Python Essentials: Symbolic and Numeric Problem-Solving in Engineering

This text describes the essentials of the Python programming language for symbolic and numeric engineering problems, emphasizing an interactive approach.It incorporates the Spyder IDE in conjunction with the four Python packages (NumPy, SciPy, SymPy, and MatplotLib) most frequently used in engineering and the sciences.The book is divided into four parts. The first part, chapter 1, outlines the environment for using Python in an interactive mode and provides descriptions of the many functions and operations available in that environment for numerical and symbolic problem-solving and for basic 2-D plotting of results.For users with no or little experience with Python the chapter can serve as a tutorial while for users with some Python experience the chapter can serve as a reference guide.The second part of the book, contained in chapters 2 and 3, discusses vectors and arrays (matrices) from both a mathematical perspective as well as from a physical perspective.Engineering examples are pr