Numerical Analysis using Matlab and Spreadsheets( o, ]$ Y1 O5 ^* D/ n
This book is written primarily for students/readers who have a good background of high-school8 ?& w4 h4 T1 u4 F0 B+ G5 G
algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and the fundamentals of differential and integral calculus.* A3 k& A+ m0 L0 L Y
prior knowledge of differential equations is desirable but not necessary; this topic is reviewed in* f c1 f, I3 ~$ F! }! f
Chapter 5.2 s( f5 U' p0 |0 ?
One can use Fortran, Pascal, C, or Visual Basic or even a spreadsheet to solve a difficult problem./ B/ b1 T9 a t! [9 t
It is the opinion of this author that the best applications programs for solving engineering $ g% b: L( F9 R) rproblems are 1) MATLAB which is capable of performing advanced mathematical and& T( t8 V; D; M. S% ?
engineering computations, and 2) the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet since the versatility offered by# ], Y0 }" w/ U% l* g& C& @( ~
spreadsheets have revolutionized the personal computer industry. We will assume that the reader " P) s7 ~9 i, ^7 U" Q8 ]3 B' Q7 chas no prior knowledge of MATLAB and limited familiarity with Excel.