapter considers the most essential components of mathematical modelling. Taken together, these components constitute the basic version of what is usually called the modelling cycle: mathematisation; mathematical treatment; de-mathematisation; and answer validation and model evaluation. The modelling cycle found in Blum and Leiss tacitly operates with the presence of a modelling task given to a modeller – suggesting a school context in which a teacher assigns tasks to students. The processes involved in solving word problems are: reading and understanding the problem presentation, identifying the mathematical problem embedded in the problem presentation, solving the mathematical problem, and presenting the solution and writing and justifying the answer.
