Mathematica DeMYSTiFied

Mathematica DeMYSTiFied

by Jim Hoste
Released December 2008
Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 9780071591454

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Book description

Need to learn MATHEMATICA? Problem SOLVED!

Take full advantage of all the powerful capabilities of Mathematica with help from this hands-on guide. Filled with examples and step-by-step explanations, Mathematica Demystified takes you from your very first calculation all the way to plotting complex fractals.

Using an intuitive format, this book explains the fundamentals of Mathematica up front. Learn how to define functions, create 2-D graphs of functions, write basic programs, and use modules. You'll move on to 3-D graphics, calculus, polynomial, linear, and differential equations, dynamical systems, and fractals. Hundreds of examples with concise explanations make it easy to understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam help reinforce learning.

This self-teaching guide offers:

  • A quick way to get up and running on Mathematica
  • Coverage of Mathematica 6 and 7
  • Tips for avoiding and correcting syntax errors
  • Details on creating slideshow presentations of your work
  • No unnecessary technical jargon
  • A time-saving approach to performing better on an exam or at work!

Simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced user, Mathematica Demystified is your shortcut to mastering this fully integrated technical computing software.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Mathematica Demystified
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Preface
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. CHAPTER 1 Getting Started
    1. 1.1 Starting Mathematica
    2. 1.2 Entering Expressions
    3. 1.3 Editing Cells
    4. 1.4 Basic Arithmetic
    5. 1.5 Using Previous Results
    6. 1.6 Exact versus Approximate
    7. 1.7 Using Functions
    8. 1.8 Using Variables
    9. 1.9 Using Comments
    10. 1.10 Suppressing Output
    11. 1.11 Aborting a Calculation
    12. 1.12 Lists
    13. 1.13 Palettes
    14. 1.14 Saving and Printing Our Work
    15. 1.15 Getting Help!
    16. 1.16 Find Out More
    17. Quiz
  8. CHAPTER 2 Two-Dimensional Graphics
    1. 2.1 The Plot Function
    2. 2.2 Resizing Graphics
    3. 2.3 Graphics Options
    4. 2.4 Drawing Tools and the Graphic Inspector
    5. 2.5 Using Epilog
    6. 2.6 Mouseover Effects—Tooltip
    7. 2.7 Animation—Using Manipulate
    8. 2.8 Plotting Points with ListPlot
    9. 2.9 Curve Fitting
    10. 2.10 Plotting in Polar Coordinates
    11. 2.11 Parametric Plots
    12. 2.12 Drawing Shapes
    13. 2.13 Saving and Printing Graphics
    14. 2.14 Find Out More
    15. Quiz
  9. CHAPTER 3 Getting Help
    1. 3.1 Syntax Coloring
    2. 3.2 Delimiter Matching
    3. 3.3 Setting Preferences
    4. 3.4 The Help Menu
    5. 3.5 Writing Good Code
    6. 3.6 Monitoring Calculations
    7. 3.7 Getting Out of Trouble
    8. 3.8 Ask an Expert
    9. 3.9 Find Out More
    10. Quiz
  10. CHAPTER 4 Odds and Ends
    1. 4.1 Transforming Expressions
    2. 4.2 Replacement Rules
    3. 4.3 Working with Lists
    4. 4.4 Sums and Products
    5. 4.5 Matrices
    6. 4.6 Find Out More
    7. Quiz
  11. CHAPTER 5 Functions
    1. 5.1 Defining Functions
    2. 5.2 Pure Functions
    3. 5.3 Elementary Programming
    4. 5.4 Using Modules
    5. 5.5 Find Out More
    6. Quiz
  12. CHAPTER 6 Three-Dimensional Graphics
    1. 6.1 The Plot3D Function
    2. 6.2 3D Graphics Options
    3. 6.3 Surfaces of Revolution
    4. 6.4 Drawing Contours or Level Sets
    5. 6.5 Drawing Curves in 3-Space
    6. 6.6 Drawing Graphics Primitives
    7. 6.7 Find Out More
    8. Quiz
  13. CHAPTER 7 Calculus
    1. 7.1 Limits
    2. 7.2 One-Sided Limits
    3. 7.3 Multivariable Limits
    4. 7.4 Derivatives
    5. 7.5 Minimum/Maximum Problems
    6. 7.6 Series
    7. 7.7 Integration
    8. 7.8 Antidifferentiation
    9. 7.9 Applications of Integration
    10. 7.10 Find Out More
    11. Quiz
  14. CHAPTER 8 Solving Equations
    1. 8.1 Polynomial Equations
    2. 8.2 Systems of Polynomial Equations
    3. 8.3 Systems of Linear Equations
    4. 8.4 Nonpolynomial Equations
    5. 8.5 Differential Equations
    6. 8.6 Find Out More
    7. Quiz
  15. CHAPTER 9 Working with Data
    1. 9.1 Country Data
    2. 9.2 Word Play
    3. 9.3 Graphs
    4. 9.4 A Glimpse of Other Data Sets
    5. 9.5 Find Out More
    6. Quiz
  16. CHAPTER 10 Dynamical Systems and Fractals
    1. 10.1 Iterating a Function
    2. 10.2 Graphical Analysis
    3. 10.3 The Quadratic Family
    4. 10.4 Julia Sets
    5. 10.5 Custom Coloring
    6. 10.6 Making Movies
    7. 10.7 The Mandelbrot Set
    8. 10.8 What Is a Fractal?
    9. 10.9 Find Out More
    10. Quiz
  17. CHAPTER 11 Looking Good
    1. 11.1 Cell Styling
    2. 11.2 The Option Inspector
    3. 11.3 Cell Properties
    4. 11.4 Using Palettes
    5. 11.5 Cell Grouping
    6. 11.6 Hyperlinks
    7. 11.7 Adding Graphics to Notebooks
    8. 11.8 Creating Slideshows
    9. 11.9 Find Out More
    10. Quiz
  18. Final Exam
  19. Answers
  20. Index
  21. Footnote
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Product information

  • Title: Mathematica DeMYSTiFied
  • Author(s): Jim Hoste
  • Release date: December 2008
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9780071591454