[Phys-L] Re: Bateman (was survey meters)

[kowalskil at MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU (Ludwik Kowalski)]

On Oct 21, 2005, at 12:25 PM, Edmiston, Mike wrote:

> . . . BTW, even in 1969 when my copy of Harvey: Intro to Nuclear
> Physics
> and Chemistry was published, it states that decay chain calculations
> are
> usually done numerically by computer rather than analytically by
> Bateman-type equations.

1) And this was before tools like Excel became available. Bateman would
probably not bother to develop the analytical solution in the age of
efficient computers. Yes, numerical calculations are practically more
convenient because all sort of conditions (initial and intermediate)
can easily be imposed to solve problems. But analytical solutions still
deserve to be admired.

2) What effect does commercial mathematical software tools have on
motivation to develop mathematical skills?


Ludwik Kowalski
Let the perfect not be the enemy of the good.