In today's textbook market, Hiestand's (U. of Tennessee, Chattanooga) text is unique in combining numerical methods and computer programming--Visual Basic Application (VBA)--in a single book for undergraduate engineering and computer science students. In the text, VBA is accessed through Microsoft Excel, and basic elements of programming are presented--input/output, variable types, arithmetic, decisions, loops, functions and subprograms, and arrays--to enable students to apply VBA to the numerical techniques covered. The text assumes a year of calculus and a very basic understanding of differential equations. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)