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:

1.Practical information all Java programmers should know

2.Popular computational algorithms in Java-without excessive mathematical theory

3.Interactive graphical programs that bring the algorithms to life on the computer screen

4.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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RONALD MAK is a senior scientist at the Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science, located at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. He is currently designing Java-based enterprise software for the next Mars rover mission. He has degrees in the mathematical sciences and in computer science from Stanford University. His two previous books were on compiler writing.

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.