—_——— Science and Numerical Methods Book: A Journey Through Computational Science and Numerical Methods: An Undergraduate Guide Prof. John B. Oladosu Lecture 3: Programming FundamentalsIntroduction * Programming is the heart of computational science. It provides the means to implement algorithms, simulate scientific phenomena, and analyze data. In this Lecture, we'll explore the essential programming fundamentals necessary for success in computational science.3.1 Choosing a Programming Language ‘Selecting the right programming language is crucial in computational science. The choice often depends on factors like application domain, ease of use, performance, and available libraries. Common languages used in computational science include 41 Python: Knoven for its simplicity and readability, Python is a popular choice, it has a vast ecosystem of libraries for scientific computing (e.g., NumPy, SciPy) and data analysis (e.g. Pandas). Download Python -free latest version at: https www anole com/uri?chentsinternal-element-cse&cx=0126843313801678081 Ode So}-mdt a softonic com/downloadé.sa=Uaved=7ah UKEW|/kNzblouAxUzlokE HDRTCKWOF noECACOANBLSG= ‘OwVan2yEwivimv@yB4DEIHK36L The Pthon Tela: hps:/é0cs pthon ory tone nex rd C/C++: These languages provide high performance but demand more low-level control. They are commonly used in ‘numerical simulations and high-performance computing os:f/python.en J. MATLAB: MATLAB is renowned for its numerical computing capabilities and an extensive set of toolboxes. I's widely used in academia and industry for mathematical modeling and simulation. is a language specifically designed for statistical analysis and data visualization. i's a preferred choice for Statisticians and data scientists, |. Julia: Julia is gaining popularity for its high-performance numerical computing capabilities and ease of use. it's designed for scientific computing +The choice of language depends on the specific requirements of your computational tasks and your personal preferences.3.2 Basics of Coding: Syntax and Semantics + Towrite effective code, you must understand the syntax (the rules for constructing statements) and semantics (the meaning behind the statements) of the programming language you're using, Here are some common elements: {i Variables: Variables store data, and their names are case-sensitive. Declare and initialize variables before using them. {| Data Types: Different programming languages support various data types, such as integers, floating-point numbers, strings, and arrays. Understanding data types is crucial for memory management and type safety. Operators: Operators allow you to perform operations on data. Common operators include arithmetic (+, -, *, /), comparison (==, <, >), and logical (&&, ||). Control Structures: Control structures, like loops (for, while) and conditionals (if else), enable you to control the flow of your program.3.3 Variables, Data Types, and Operations + 3.3.1 Variables and Data Types ii Integers: Whole numbers, both positive and negative. Floating-Point Numbers: Numbers with decimal points, representing real numbers. § Strings: Sequences of characters used for text processing. i Boolean: Represents true or false values. ii Arrays: Ordered collections of elements, often of the same data type.3.3.2 Operations Xt Arithmetic Operations: Addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), division (/), modulus (%), and exponentiation (**). Comparison Operations: Equal to (==), not equal to (!=), greater than (>), less than (<), greater than or equal to (>=), and less than or equal to (<=). Logical Operations: AND (&&), OR (||), and NOT ().3.4 Control Structures + 3.4.1 Conditional Statements + Conditional statements allow you to execute different code blocks based on conditions: 4 if: Executes code if a condition is true. 1 else: Executes code if the condition in the corresponding if statement is false. 4 elif (else if): Provides an alternative condition to check if the previous if/ elif conditions are false. + 3.4.2 Loops + Loops enable you to repeat code blocks multiple times: 4) for: Iterates over a sequence (e.g., a list) a predefined number of times. 1] while: Repeats code as long as a condition is true.3.5 Functions and Modularization + Modular programming involves breaking your code into smaller, manageable pieces. Functions are a key component of modularization: { Functions: Functions are blocks of code that perform a specific task. They allow you to reuse code, improve readability, and simplify debugging. \j Parameters: Functions can take input parameters (arguments) and return results. § Scope: Variables can have different scopes, such as local (within a function) or global (accessible throughout the program). Understanding scope is crucial for avoiding variable conflicts.3.6 Debugging and Testing + Effective debugging is essential for identifying and fixing errors in your code: 1) Debugging Tools: Familiarize yourself with debugging tools provided by your programming environment. These tools help you inspect variables, step through code, and pinpoint issues. 1) Error Messages: Pay attention to error messages and use them as clues to identify problems in your code. 1) Testing: Develop a habit of writing test cases to ensure that your code works as expected. Unit testing, integration testing, and regression testing are common testing approaches. 1) Version Control: Use version control systems like Git to track changes to your code, collaborate with others, and revert to previous versions if needed.