SymbolicC++: An Introduction to Computer Algebra using Object-Oriented Programming [Paperback]

Kiat Shi Tan (Author), Willi-Hans Steeb (Author), Yorick Hardy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2000 | ISBN-10: 1852332603 | ISBN-13: 978-1852332600 | Edition: Enlarged 2nd

Symbolic C++: An Introduction to Computer Algebra Using Object-Oriented Programming provides a concise introduction to C++ and object-oriented programming, using a step-by-step construction of a new object-oriented designed computer algebra system - Symbolic C++. It shows how object-oriented programming can be used to implement a symbolic algebra system and how this can then be applied to different areas in mathematics and physics. This second revised edition:- * Explains the new powerful classes that have been added to Symbolic C++. * Includes the Standard Template Library. * Extends the Java section. * Contains useful classes in scientific computation. * Contains extended coverage of Maple, Mathematica, Reduce and MuPAD.

Product Details

• Paperback: 708 pages
• Publisher: Springer; Enlarged 2nd edition (March 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852332603
• ISBN-13: 978-1852332600
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,675,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great object-oriented application, July 12, 2001

By 

Louis Charbonneau (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SymbolicC++: An Introduction to Computer Algebra using Object-Oriented Programming (Paperback)

You will find this book fascinating if you are a computer science student intrigued by symbolic calculation systems such as Mathematica and Maple, and if you would like to see how such systems would be implemented in C++ (Mathematica and Maple are actually implemented in plain old C).

The C++ level required is just after CS2, the second C++ class that comprises data structures. If I were a CS2 instructor, I guess I would require students to read some parts of this book since it is a great means of reinforcing about all the concepts learned in C++, while building a nontrivial application; although some examples are taken from physics, physics knowledge is by no means required and the general math level called for reading this book remains comfortably low, and one can always skip the things one does not know or does not care about (such as quaternions, but hey, some people might be turned on by that stuff...).

It shows how to build classes that actually perform calculations using integers of arbitrary length, rational numbers of the a/b form, vectors, matrices, quaternions, symbolic variables, differentiation, integration, etc.

The system described in the book, SymbolicC++, can be used as a FREE alternative to Mathematica or Maple, less of course the graphing capabilities these great software products offer (less also zillions of functions available). SymbolicC++ may nevertheless be connected to Gnuplot to produce graphs. SymbolicC++ may also be of interest to the professional developer having to struggle with complex calculations, since its classes can be included in any C++ environment.

So in short, this book is great if you have the right background and the right interests.

I should also point out that Dr Steeb has written another great book that shows the system at work in problems from the physical sciences and finance ("The Nonlinear Workbook")

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Eclectic but rich, January 10, 2000

By 

Douglas Cameron (Wellesley, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SymbolicC++: An Introduction to Computer Algebra using Object-Oriented Programming (Paperback)

A mixture of C++, group theory, and mathematical physics. Far from a polished treatment, but maybe worth perusing if these are topics of interest to you.