Guide To Scientific Computing

This book introduces the reader to many of the problems of scientific computing and the wide variety of methods used for their solutions. It discusses basic approaches and stimulates an appreciation of the need for numerical methods in solving different types of problems. For each of the problems presented, the author provides some mathematical justification and examples. These serve as practical evidence and motivation for the reader to follow. Practical justification of the methods is provided through computer examples and exercises. The book includes an introduction to MATLAB, but the code used is not intended to exemplify sophisticated or robust pieces of software; it is purely illustrative of the method under discussion.

This easy-to-read textbook/reference presents an essential guide to object-oriented C++ programming for scientific computing. With a practical focus on learning by example, the theory is supported by numerous exercises. Features: provides a specific focus on the application of C++ to scientific computing, including parallel computing using MPI; stresses the importance of a clear programming style to minimize the introduction of errors into code; presents a practical introduction to procedural programming in C++, covering variables, flow of control, input and output, pointers, functions, and reference variables; exhibits the efficacy of classes, highlighting the main features of object-orientation; examines more advanced C++ features, such as templates and exceptions; supplies useful tips and examples throughout the text, together with chapter-ending exercises, and code available to download from Springer.

This simple-to-follow textbook/reference provides an invaluable guide to object-oriented C++ programming for scientific computing. Through a series of clear and concise discussions, the key features most useful to the novice programmer are explored, enabling the reader to quickly master the basics and build the confidence to investigate less well-used features when needed. The text presents a hands-on approach that emphasizes the benefits of learning by example, stressing the importance of a clear programming style to minimise the introduction of errors into the code, and offering an extensive selection of practice exercises. This updated and enhanced new edition includes additional material on software testing, and on some new features introduced in modern C++ standards such as C++11. Topics and features: presents a practical treatment of the C++ programming language for applications in scientific computing; reviews the essentials of procedural programming in C++, covering variables, flow of control, input and output, pointers, functions and reference variables; introduces the concept of classes, showcasing the main features of object-orientation, and discusses such advanced C++ features as templates and exceptions; examines the development of a collection of classes for linear algebra calculations, and presents an introduction to parallel computing using MPI; describes how to construct an object-oriented library for solving second order differential equations; contains appendices reviewing linear algebra and useful programming constructs, together with solutions to selected exercises; provides exercises and programming tips at the end of every chapter, and supporting code at an associated website. This accessible textbook is a “must-read” for programmers of all levels of expertise. Basic familiarity with concepts such as operations between vectors and matrices, and the Newton-Raphson method for finding the roots of non-linear equations, would be an advantage, but extensive knowledge of the underlying mathematics is not assumed.

Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this new book provides a modern introduction to scientific computing, exploring numerical methods, computer technology, and their interconnections, which are treated with the goal of facilitating scientific research across all disciplines. Each chapter provides an insightful lesson and viewpoints from several subject areas are often compounded within a single chapter. Written with an eye on usefulness, longevity, and breadth, Lessons in Scientific Computing will serve as a "one stop shop" for students taking a unified course in scientific computing, or seeking a single cohesive text spanning multiple courses. Features: Provides a unique combination of numerical analysis, computer programming, and computer hardware in a single text Includes essential topics such as numerical methods, approximation theory, parallel computing, algorithms, and examples of computational discoveries in science Written in a clear and engaging style Not wedded to a specific programming language

Created to help scientists and engineers write computer code, this practical book addresses the important tools and techniques that are necessary for scientific computing, but which are not yet commonplace in science and engineering curricula. This book contains chapters summarizing the most important topics that computational researchers need to know about. It leverages the viewpoints of passionate experts involved with scientific computing courses around the globe and aims to be a starting point for new computational scientists and a reference for the experienced. Each contributed chapter focuses on a specific tool or skill, providing the content needed to provide a working knowledge of the topic in about one day. While many individual books on specific computing topics exist, none is explicitly focused on getting technical professionals and students up and running immediately across a variety of computational areas.

This book is a practical guide to the numerical solution of linear and nonlinear equations, differential equations, optimization problems, and eigenvalue problems. It treats standard problems and introduces important variants such as sparse systems, differential-algebraic equations, constrained optimization, Monte Carlo simulations, and parametric studies. Stability and error analysis are emphasized, and the Matlab algorithms are grounded in sound principles of software design and understanding of machine arithmetic and memory management. Nineteen case studies provide experience in mathematical modeling and algorithm design, motivated by problems in physics, engineering, epidemiology, chemistry, and biology. The topics included go well beyond the standard first-course syllabus, introducing important problems such as differential-algebraic equations and conic optimization problems, and important solution techniques such as continuation methods. The case studies cover a wide variety of fascinating applications, from modeling the spread of an epidemic to determining truss configurations.

The core of scientific computing is designing, writing, testing, debugging and modifying numerical software for application to a vast range of areas: from graphics, meteorology and chemistry to engineering, biology and finance. Scientists, engineers and computer scientists need to write good code, for speed, clarity, flexibility and ease of re-use. Oliveira and Stewart's style guide for numerical software points out good practices to follow, and pitfalls to avoid. By following their advice, readers will learn how to write efficient software, and how to test it for bugs, accuracy and performance. Techniques are explained with a variety of programming languages, and illustrated with two extensive design examples, one in Fortran 90 and one in C++: other examples in C, C++, Fortran 90 and Java are scattered throughout the book. This manual of scientific computing style will be an essential addition to the bookshelf and lab of everyone who writes numerical software.

This is a textbook that teaches the bridging topics between numerical analysis, parallel computing, code performance, large scale applications.