Numerical Methods for Chemical Engineering with MATLAB

Chemical engineering challenges often lead to complex mathematical systems that cannot be solved analytically. To tackle these real-world problems, engineers rely on robust numerical approximation techniques. This text-based course guides you from foundational mathematical concepts to practical implementation using MATLAB. You will start by mastering the essential terminology, understanding how errors propagate in numerical calculations, and defining the core principles of finite differences. Next, you will explore how to approximate a Jacobian matrix to solve systems of non-linear equations. What you'll learn: Understand the foundational math behind finite differences and numerical approximation; Implement MATLAB scripts to calculate numerical derivatives and Jacobians; Solve systems of non-linear algebraic equations common in chemical kinetics; Analyze error propagation and select appropriate step sizes for numerical stability; Apply modern MATLAB programming practices including vectorization and clean script structure. You will begin with core theoretical definitions before moving on to step-by-step code analysis and structured writing exercises. This course is designed for beginner chemical engineering students and science professionals looking to build a strong foundation in numerical computing. No advanced programming experience is required. Start building your computational engineering toolkit today.