This lecture is a first step towards understanding numerical computing. I cover the basic concept of a computing machine, its components (input/output, memory, CPU), and how numerical analysis relates to numerical tools. I then introduce the two numerical tools we will learn in this class: a spreadsheet program (Excel) and a structured programming language (Python).
This video and the file below provide some examples of Excel basics including: navigating excel, copy and paste, cell locking, cell formatting and more.
This video and the two Python files below provide an introduction to a first “hello world” program in Python.
The video also provides a brief explanation of how to install the Anaconda distribution (i.e. Spyder) in Microsoft Windows.