Ebook: Scientific Computing with MATLAB

This textbook is an introduction to Scientific Computing, in which several numerical methods for the computer solution of certain classes of mathematical problems are illustrated. The authors show how to compute the zeros or the integrals of continuous functions, solve linear systems, approximate functions by polynomials and construct accurate approximations for the solution of differential equations. To make the presentation concrete and appealing, the programming environment Matlab is adopted as a faithful companion. All the algorithms introduced throughout the book are shown, thus furnishing an immediate quantitative assessment of their theoretical properties such as stability, accuracy and complexity. The book also contains the solution to several problems raised through exercises and examples, often originating from specific applications. A specific section is devoted to subjects which were not addressed in the book and indicate the bibliographical references for a more comprehensive treatment of the material.       

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The target audience of this book is students and researchers in computational sciences who need to develop computer codes for solving partial differential equations. The exposition is focused on numerics and software related to mathematical models in solid and fluid mechanics. The book teaches finite element methods, and basic finite difference methods from a computational point of view. The main emphasis regards development of flexible computer programs, using the numerical library Diffpack. The application of Diffpack is explained in detail for problems including model equations in applied mathematics, heat transfer, elasticity, and viscous fluid flow. Diffpack is a modern software development environment based on C++ and object-oriented programming. The second edition contains several new applications and projects, improved explanations, correction of errors, and is up to date with Diffpack version 4.0.