Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wide range of topics covered in detail, but lots of mistakes, May 9, 2000
I was quite amazed by the wide range of topics and applications covered by this book. And yet, each topic is covered in detail, with many algorithms presented to achieve a certain goal. The various algorithms are always summarised and compared, so that it is a simple matter to know which algorithm to choose depending on the circumstances of the problem at hand. I liked the very detailed examples which tend to run over a good number of iterations so that one can easily test one's understanding of the operation of the algorithm.However, the disappointment lay in the number of mistakes that are made. Most of them are very subtle, and are only discovered if you go through the text carefully, or try to implement an algorithm based on the example pseudocode. In most cases it is the pseudocode that has gone wrong. If you are only a beginner programmer, then it will be difficult to sift through the poorly written pseudocode. On the other hand, a seasoned programmer will have no problems. In summary - a top class book marred by some mistakes. If you know how to program, then this book is for you. Beginner programmers will be slowed somewhat by the poor pseudocode.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Numerous errors hurt an otherwise decent book, October 31, 2005
Using the text for self study, I was initially quite pleased. The layout is attractive, selection of topics appropriate and writing style generally clear. The applied problems are rather nice.
While the derivation of the methods and theory discussed is generally brief- the author does provide an adequate basis for a workable understanding. Exposition is appropriate (perhaps even good) for an 'applied' book.
I did, however, find the work somewhat uneven: the Newton Cotes section, for example, was a little more disorganized than I would have liked. Some simple rearrangement and grouping of thoughts would have already helped to clarify many of the ideas. Surprisingly, the previous (6th) edition seems to have done a better job in this particular case.
In any event, my largest issue with the book is the staggering number of errors. I don't use the term lightly. I've read many technical books that have a minor typo here or there: it's natural. With Applied Numerical Analysis there appears to have been little proof-reading at all!
In Chapter 3 alone I've noted more than 10 problems: some more than simple typo's. This is unacceptable for a technical work!
I spent a great deal of time and effort trying to understand many of the discussions only to eventually realize that the cause of my frustration was a fault in the text. Besides the wasted effort, this had the knock-on effect that I began to doubt everything that seemed the least bit confusing.
Publishers should be reprimanded for such lax quality control.
If you do intend to use this book, I would recommend that you try to find a comprehensive list of errata somewhere.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A very good Numerical Analysis book but with small mistakes., August 10, 1997
I have been using this book since the first edition in 1970. I have just bought the last edition, from Amazon, and found three errors in the first chapter. It should be corrected. In figure 1.2 (pag 4), the end of l1 is not right.In the same page the third formula is not right, as it should show sqr(sin) instead of sin. In page 41, the first digit (d1) would always be 1, so IEEE 754 changed a little what is presented.
Even so I want to repit that this is very good book and I recommend it firmly.
Raymundo de Oliveira
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