Is Fortran better than Python for teaching basics of numerical linear algebra?
4 hours ago
- #numerical-linear-algebra
- #education
- #programming-languages
- The article discusses whether Fortran is better than Python for teaching numerical linear algebra to engineering students with limited programming experience.
- The author, who has been teaching scientific computing for over 10 years, argues that Fortran's strong typing and 1-based indexing may offer a better learning experience for beginners.
- Python's ecosystem (NumPy, SciPy, matplotlib) is acknowledged as powerful and necessary for STEM students, but its permissiveness and quirks can distract from learning numerical algorithms.
- Two examples are provided: implementing the Jacobi method and a QR-based least-squares solver, comparing Python and Fortran implementations.
- Common student struggles with Python include understanding NumPy imports, indentation errors, 0-based indexing confusion, and the variety of ways to perform operations like dot products.
- Fortran's advantages include clear variable definitions, explicit loop constructs, and 1-based indexing, which align more closely with mathematical notation.
- The author acknowledges Fortran's smaller ecosystem compared to Python but argues its focus on numerical computing and modern standards make it a viable teaching tool.