📖 Overview
Numerical Computing with MATLAB serves as an introduction to numerical methods and MATLAB programming, written by Cleve Moler, the creator of MATLAB. The book covers core concepts in numerical analysis while teaching readers to implement algorithms using MATLAB code.
The text progresses through key topics including matrix computation, solving systems of equations, interpolation, numerical integration, and differential equations. Each chapter contains practical examples and exercises that reinforce the mathematical concepts through hands-on programming.
The material bridges pure mathematics with computational methods, demonstrating how theoretical concepts translate into working code. Code snippets and complete programs are provided throughout, allowing readers to test and modify the implementations.
This book represents an integration of academic rigor and practical application, making numerical methods accessible to students and practitioners in science and engineering. The parallel treatment of mathematics and programming reflects the modern approach to scientific computing.
👀 Reviews
Readers value the book's clear explanations of numerical methods and MATLAB implementation, with many noting it serves as both a practical programming guide and numerical analysis reference. Students appreciate the included code examples and exercises.
Likes:
- Detailed walkthrough of algorithm implementation
- Strong focus on practical applications
- Author's first-hand knowledge as MATLAB creator
- Free online access to full text and code
Dislikes:
- Some sections assume advanced math background
- Limited coverage of certain topics like optimization
- Older MATLAB syntax in some examples
- Print version can be expensive
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.14/5 (37 ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (21 ratings)
One reviewer noted: "The explanations bridge the gap between pure theory and actual code implementation." Another mentioned: "Great for learning numerical methods, but you need calculus and linear algebra prerequisites."
The book maintains 4+ star ratings across academic and commercial review sites, with most criticism focused on prerequisites rather than content.
📚 Similar books
Applied Numerical Linear Algebra by James W. Demmel
Methods and algorithms for solving numerical linear algebra problems with implementations in scientific computing languages.
Scientific Computing with MATLAB and Octave by Alfio Quarteroni and Fausto Saleri Practical examples and exercises in numerical methods with code implementations for both MATLAB and Octave platforms.
Matrix Computations by Gene H. Golub, Charles F. Van Loan Comprehensive coverage of numerical methods for matrix operations and computations with mathematical foundations.
Introduction to Scientific Computing by Peter Deuflhard and Andreas Hohmann Numerical algorithms and their implementation with focus on real-world scientific computing applications.
Numerical Methods Using MATLAB by John H. Mathews, Kurtis D. Fink Step-by-step explanations of numerical methods with MATLAB code examples and problem-solving approaches.
Scientific Computing with MATLAB and Octave by Alfio Quarteroni and Fausto Saleri Practical examples and exercises in numerical methods with code implementations for both MATLAB and Octave platforms.
Matrix Computations by Gene H. Golub, Charles F. Van Loan Comprehensive coverage of numerical methods for matrix operations and computations with mathematical foundations.
Introduction to Scientific Computing by Peter Deuflhard and Andreas Hohmann Numerical algorithms and their implementation with focus on real-world scientific computing applications.
Numerical Methods Using MATLAB by John H. Mathews, Kurtis D. Fink Step-by-step explanations of numerical methods with MATLAB code examples and problem-solving approaches.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔢 Cleve Moler is the creator of MATLAB and co-founder of MathWorks. He developed the first version of MATLAB in the late 1970s to give his students easier access to LINPACK and EISPACK without having to write Fortran.
💻 The book is freely available online through MathWorks and MIT OpenCourseWare, making advanced numerical computing accessible to students worldwide.
📚 The text evolved from courses taught by Moler at the University of New Mexico, Stanford University, and the University of California at Santa Barbara.
🧮 The book's examples and exercises use real-world applications, including the Google PageRank algorithm and image processing techniques used by NASA.
🎓 Despite being a technical text, the book deliberately avoids complex mathematical theory and proofs, focusing instead on practical implementation and understanding through visualization and experimentation.