Java Number Cruncher: The Java Programmer's Guide to Numerical Computing (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book introduces Java programmers to numerical computing. It contains clear, non-theoretical explanations of practical numerical algorithms, including safely summing numbers, finding roots of equations, interpolation and approximation, numerical integration and differentiation, and matrix operations, including solving sets of simultaneous equations. Many of the programs are applets that take advantage of Java's interactive graphics capabilities. These programs allow the user to interact with them as they dynamically demonstrate the computational algorithms in action. Java Number Cruncher devotes several chapters to searching for patterns in the prime numbers, generating random numbers, intriguing formulas for pi and e, arbitrarily long numbers and their relationship to data encryption, and algorithms for creating fractal images. Working Java programs demonstrate all the concepts from this book.

From the Back Cover

• Non-theoretical explanations of practical numerical algorithms
• Algorithms in action with animated, interactive graphical Java programs and applets
• Computational errors and how to remove them from your code

Understand "computer math" and get the numbers you expect, reliably.

In Java Number Cruncher, author Ronald Mak explains how to spot-and how to avoid-the subtle programming miscues that can cause vexing calculation errors in your applications. An authority on mapping pure math to computer math, he explains how to use the often-overlooked computational features of Java, and does so in a clear, non-theoretical style.

Without getting lost in mathematical detail, you'll learn practical numerical algorithms for safely summing numbers, finding roots of equations, interpolation and approximation, numerical integration, solving differential equations, matrix operations, and solving sets of simultaneous equations. You'll also enjoy intriguing topics such as searching for patterns in prime numbers, generating random numbers, computing thousands of digits of pi, and creating intricately beautiful fractal images.

Java Number Cruncher includes:

• Practical information all Java programmers should know
• Popular computational algorithms in Java-without excessive mathematical theory
• Interactive graphical programs that bring the algorithms to life on the computer screen
• Rounding errors, the pitfalls of integer arithmetic, Java's implementation of the IEEE 754 floating-point standard, and more

This book is useful to all Java programmers, especially for those who want to learn about numerical computation, and for developers of scientific, financial, and data analysis applications.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR (November 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130460419
• ISBN-13: 978-0130460417
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #401,279 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Light reading, beautiful Java code for numerical algorithm, January 18, 2003

By	Ning Zhao (Hildesheim, Germany) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is not a text book on numerical algorithm: very light mathematics and there lacks something I expected, say, spline, high order differential equations and so on. However I don't complain at all, the reading is very enjoyable. Essential concepts and methods well explained. For those who are not good at math or don't intend to become a mathematician but have to get work done, will find this book a great resource. There is also some fun stuff for you to play with numbers: caculating the Pi, drawing a Mandelbrot and so on. You can find some interactive applets on the authors homepage.

The code written for numerical computing in this book is very beautiful, in an OOP manner, design pattern applied and detailed documented. It never brings you hard time to figure out the parameters and indexes. Reading the code you can understand the algorithm more thoroughly. I found the idea behind the organisation of the code is brilliant. Also a good book to learn good programming.

What's interesting, the author declares there's some intended errors in this book, he wants to see if readers pay any attention. Okay, I haven't read every page of this book and am curious to see what I would find out.

What's awkward, the package offered on his site never got accessed by my Java SDK 1.4.1. I had to pick out the source files and make new packages. The innen structure of this nc.jar appears a bit weird to me. Hope this is not an "intended error".

Anyways, thanks to Mr.Mak for this excellent book.

-Ellen

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars if (java != eCommerce) { ..., November 21, 2004

By	Riccardo Audano (Chiavari, Italy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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As the author says, last time I looked Java still had the +, -, /, * and % mathematical operators.. though most programmers end up forgetting it lost as they are in the boring, vulgar and repetitive coding of boiler-plate "enterprise" (read "sell sell sell") applications. This book does a very good job of introducing a Java programmer to one of the most fun and interesting powers that Java can offer ... that is playing with numbers and exploring the world of mathematics. Forget (at least for a little while) Servlets, JSP, EJB, and database massaging... and give a look to how you can use your JDK to study functions, solve differential equations, integrals, system of equations, discover prime numbers and admire the beauty of fractals. The treatment of the various subjects is done is sufficient detail to be clear and sound, but without burderdening the reader
with detail and depth best left for more specialized and hard-core texts that the curious reader can explore after this one. Refreshing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Numbers Can Be Fun, April 26, 2003

By	Marty Zwilling (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

Most people don't think of Java as being the language for exploring mathematics and numbers, but this book could go a long ways toward convincing you otherwise.

Actually, I'm not a student of serious mathematics, and things like solving differential equations and linear equations are not in my list of fun things. I'll trust others to verify that these topics are covered correctly in the book.

But many of the other topics covered, such as floating point numbers, integers, interpolation and approximation, need to be understood by every Java programmer, even in business applications.

I was very impressed with the clarity and simplicity of these presentations. Mr. Mack has an excellent writing style, and real examples, which made even complex topics understandable. I wish he was around when I was in college, trying to learn some of these things.

If you are simply trying to understand how Java works with numbers of all types (like I was), you will find the book very helpful and worthwhile. In the process, I found out a lot of fun things about numerical computing that I never knew. I also came away convinced that Java can do numbers with good performance and good precision.

If you're looking for a reference on "how to" calculate prime numbers, random numbers, pi, or fractals, this book is also for you, with its many pre-coded solutions. But it doesn't read like a 'reference book', due to the "fun with numbers" style.

I liked it.