A Numerical Library in Java for Scientists and Engineers [Hardcover]

Hang T. Lau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 27, 2003 | ISBN-10: 1584884304 | ISBN-13: 978-1584884309 | Edition: 1

At last researchers have an inexpensive library of Java-based numeric procedures for use in scientific computation. The first and only book of its kind, A Numeric Library in Java for Scientists and Engineers is a translation into Java of the library NUMAL (NUMerical procedures in ALgol 60).

This groundbreaking text presents procedural descriptions for linear algebra, ordinary and partial differential equations, optimization, parameter estimation, mathematical physics, and other tools that are indispensable to any dynamic research group.

The book offers test programs that allow researchers to execute the examples provided; users are free to construct their own tests and apply the numeric procedures to them in order to observe a successful computation or simulate failure. The entry for each procedure is logically presented, with name, usage parameters, and Java code included.

This handbook serves as a powerful research tool, enabling the performance of critical computations in Java. It stands as a cost-efficient alternative to expensive commercial software package of procedural components.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1088 pages
• Publisher: Chapman and Hall/CRC; 1 edition (August 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584884304
• ISBN-13: 978-1584884309
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.3 x 2.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,276,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful numerical Java library with source code, September 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Numerical Library in Java for Scientists and Engineers (Hardcover)

This book contains some much needed source code of a comprehensive numerical library in Java. This provides a basis for students and researchers to evaluate different numerical methods. For beginners, the library can be used as a black box for solving a wide range of numerical problems. More experienced users can build new modules based on the existing ones, or modify the source code for experimentation.

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of good value, September 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Numerical Library in Java for Scientists and Engineers (Hardcover)

It is indispensable to have the source code of such a
high quality numerical library to experiment on the PC.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars all the nuts & bolts you need, wrapped in newspaper, June 22, 2004

By 

D. Tognola - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Numerical Library in Java for Scientists and Engineers (Hardcover)

A true alternative to astronomically expensive numerical Java libraries. It contains a great collection of various algorithms, explains which one to choose, how to use it and what it does. In addition the Java source code is printed which is reason for the high page numbers and should answer even the most specific questions. Finally, there are many references to classic publications for further reading.

This book provides all the information you'll need to solve most numerical problems (linear algebra, non-linear equations, ordinary differential equations, Fourier transform, special functions, time series,...) but unfortunately barely covers interpolation and approximation (e.g. no splines !). Oh, and the typesetting is a bit rough.

Similar to open source projects, I expected the CD included with the book to contain source, a jar file and javadoc ready to be used. Instead you will find the Java sources (in a single "numal" package) and pre-compiled classes only. Algorithms are invoked via static methods in chapter-based classes such as "Basic", "FFT", "Linear_algebra" etc.
I found the usage of "double[1]" rather than "double" a bit confusing. But fortunately the non primitive data types passed on to these methods are defined via interfaces, so no real restrictions when integrating to your project will apply.

I suspect that the author has strong skills in older programming languages such as Fortran or C which may have influenced his Java style (no offense).
So depending on how high your Java skills and expectations are, you might have to spend a few minutes re-organising and refactoring the sources, running javadoc on it and packing it into a jar.

Summarizing I'd say that I would not like to miss this book as it has saved me many hours implementing the methods by myself. If it also covered splines and presented the code more nicely I would definitely give it the missing extra star. The crucial information is there and at the end, that's what you need, right ?