A First Course in Scientific Computing: Symbolic, Graphic, and Numeric Modeling Using Maple, Java, Mathematica, and Fortran90

Landau, Rubin

ISBN 10: 0691121834 ISBN 13: 9780691121833

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2005

Synopsis

This book offers a new approach to introductory scientific computing. It aims to make students comfortable using computers to do science, to provide them with the computational tools and knowledge they need throughout their college careers and into their professional careers, and to show how all the pieces can work together. Rubin Landau introduces the requisite mathematics and computer science in the course of realistic problems, from energy use to the building of skyscrapers to projectile motion with drag. He is attentive to how each discipline uses its own language to describe the same concepts and how computations are concrete instances of the abstract.

Landau covers the basics of computation, numerical analysis, and programming from a computational science perspective. The first part of the printed book uses the problem-solving environment Maple as its context, with the same material covered on the accompanying CD as both Maple and Mathematica programs; the second part uses the compiled language Java, with equivalent materials in Fortran90 on the CD; and the final part presents an introduction to LaTeX replete with sample files.

Providing the essentials of computing, with practical examples, A First Course in Scientific Computing adheres to the principle that science and engineering students learn computation best while sitting in front of a computer, book in hand, in trial-and-error mode. Not only is it an invaluable learning text and an essential reference for students of mathematics, engineering, physics, and other sciences, but it is also a consummate model for future textbooks in computational science and engineering courses.

• A broad spectrum of computing tools and examples that can be used throughout an academic career


• Practical computing aimed at solving realistic problems


• Both symbolic and numerical computations


• A multidisciplinary approach: science + math + computer science


• Maple and Java in the book itself; Mathematica, Fortran90, Maple and Java on the accompanying CD in an interactive workbook format

About this title

From the Back Cover

"This book fills an important niche for the undergraduate by providing a well-organized, well-written introduction to a subject usually addressed in books for graduate students. Its problem-based approach to programming in Maple and Java, using common physics problems in a multitude of areas such as mechanisms, electromagnetism, and relativity, is very effective method of instruction."--Gregory Moses, University of Wisconsin-Madison

"This easy-to-follow book is novel in being a hands-on workbook rather than a standard textbook. Importantly, it integrates scientific examples with a discussion of programming techniques and algorithm design. By having the student read it while sitting down at the computer, it offers immediate feedback. It is also unusual in using and comparing two very different approaches, Maple and Java."--Jan Tobochnik, Kalamazoo College, coauthor of An Introduction to Computer Simulation Methods and Editor of the American Journal of Physics

About the Author

Rubin H. Landau is Distinguished Professor of Physics and Director of the Computational Physics Program at Oregon State University. He is the lead author of Computational Physics: Problem Solving with Computers; A Scientist's and Engineer's Guide to Workstations and Supercomputers; and Quantum Mechanics II: A Second Course in Quantum Theory.

Edition details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0691121834
• ISBN 13: 9780691121833
• Binding: Audio CD
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 512