Past exam of the mathematics and the environment and mathematical physiology course of the University of Oxford / 2007 / B / 5 / iii / Solution

The conserved total is $e_0=[E](0)$ under the chosen initial conditions. Substitute $E=e_0-X-Y-E_i$ into the equations from the previous part. This closes the subsystem for $S,X,Y,E_i$; product can be recovered afterward by integrating $\dot{P}=k_{3}Y$.

Let $k_{\Sigma }=k_{-1}+k_2$ and $K_m=k_{\Sigma }/k_1$. The required nondimensionalization is completed byIndeed $X=e_0\sigma x/(1+\sigma )$ and the free-enzyme fraction is $1-\sigma x/(1+\sigma )-y-e_i$. Substitution and division by the indicated time scale giveFor example $k_2/k_{\Sigma }=1/(1+\rho )$ explains the coefficient in the third equation. The small multiplier on the intermediate-species derivatives identifies their potentially fast adjustment relative to substrate depletion.