Research Guides: Math 40a: Introduction to Applied Mathematics: Home

Home

Just for Fun

Modeling a Zombine Apocalypse
Using a system of ODEs in python to simulate zombie apocalypse, how quickly will zombies take over?

Python Playground by Mahesh Venkitachalam
ISBN: 9781593276041
Publication Date: 2015-10-01
Part II has some simulation examples and Part III has examples of projects processing images.
In Pursuit of the Unknown by Ian Stewart
ISBN: 9780465029747
Publication Date: 2012-03-13
17 Equations that changed the world! The book goes over important equations and how they changed the way we do things or understand the world around us.

Getting Started with Python

One of the easiest ways to get started using python for data analysis is with the Anaconda Distribution. Downloading Anaconda will install python along with many of the most popular data science packages and tools, including Jupyter Notebook.

Download Anaconda

Learning Programming Fundamentals in Python

The resources below are some online lessons that focus on learning how to program in python.

Python For Everybody
This site has lessons on programming in python given by Dr. Charles Severance of the University of Michigan.The lessons cover some of the fundamentals of programming in python with video lessons and example code. It is great place to start for those new to programming.
Introduction to Python (DataCamp)
Interactive introduction to python that covers lists, functions, and numpy. A good place to start for anyone new to programming.
Programming with Python - Software Carpentry
This is course material for programming in python and data analysis. This is a rendered notebook and has example code throughout.
Python track in Exercism
Exercism has a series of coding challenges in python. Users create an account and start with a beginner level challenge (i.e. Hello World!) and move to progressively harder challenges. After each challenge the site has mentors review and provide feedback, which can be a great way to learn more efficient coding practices (but you can also opt out of this feedback).
Python 3 for beginners
Video tutorials on fundamentals python programming

Python Libraries: Cheat Sheets, Tutorials, and Guides

Math & Random

Numpy

SciPy

Matplotlib

Skimage

Reference E-Books

Learn Python

Learning Python by Mark Lutz
ISBN: 9781449355739
Publication Date: 2013-07-06
This is a comprehensive book on python programming concepts intended for beginners. Parts II and III will likely be most relevant to material covered in class.
Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes
ISBN: 9781593276034
Publication Date: 2015-11-01
The first part of this book gives an overview of basic python programming including variables, lists, and writing functions. The second half of the book has some fun projects to put what you've learned to use. One of the projects involves data visualization.

Applied Math in Python

Elegant SciPy by Juan Nunez-Iglesias; Stéfan van der Walt; Harriet Dashnow
Publication Date: 2017-08-31
This book will cover a number of the libraries used in class including: SciPy, Matplotlib, numpy. It includes examples of solving scientific problems using linear algebra, optimization, and image processing.
Matplotlib Plotting Cookbook by Alexandre Devert
ISBN: 9781849513265
Publication Date: 2014-03-01
This book can be used as a quick reference guide to make specific types of graphs using Matplotlib.
Programming Computer Vision with Python by Jan Erik Solem
ISBN: 9781449316549
Publication Date: 2012-06-29
A broad overview of image processing in python. It includes examples on transforming, classifying, and clustering images.

Troubleshooting Problems

Can't get your code to run? Or maybe the output is making you question if the code worked the way you expected? Don't worry! You're probably not the first (or the second or the third...) person to run into this problem. Stack Overflow is a community message board often used to ask and answer programming questions. If you search your error message or question you may find it has already been asked and answered on the site!

At some point you'll probably need to ask someone for help with your code (Everyone does!). You'll get your answer faster if you provide some important information like the error message you got, the code that is causing the error (the error usually tells you the line that is causing the problem), what you want the code to do, and what you've already tried to fix the problem. Stack Overflow has some tips on how to ask questions so that you can get the most helpful answers.