Summary

Developed from the author's many years of teaching computing courses, Programming in C++ for Engineering and Science guides students in designing programs to solve real problems encountered in engineering and scientific applications. These problems include radioactive decay, pollution indexes, digital circuits, differential equations, Internet addresses, data analysis, simulation, quality control, electrical networks, data encryption, beam deflection, and many other areas.

To make it easier for novices to develop programs, the author uses an object-centered design approach that helps students identify the objects in a problem and the operations needed; develop an algorithm for processing; implement the objects, operations, and algorithm in a program; and test, correct, and revise the program. He also revisits topics in greater detail as the text progresses. By the end of the book, students will have a solid understanding of how C++ can be used to process complex objects, including how classes can be built to model objects.

Web Resource
The book's website at http://cs.calvin.edu/books/c++/engr-sci provides source code, expanded presentations, links to relevant sites, reference materials, lab exercises, and projects. For instructors, solutions to exercises and PowerPoint slides for classroom use are available upon qualifying course adoption.

Choice Review

Books aimed at teaching programming languages are abundant today--a phenomenon particularly pronounced in languages as popular as C++. Even in the more specialized niche of programming for engineering applications, there are several good books available. Nyhoff (emer., Carleton College), a talented instructor and experienced author, manages to deliver one more excellent C++ textbook. Assuming no programming prerequisites, the book moves smoothly from basic foundations to important techniques for building programs from the ground up and methodically teaching object-oriented concepts, effective pointer manipulation, and even practical data structures. The author achieves a good balance between theoretical programming concepts and practical examples that demonstrate the use of these concepts. Furthermore, the variety of applications drawn from the engineering field is impressive, making it easy to design courses in engineering departments. The sequence of topics is practical and appropriate, the formatting of the book is convenient, and the large fonts facilitate an effortless use of the book next to a computer while programming. The large number of creative exercises and programming problems at the end of each chapter will undoubtedly prove quite useful to instructors using the book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Students of all levels, faculty, and professionals. D. Papamichail University of Miami