Simple Mathematics Using Student Editions of MATLAB

Simple Mathematics Using Student Editions of MATLAB PDF (Adobe DRM)

by: Gunnar Backstrom

Must we Learn Mathematics as in the 1800s? If you aspire to be a scientist or an engineer you may be frustrated by the very formal structure of mathematics. In particular, you may find proofs and derivations difficult to follow. If you only need to apply mathematics, however, you may take the attitude that proofs are an affair between the professional mathematician and his Creator. You may safely trust the learning of dead mathematicians, since their theorems have been thoroughly verified by those now living, and those before them. You must still explore the meaning of the main concepts, but from there on you can begin to apply the mathematical knowledge accumulated during past centuries. You proceed directly to applications, involving only the well-known rules of arithmetic. This volume illustrates the most important concepts and results of college mathematics in the form of numerical examples. The standard language used is MATLAB®, chosen for its remarkably simple syntax. While working through the examples you learn a primitive but useful subset of the MATLAB commands. This arsenal suffices to solve large systems of linear equations (even with complex coefficients), calculate derivatives and integrals, and solve ordinary differential equations up to second order. The book starts with elementary arithmetic, algebra, and tri¬gonometry, and the final chapters extend the treatise to Fourier analysis. After digesting all the examples you will have gained intuitive and practical understanding of mathematics and are in a position to apply it on your own. In addition, you have become familiar with one of the most popular programs for com¬putation. The Student Version of MATLAB may be ordered from MathWorks Inc. by colleges and universities, which in turn can sell CDs to their students, or simply give them away. These educational versions are practically identical to the professional MATLAB program, and the restrictions are of no importance in undergraduate work. An enormous number of MATLAB program disks now exist, which may be borrowed or purchased second-hand. Of course, the Professional MATLAB program may also be used, if it includes the Symbolic Math Toolbox. The examples run under the MATLAB versions 5, 6, and 7. You may download the first chapters of this book free from www.LearnByProgramming.com and also view the full Table of Contents.