MATLAB

The book gives a good introduction to undergraduate process control through examples in MATLAB and SIMULINK that come with it on a CDROM. The initial chapters deal with first-order, second-order systems analysis with opportunities to explore futher the case studies considered. The frequency domain and transient response analysis chapters also do a good job in explaining the somewhat difficult topics. The different types of control are then dealt with the next few chapters. There is continuity across the chapters in terms of the application of the ideas to the same case studies -- furnace and column -- thus allowing a person better relate to and compare/contrast the different control techniques. The "Things to Think About" section in each chapter sets the background for the particular topic being dealt with "Procedure" detailing the steps need to be executed to understand the ideas. For the MATLAB/SIMULINK non-savvy there is an introduction section to describe the relevant features to used in the book. Overall a comprehendable and decent exposure to the diverse field of Process Control through hands-on experience.

This book contains crucial, basic informations in understanding process control. With the Matlab supplement sections, this book will describe the necessary points in the book. Pao Chau, with his great wisdom, creates this book for undergraduate senior courses, or intro for graduate courses.

"Controls" is undoubtedly a very difficult subject for newcomers/beginners but Pao Chau knows well the roadblocks to learning and understanding and bypasses them by getting to the heart of the core, crucial matter without dismissing any vital points. This book is actually a lot easier reading than initially expected, and is presented in such a way as to lead to continual reinforcement of previous material while smoothly progressing to the next topic. It is not verbose and packs a wealth of information in lean, efficient chapters. If you are taking an introductory Process Controls class or simply need a review this is probably the best book out there for you!

the axioms probability,random variable,functions of random variable,transformation of random variables,sequences of random variable,stochastic processes

Based on the title and description of this book, I bought it hoping to learn more about developing financial tools, specifically interest rate models, in Matlab. After working through most of the book, I have concluded that the use of the name "Matlab" in the title is misleading: it only means that Maple, the main tool of the book, may be accessed via the kernel of Matlab.

The book appears to be targeted primarily at undergraduates and MBA students, not practitioners in the field. Such an audience may have little interest (or need) in learning to develop code or the intricacies of the underlying mechanics of financial models, and for them, the book would no doubt be very helpful. The software that comes with the book includes a stripped down version of Maple, (which is nice, since you can't really use the book without it), and author-developed analytical tools. These tools support the goals of learning through the ability to quickly vary inputs and see the impact on the output, but as they are more or less a black-box, do not add much to one's independent ability to model new financial objects or extend existing ones.

The book includes the de rigueur definitions of typical financial instruments and explanations that facilitate understanding of these instruments (such as how to read and understand option data in newspapers, the mechanics of currency swaps and so on), but one really has to follow along with the Maple commands page by page to derive benefit. The fixed income section is very skimpy. It seems like the book is best suited as an extended set of lecture notes.

I like the book but would not recommend it to practioners looking for insight on tool development or to extend knowledge of cutting edge interest rate models (as these are not covered here). I would recommend it for newcomers to the field having mathematical or quantitative backgrounds who want a reasonably good introduction to financial instruments. It would also be useful as a companion text in master's programs in financial engineering or financial mathematics. Derivatives and Maple with training wheels.

The theory of financial derivates is now much easily understood by combining mathemtical models with the symbolic, numeric and visualization capabilities of a CAS such as Maple. The author made an excellent choice to select Maple (primarily) and Matlab. Maple is used extensively in many academic and industry settings, and its integration into the presentation of the materials makes the content come alive. Great addition, that (even) every mathematician should read! I highly recommend it.

For when life throws you that derivative that you just can't look up in some book...
This book provides the building blocks on both the practical and theoretical levels that one needs to price derivatives. The book provides an essential combination of three things: 1) clear explanations and examples of fundamental concepts, 2) a hands on approach to software and pricing algorithms, and 3) emphasis on graphic visualization in understanding the behavior of derivatives in general. While clearly a textbook for a Master's level course, from the point of view of a practitioner, this book has also become my first reference source at the office for those times when I can't just look up the answer, and have to resort to first principles.

Several years ago, I reviewed the first edition of this book, so it was interesting to see how the text has developed in its new edition. As its name suggests, the book provides a guide to using the MATLAB software package to aid an exploration of "areas of mathematics that are of particular interest to scientists and engineers." Those seeking an exhaustive description of the full functionality of the MATLAB package should look elsewhere, for here MATLAB is used as "a tool, to convince ourselves that mathematics really works." Furthermore, the author states that the book should be "regarded as a complement, rather than an alternative, to your ordinary textbooks in the various branches of mathematics."

The text is divided into 25 short, well-focused chapters. This should be appreciated by students and makes it easy to navigate the book and, if desired at a later stage, return to a particular subject in isolation. Taking a leisurely tour through the contents, as usual, the starting point is basic use of MATLAB as a scientific calculator; some useful elementary functions are introduced in chapter 1 and illustrated in the new chapter on geometric applications that follows. Continuing with the use of geometry as a motivator, vectors in two- and three-dimensions are covered next. This is a useful way of gently introducing one of MATLAB's most fundamental and powerful features, its matrix and vector handling capabilities. This material is further discussed in the following two chapters on general vectors and systems of linear equations and also underpins the subsequent coverage of graph plotting.

Much of the MATLAB "basics" material is covered in a more extensive fashion than was the case in the first edition of the text. This is particularly the case with the chapters on script and function files and means that at the end of this first section of the book, the previously inexperienced reader should have developed a thorough grasp of MATLAB fundamentals. At the same time, some essential mathematical basics will have been revised and consolidated.

The text now turns to more overtly mathematical subject matter. The introductory material is gradually built upon and developed as we begin to look at some topics in algebra and calculus. Indeed, the next several chapters, on the solution of non-linear equations, limits, derivatives, sums and integrals, hang together in a particularly coherent way. More generally, mathematical ideas and basic numerical methods are illustrated by making extensive use of example script and function files, usually involving graphical output. This is an approach that works well. The example files are fairly short and are presented clearly and explained in detail. Furthermore, the reader can easily tackle problems of their own by making relatively minor changes to the script or function provided. Another nice touch is that where appropriate, the reader is also introduced to powerful in-built MATLAB commands for carrying out advanced numerical methods for root finding, definite integration and, later, the numerical solution of differential equations. In the main, the learning curve is fairly shallow, and as a result the book is comforting to work through. As they do so, most students should be regularly reminded of material covered elsewhere in their course and have their learning enhanced as a result.

Of the later content, much of the material on statistics and differential equations is fairly similar to that which appeared in the first edition. Having said this, the three chapters on differential equations, which form a particularly homogeneous section of the book, are worthy of special mention. New additions to the second edition include: (a) more extensive chapters on complex numbers and functions, and on fitting a function to data, (b) a new chapter on functions of two variables, (c) two major new chapters on Fourier Series and Fourier Transforms. The material on eigenvalues and eigenvectors has been expanded and moved into an appendix.

Some of the new additions do take the content of the book a little away from what could be described as "introductory mathematics". In particular, from both a computational and a mathematical perspective, the chapter on fitting functions to data contains some quite technical material. Likewise, the new chapters on Fourier series and transforms could prove quite a challenge, especially as they contain a couple of typographical/notational errors.

A couple of criticisms of the first edition are still valid. Firstly, the motivating examples are still drawn almost exclusively from physical applications and secondly, I still think the Exercises exhibit some scope for improvement. Having said this, many of my overall conclusions are also still valid and I make no apology for reproducing these below, largely unchanged, from my earlier review.

Conclusions

MATLAB is such a sophisticated package that it is hard to know what to leave out of a book like this. Everyone could make a case for some of his or her favourite functions, subjects or applications to be included. However, it is to the author's credit that he has managed to cover plenty of useful mathematics, while requiring that the use of the package be kept largely at an introductory level.

There is a reasonably wide choice of textbooks in this area, but I feel that students will find this to be one of the more accessible. The dual emphasis on (a) reinforcing useful mathematics and (b), teaching MATLAB make this an ideal text for undergraduate engineering, science or mathematics students having access to MATLAB. I would also not hesitate to recommend the text as valuable background reading for mathematics students embarking upon courses in Numerical Analysis, where much of the subject matter discussed here is directly relevant and MATLAB is a commonly used teaching tool.

Finally, in my opinion, the second edition is a definite improvement upon the first. It retains the same compact form and readable style, but is better organised and illustrated, contains several useful additions to the mathematical content and makes better use of MATLAB function files.

Definitely, it is one of the best books on power system analysis.
It is a concise yet complete textbook, that it can be used as a self teaching book.
It covers nearly all the aspects of power system analysis.
The best part about this book is its marriage with the MATLAB that makes problem solving easier then ever.
The author has also done a magnificent job in the accompanied m-file disk.
I recommend this book to any professional in this field.

The author's presentation of power system analysis is very appropriate for those studying the subject for the first time. Concepts are presented clearly and the examples illustrate well the discussion in the text. The mathematical level is easily within reach for senior electrical engineering students. One very helpful feature of this book is that answers are supplied for practically all of the end-of-the-chapter problems. Also, the author makes good use of MATLAB even from Chapter 1, and SIMULINK on the book's latter part.