Scientific Computing with Python 3

Claus Fuhrer · Jan Erik Solem · Olivier Verdier

Dec 2016 · Packt Publishing Ltd

About this ebook

An example-rich, comprehensive guide for all of your Python computational needsAbout This BookYour ultimate resource for getting up and running with Python numerical computationsExplore numerical computing and mathematical libraries using Python 3.x code with SciPy and NumPy modulesA hands-on guide to implementing mathematics with Python, with complete coverage of all the key conceptsWho This Book Is For

This book is for anyone who wants to perform numerical and mathematical computations in Python. It is especially useful for developers, students, and anyone who wants to use Python for computation. Readers are expected to possess basic a knowledge of scientific computing and mathematics, but no prior experience with Python is needed.

What You Will LearnThe principal syntactical elements of PythonThe most important and basic types in PythonThe essential building blocks of computational mathematics, linear algebra, and related Python objectsPlot in Python using matplotlib to create high quality figures and graphics to draw and visualize your resultsDefine and use functions and learn to treat them as objectsHow and when to correctly apply object-oriented programming for scientific computing in PythonHandle exceptions, which are an important part of writing reliable and usable codeTwo aspects of testing for scientific programming: Manual and AutomaticIn Detail

Python can be used for more than just general-purpose programming. It is a free, open source language and environment that has tremendous potential for use within the domain of scientific computing. This book presents Python in tight connection with mathematical applications and demonstrates how to use various concepts in Python for computing purposes, including examples with the latest version of Python 3. Python is an effective tool to use when coupling scientific computing and mathematics and this book will teach you how to use it for linear algebra, arrays, plotting, iterating, functions, polynomials, and much more.

Style and approach

This book takes a concept-based approach to the language rather than a systematic introduction. It is a complete Python tutorial and introduces computing principles, using practical examples to and showing you how to correctly implement them in Python. You'll learn to focus on high-level design as well as the intricate details of Python syntax. Rather than providing canned problems to be solved, the exercises have been designed to inspire you to think about your own code and give you real-world insight.

About the author

Claus Fuhrer is a professor of scientific computations at Lund University, Sweden. He has an extensive teaching record that includes intensive programming courses in numerical analysis and engineering mathematics across various levels in many different countries and teaching environments. Claus also develops numerical software in research collaboration with industry and received Lund University's Faculty of Engineering Best Teacher Award in 2016.

Jan Erik Solem is a Python enthusiast, former associate professor, and currently the CEO of Mapillary, a street imagery computer vision company. He has previously worked as a face recognition expert, founder and CTO of Polar Rose, and computer vision team leader at Apple. Jan is a World Economic Forum technology pioneer and won the Best Nordic Thesis Award 2005-2006 for his dissertation on image analysis and pattern recognition. He is also the author of "Programming Computer Vision with Python" (O'Reilly 2012).

Olivier Verdier began using Python for scientific computing back in 2007 and received a PhD in mathematics from Lund University in 2009. He has held post-doctoral positions in Cologne, Trondheim, Bergen, and Umea and is now an associate professor of mathematics at Bergen University College, Norway.