To understand matrices is easy. First you need to figure percentages. For example, you have a row of 4 trees and each tree has a bug population of 100, 200, 300, and 400. For three days 10% of each tree’s population will migrate to their neighboring trees. After three days, how much of each tree’s population will be left?

OK, first, we need to find the percentages of each tree. I’ll just do each tree individually. The first tree has a population of 100 bugs. We also know that 10% of it’s population will migrate. Use a calculator if you wish. If so, type in “100*0.1”. That will give you the number of bugs that will leave. Take that number and subtract it from 100. The multiplying factor 0.90 is the amount that stays in the tree. That’s what you do for end-trees.

For trees 2 and 3, you do the same as the end-trees only you take the percentage that is leaving (tree 2 or 3) and add that to the trees beside it. Also, you add the percentages that are migrating from the trees beside it (again, tree 2 or 3) to that tree’s population.

It’s a simple percentage problem you see. After you find the percentages of the trees, you multiply each percentage by the population number of the tree it fits with.

Example:

.95 .12 100] = .95*100+(.12*200)= 119

.83 .51 200] = .83*100+(.51*200)=