Essential MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists, Third Edition [Paperback]

Brian Hahn (Author), Dan Valentine (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0750684178 | ISBN-13: 978-0750684170 | Publication Date: March 22, 2007 | Edition: 3

The essential guide to MATLAB as a problem solving tool

This text presents MATLAB both as a mathematical tool and a programming language, giving a concise and easy to master introduction to its potential and power. Stressing the importance of a structured approach to problem solving, the text gives a step-by-step method for program design and algorithm development. The fundamentals of MATLAB are illustrated throughout with many examples from a wide range of familiar scientific and engineering areas, as well as from everyday life.

Features:

. Numerous simple exercises provide hands-on learning of MATLAB's functions
. A new chapter on dynamical systems shows how a structured approach is used to solve more complex problems.
. Common errors and pitfalls highlighted
. Concise introduction to useful topics for solving problems in later engineering and science courses: vectors as arrays, arrays of characters, GUIs, advanced graphics, simulation and numerical methods
. Text and graphics in four colour
. Extensive instructor support

Essential MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists is an ideal textbook for a first course on MATLAB or an engineering problem solving course using MATLAB, as well as a self-learning tutorial for students and professionals expected to learn and apply MATLAB for themselves.

Additional material is available for lecturers only at http://textbooks.elsevier.com. This website provides lecturers with:

• A series of Powerpoint presentations to assist lecture preparation
• Extra quiz questions and problems
• Additional topic material
• M-files for the exercises and examples in the text (also available to students at the book's companion site)
• Solutions to exercises
• An interview with the revising author, Daniel Valentine

· Numerous simple exercises give hands-on learning
· A chapter on algorithm development and program design
· Common errors and pitfalls highlighted
· Concise introduction to useful topics for solving problems in later engineering and science courses: vectors as arrays, arrays of characters, GUIs, advanced graphics, simulation and numerical methods
· A new chapter on dynamical systems shows how a structured approach is used to solve more complex problems.
· Text and graphics in four colour
· Extensive teacher support on http://textbooks.elsevier.com: solutions manual, extra problems, multiple choice questions, PowerPoint slides
· Companion website for students providing M-files used within the book

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book provides an excellent initiation into programming in MATLAB while serving as a teaser for more advanced topics. It provides a structured entry into MATLAB programming through well designed exercises." - Carl H. Sondergeld, Professor and Curtis Mewbourne Chair, Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, University of Oklahoma

"This updated version continues to provide beginners with the essentials of Matlab, with many examples from science and engineering, written in an informal and accessible style. The new chapter on algorithm development and program design provides an excellent introduction to a structured approach to problem solving and the use of MATLAB as a programming language." - Professor Gary Ford, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis

"For a while I have been searching for a good MATLAB text for a graduate course on methods in environmental sciences. I finally settled on Hahn and Valentine because it provides the balance I need regarding ease of use and relevance of material and examples." - Professor Wayne M. Getz, Department Environmental Science Policy & Management, University of California at Berkeley

"This book is an outstanding introductory text for teaching mathematics, engineering, and science students how MATLAB can be used to solve mathematical problems. Its intuitive and well-chosen examples nicely bridge the gap between prototypical mathematical models and how MATLAB can be used to evaluate these models. The author does a superior job of examining and explaining the MATLAB code used to solve the problems presented." - Professor Mark E. Cawood, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Clemson University

"This has proved an excellent book for engineering undergraduate students to support their first studies in Matlab. Most of the basics are covered well, and it includes a useful introduction to the development of a Graphical User Interface." - Mr. Kenneth Rotter, Course Director, BSc Computer Aided Engineering, London South Bank University

"...is a very useful book to function as a further level of instructions for scientific and engineering Matlab users. It is full of practical examples with explanations, and they are easy to understand. The topics cover many typical numerical and graphic handling techniques for better mastering the Matlab package." - Dr. William Wang, Senior Lecturer in Engineering, University of Sussex

From the Back Cover

The essential guide to MATLAB as a problem solving tool

This text presents MATLAB both as a mathematical tool and a programming language, giving a concise and easy to master introduction to its potential and power. Stressing the importance of a structured approach to problem solving, the text gives a step-by-step method for program design and algorithm development. The fundamentals of MATLAB are illustrated throughout with many examples from a wide range of familiar scientific and engineering areas, as well as from everyday life.

Features:
* Numerous simple exercises provide hands-on learning of MATLAB's functions
* A new chapter on dynamical systems shows how a structured approach is used to solve more complex problems.
* Common errors and pitfalls highlighted
* Concise introduction to useful topics for solving problems in later engineering and science courses: vectors as arrays, arrays of characters, GUIs, advanced graphics, simulation and numerical methods
* Text and graphics in four colour
* Extensive instructor support

Essential MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists is an ideal textbook for a first course on MATLAB or an engineering problem solving course using MATLAB, as well as a self-learning tutorial for students and professionals expected to learn and apply MATLAB for themselves.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Newnes; 3 edition (March 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750684178
• ISBN-13: 978-0750684170
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #581,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Supplemental Text, May 24, 2007

By 

Rebecca (Washington State, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Essential MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists, Third Edition (Paperback)

This book was recommended by a professor as a good supplemental text. So far, I have been glad I bought it. The main text is very good, but very technical. This book helps to fill in some of the holes that come up.

It is quite bright and colorful inside, and not what I expected. It is easy to read and demonstrates how to get started using MATLAB.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Grammar improved. Actual errors not fixed., August 11, 2010

By 

A. Professor - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hahn and Attaway Bundle: Essential Matlab for Engineers and Scientists, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

As a professor who is in charge of selecting books for my courses at a very reputable institution, I have to say that I am very disappointed.

The main difference between the 3rd and 4th edition is that someone who is obviously very good at composition (but knows little or nothing about Matlab) has spent an extensive amount of time combing through the entire document to create a pristine-sounding, professional textbook. That person did a good job at his/her given task, and if that is your style preference, you will appreciate the 4th edition. I actually appreciated the casual tone of the 3rd edition, myself.

However, the content is *identical*.

And by identical, I mean, this includes any errors in the 3rd edition. For example, I was desperately hoping that if a new edition of this text were to be published, that someone would correct the issues in Chapter 13 (GUIs) due to the fact that Matlab no longer acts the way it used to. For example, p.295 (3rd edition) p. 266 (4th edition), the statement

disp('pushbutton1 Callback not implemented yet.')

is actually no longer auto-generated. Neither does the "varargout =" show up in the autogenerated code. On p.298/268 it says you need to select Tools, then "Application Options", when you need to in fact select Tools and then "GUI Options".

One of the most common requests I get from my best students is that they want to learn GUIs. I cannot recommend that they read ahead in the text, and in fact I am not even going to require the text, due to excessive issues of this sort. All I can tell them is to wait until we get to that topic in class, which may be the following semester!

Another issue I have is that much of the artwork appears to have been cheaply scanned from a paper copy of the old edition. These diagrams are fuzzy and hard to read in the new edition. It would not have taken too much extra effort to regenerate the screen captures.

My unsolicited advice: If you are going to create a new edition of a textbook for Engineers, next time, I would suggest you hire an Engineering graduate student rather than an English Literature graduate student, to go through the entire document for accuracy rather than adherence to grammatical standards. The improved language will do nothing to help your readers with the accuracy issues.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essentail MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists; Hahn and Attaway, May 20, 2011

By 

Student - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hahn and Attaway Bundle: Essential Matlab for Engineers and Scientists, Fourth Edition (Paperback)

The title of this book is appropriate in that it is absolutely essential. The authors do well to walk one through the wonderful world of MATLAB while demonstrating its amazing computational sophistication. Starting with the basics, each chapter is more fun and exciting than the last as the reader is able to build upon their newly acquired knowledge and develop their own MATLAB scripts in no time. I have attempted to learn MATLAB with other resources but can say quite honestly that this book stands above all others that I have read, has made learning MATLAB fun, and is a pleasure to read. Do not hesitate buying this book because you are not "a math person"...you will become one after reading! Enjoy!