Numerical methods are techniques to approximate mathematical procedures (example of a mathematical procedure is an integral). Approximations are needed because we either cannot solve the procedure analytically (example is the standard normal cumulative distribution function)or because the analytical method is intractable (example is solving a set of a thousand simultaneous linear equations for a thousand unknowns for finding forces in a truss).
In Part 1 of a two-part course in numerical methods, you will apply the numerical methods for the following mathematical procedures and topics
- Nonlinear Equations, and Simultaneous Linear Equations.
Calculate errors and their relationship to the accuracy of the numerical solutions throughout the course.
In Part 2 we will study topics
- Interpolation, Regression, Integration and Ordinary Differential Equations.