Numerical methods for scientists and engineers
by Richard Hamming · first published 1962
71% recommend29% neutral
Why HN recommends it
An approachable numerical methods text by a well-regarded author. It emphasizes insight over raw numbers and offers ideas on how to think about computing, suited to scientists and engineers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2014–2026Methods of mathematics applied to calculus, probability, and statistics
Richard Hamming
Recommended by 6 · mentioned by 96 recommend · 9 mention6 recommend · 96 recommend
2010–2023The Art of Probability
Richard Hamming
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 87 recommend · 8 mention7 recommend · 87 recommend
2011–2024A tour of the calculus
David Berlinski
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 43 recommend · 4 mention3 recommend · 43 recommend
2009–2023Mathematics made difficult
Carl E. Linderholm
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 109 recommend · 10 mention9 recommend · 109 recommend
2011–2024The Number Devil
Hans Magnus Enzenberger
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 119 recommend · 11 mention9 recommend · 119 recommend
2012–2026Precalculus mathematics in a nutshell
George Finlay Simmons
Recommended by 10 · mentioned by 1110 recommend · 11 mention10 recommend · 1110 recommend
2009–2026Concepts of modern mathematics
Ian Stewart
Recommended by 12 · mentioned by 1212 recommend · 12 mention12 recommend · 1212 recommend
2010–2026Sync
Steven H. Strogatz
Recommended by 14 · mentioned by 1514 recommend · 15 mention14 recommend · 1514 recommend
…https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2FF649D0C4407B30 Enjoy! It's wonderful. (The last lecture is the famous "You and Your Research" that he gave many times.) I've really enjoyed his books too, from Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers to Methods of Mathematics Applied to Calculus, Probability, and Statistics. They're all drenched with experience.
on “Work Hard (2007)” ↗Hamming is great in general. Some years ago, I picked up a copy of "Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers" for like $2 at a used book store. I had no idea who Hamming was, but it was cheap so I bought it. After the first chapter I thought, "this guy is pretty sharp let's see what else he's written." That…
on “Beyond Smart” ↗…soaked with the enormous practical experience/expertise he has with what he writes about. They're not just about applied maths, but about the range of problems you run into when you try to apply them e.g. Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers (1962) Introduction To Applied Numerical Analysis (1971) Digital Filters (1977) Methods of Mathematics Applied to Calculus, Probability, and Statistics (1985)
on “Ask HN: Math books you recommend just for the way they are written?” ↗Hamming, R.W., Numerical Methods For Scientists and Engineers [0] [1] [0] https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0486652416/ [1] http://alvand.basu.ac.ir/~dezfoulian/files/Numericals/Numeri...
on “Ask HN: Are there books for mathematics like Feynman's lectures on physics?” ↗For anyone turned off by this document and its proofs, I recommend Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers (Hamming). Still a math text, but more approachable. The five key ideas from that book, enumerated by the author: (1) the purpose of computing is insight, not numbers (2) study families and relationships…
on “What Every Computer Scientist Should Know about Floating-Point Arithmetic [pdf]” ↗R.W. Hamming. Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers
on “Ask HN: Best resources to gain math intuition?” ↗Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers by R.W. Hamming
on “Ask HN: What are the most eye-opening textbooks you have ever read?” ↗His book "Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers" is brilliant, his work included information theory, sampling, and running bell labs during its most productive time. He wasn't a professor, he was a giant.
on “Richard Hamming on Artificial Intelligence (1995) [video]” ↗…set forth in the original question, of what algorithms god would write down in a book. [1] See LeVeque, "Finite Difference Methods for Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations". [2] See Hamming, "Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers".
on “Algorithms from the “Book”” ↗This seems to be a restatement of Richard Hamming's motto expressed in Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers(1962): The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hamming.
on ““Computers Are Useless. They Can Only Give You Answers” (2011)” ↗