IDC101: Introduction to computers

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Overview of scientific computing and the role of computers in solving scientific problems.
Linux Essentials. Operating System concepts and features. Basic commands (file, directory and disk related commands). File system and attributes. I/O devices. Shell and elements of shell programming.
Editors (Vi and Emacs)
Number representation in computers and roundoff error. Implications for numerical computing.
Python programming. Basics and flowcharts. Data types and building blocks. Control statement. Functions. Arrays. Input/Output.
Data visualisation and analysis, statistical analysis, curve fitting using the least square fit approach.
Series summation, numerical integration.
Pseudo random numbers, applications of random sequences in scientific computing, simulating data and experiments, estimating errors in experiments using simulations.
Solutions of algebraic equations, iterative solutions. Recursion relations, logistics map. Brief overview of fractals resulting from simple maps. Bisection method. Newton-Raphson method.
Ordinary differential equations, coupled equations, second order equations. Applications in evolution of population, reaction rates, mechanics.
Systems of linear equations, matrices, row reduction, diagonalisation. Two dimensional arrays. Cellular automata.