Numerical Differentiation and Introduction into Screen Dialogue

Abstract

In this and also in the next chapter we shall not yet be concerned with physical problems. We wish first to learn how to use the computer. At the same time we shall get acquainted with two formulae which we shall be using later. The equations of motion of theoretical physics are as a rule differential equations. In order to be able to solve them numerically, we use numerical differentiation. In what follows we shall obtain a simple approximation for the first derivative, an equally simple approximation for the second derivative and the pertinent correction terms.