Introduction to elementary computational modeling : essential concepts, principles, and problem solving

Content: Each chapter includes a Summary, Key Terms, and Exercises Understanding Problem Solving Understanding Word Problems Introduction Nouns and Verbs Problem Decomposition The Language of Computational Problems Objects Problems with Many Numbers Problem Solving and Computing Introduction Programs Data Definitions Programming Languages Interpretation of Commands with MATLABR and Octave Computer Problem Solving MATLAB R and Octave Programming Introduction The MATLAB and Octave Prompt Variables and Constants Assignment statements Simple Mathematical Expressions Scientific Notation Built-in Mathematical Functions Internal Documentation Computational Models Introduction To Computational Models Introduction Preliminary Concepts A Simple Problem: Temperature Conversion Using MATLAB and Octave Computational Models and Simulation Introduction Categories of Computational Models Development of Computational Models Simulation: Basic Concepts Modular Decomposition Average and Instantaneous Rate of Change Area under a Curve The Free-Falling Object Algorithms and Design Structures Introduction Problem Solving Algorithms Describing Data Notations for Describing Algorithms Algorithmic Structures Implementation of Algorithms Computing Area and Circumference Selection Introduction Selection Structure Complex Numbers with MATLAB and Octave A Computational Model with Selection Multilevel Selection Complex Conditions Repetition Introduction Repetition with While Construct Repeat-Until Construct For Loop Structure Data Lists Introduction Creating An Array Operations on Arrays Multidimensional Arrays Applications Using Arrays Average and Instantaneous Rate of Change Area Under a Curve Modules Introduction Modular Design MATLAB and Octave Script Files Functions Documenting MATLAB and Octave Functions Mathematical Models: Basic Concepts Introduction From the Real-World to the Abstract World Discrete and Continuous Models Difference Equations and Data Lists Functional Equations Validating a Model Models with Arithmetic Growth Using MATLAB and Octave to Implement the Model Producing the Charts of the Model Models with Quadratic Growth Introduction Quadratic Growth Differences of the Data Difference Equations Functional Equations Models with Quadratic Growth Solution and Graphs of Quadratic Equations Models with Polynomial Functions Introduction General Forms of Polynomial Functions Evaluation and Graphs of Polynomial Functions Solution to Polynomial Equations Data Estimation and Empirical Modeling Introduction Interpolation Curve Fitting Models with Geometric Growth Introduction Basic Concepts of Geometric Growth Functional Equations in Geometric Growth Properties of Exponential Functions Vectors and Matrices Introduction Vectors Simple Vector Operations Matrices Array Indexing Plotting Vectors Text Data Introduction String Vectors String Matrices Advanced Data Structures Introduction Cell Arrays Structures The MATLAB and GNU Octave Software Introduction The MATLAB Components The Desktop Starting MATLAB Exiting MATLAB The Command Window Current User Folder The Startup Folder Using Command Files (Scripts) MATLAB Functions GNU Octave Computer Systems Introduction Computer Systems Operating Systems Summary Key Terms Bibliography