Numerical Computing with MATLAB

This is a lively textbook for an introductory course in numerical methods, MATLAB, and technical computing, with an emphasis on the informed use of mathematical software. The presentation helps readers learn enough about the mathematical functions in MATLAB to use them correctly, appreciate their limitations, and modify them appropriately. The book makes extensive use of computer graphics, including interactive graphical expositions of numerical algorithms. It provides more than 70 M-files, which can be downloaded from the text Web site www.mathworks.com/moler. Many of the numerous exercises involve modifying and extending these programs. The topics covered include an introduction to MATLAB; linear equations; interpolation; zeros and roots; least squares; quadrature; ordinary differential equations; Fourier analysis; random numbers; eigenvalues and singular values; and partial differential equations. Motivating applications include modern problems from cryptography, touch-tone dialing, Google page-ranking, atmospheric science and image processing, as well as classical problems from physics and engineering.

Cleve B. Moler is Chairman and Chief Scientist at The MathWorks. Before abandoning academic life for the computer industry, Moler was a professor of mathematics and computer science for almost 20 years at the University of Michigan, Stanford University, and the University of New Mexico. He then spent five years with two computer hardware manufacturers, the Intel Hypercube organization and Ardent Computers. His professional interests center on numerical analysis and scientific computing. He is the original author of Matlab, as well as one of the authors of the LINPACK and EISPACK scientific libraries for matrix computation. He is also co-author of three textbooks on numerical methods. He has served SIAM as a journal editor, Council member, Vice-President, and, since 1996, a member of the Board of Trustees.