An Introduction to Programming with Mathematica® [Hardcover]

Paul R. Wellin (Author), Richard J. Gaylord (Author), Samuel N. Kamin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521846781 | ISBN-13: 978-0521846783 | Publication Date: January 31, 2005 | Edition: 3

An Introduction to Programming with Mathematica® is designed to introduce the Mathematica programming language to a wide audience. Since the last edition of this book was published, significant changes have occurred in Mathematica and its use worldwide. Keeping pace with these changes, this substantially larger, updated version includes new and revised chapters on numerics, procedural, rule-based, and front-end programming, and gives significant coverage to the latest features up to, and including, Mathematica 5.1 Mathematica notebooks, available from www.cambridge.org/0521846781, contain examples, programs, and solutions to exercises in the book. Additionally, material to supplement later versions of the software will be made available. This is the ideal text for all scientific students, researchers, and programmers wishing to deepen their understanding of Mathematica, or even those keen to program using an interactive language that contains programming paradigms from all major programming languages: procedural, functional, recursive, rule-based, and object-oriented.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Essential...a welcome addition to the literature. The choice of topics and their presentation are lucidly informed by considerable experience. The writing style is straightforward and clear. The authors stick resolutely to their goal of producing an introductory text, not a complete treatment, on programming in Mathematica. As such it is highly successful, full of useful examples that show how the ideas can be immediately and fruitfully exploited."
The Mathematica Journal

"The two introductory chapters on the Mathematica language provide a wonderful, and very clear, introduction to use on the beginners level...The chapter introducing the language does a masterful job of covering many of the most important features in just 21 pages, truly remarkable given the breadth and depth of the language...Part of the value here is that the authors do not merely provide a few sample programs, but actually take the time to detail the value of writing your own. Once the novice becomes familiar with the basic concepts, tests of understanding are provided by chapter exercises."
Scientific Computing

"...Familiar with Mathematica this would be an excellent self study text to improve their understanding of how to use its considerable range of programming tools...Also there are exercises and solutions as well as a couple of useful appendices on how Mathematica performs its calculations and debugging. It would thus seem an excellent course text."
S French, Journal of the Operational Research Society

Book Description

An Introduction to Programming with Mathematica® is designed to introduce the Mathematica programming language to a wide audience. This new, and substantially larger edition, includes new chapters giving significant coverage to the latest functions featured in the software. Contains exercises with solutions in the book, and software support available from www.cambridge.org/9780521846783.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 570 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 3 edition (January 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521846781
• ISBN-13: 978-0521846783
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The 3rd Ed. is based on Mathematica 5.1, March 8, 2005

By 

Chris G. Krautschik (Cupertino, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Programming with Mathematica® (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent introduction to Mathematica. It is based on Mathematica 5.1 and hence bring the 2nd Ed. based on Mathematica 2.2 up to date to the most recent version of this software package. The book covers all aspects of programming functionalities available in Mathematica: procedural, functional, recursive, rule-based, and object-oriented. There are ample examples in science and mathematics as well as devising one's own software packages. The emphasis of the book is on the fundamental programming concepts. While there are examples of complete packages that solve specific problems more emphasis in this direction would even further strengthen the book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, consistent text, April 25, 2007

By 

Paul Mchale (Beavercreek, Oh United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Programming with Mathematica® (Hardcover)

This book is extremely useful to take a beginner through simple, well explained exercises. I can honestly say you will learn tremendous amounts about Mathematica.

If I could only have one book and needed to program Mathematica, this would be it. Hands down. I can only believe this book was intended as a book for a course. I feel the book is paced to allow any student to read the pages and work the very well thought out exercises.


If you are working on your own and learning Mathematica, do yourself a favor and buy this book. The only other book that I would get is the amazing reference "Mathematica Navigator". You won't learn how to program Mathematica from it. You will learn an amazing amount about how Mathematica works by reading it. If you don't believe me, check out it's thorough explanation of cubic splines. It's better than the Mathematica Help. It also comes with the complete book which can be installed in the Mathematica help system.

There are other books which are good. Between these two books, you will an amazing arsenal to work with!

Paul

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on basic programming with Mathematica, June 17, 2007

By 

Jon S. Davis - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: An Introduction to Programming with Mathematica® (Hardcover)

This is by far and away the best basic book for learning how to program with Mathematica. I spent 2 hours a day using the book for one month and I'm now quite comfortable with the software. If you are new to Mathematica, do yourself a favor and read this book.