Numerical Analysis using Matlab and Spreadsheets & t( v* V' C: GThis book is written primarily for students/readers who have a good background of high-school8 a3 X% _# H/ @. y8 j* V
algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and the fundamentals of differential and integral calculus.* A, a# l+ B. w3 h
prior knowledge of differential equations is desirable but not necessary; this topic is reviewed in 0 n5 j2 K: ^! U2 Q* FChapter 5. 5 s. p1 e' }% B+ M" v/ t+ q6 F+ IOne can use Fortran, Pascal, C, or Visual Basic or even a spreadsheet to solve a difficult problem.7 |- j- [5 L# ]2 H+ f
It is the opinion of this author that the best applications programs for solving engineering1 E# Y) q( [. e# B& o8 |- e
problems are 1) MATLAB which is capable of performing advanced mathematical and7 P: u, F- Z6 u# M3 K
engineering computations, and 2) the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet since the versatility offered by* D" E5 m3 u8 s: E) V* I
spreadsheets have revolutionized the personal computer industry. We will assume that the reader* q2 o; |$ h* q" x( \1 M& x
has no prior knowledge of MATLAB and limited familiarity with Excel.