(581d) Are ChE Student’s Afraid of Programming in Python or Matlab? Why Not Use Polymathplus?

With the fourth industrial revolution well underway[1], the proportion of occupations requiring “high” or “medium” digital skills has never been greater. Among those most in demand are engineers skilled in computing and advanced problem solving to support the ongoing digitalization, networking, and automation. A natural place to teach this to our students is through an integration of numerical methods into every chemical engineering course. One method currently being used to do this is through the use of templates coded as python Jupyter Notebooks or MATLAB live Scripts. But many chemical engineering students chose chemical engineering because they didn’t like programming. Other students took that required programming course, but these concepts were never used in any of their subsequent chemical engineering courses. Matlab and Python require programming expertise for the efficient use of variables, data types, flow control, functions, and debugging techniques. If these skills are not properly applied, it can result in time-consuming efforts, errors, and significant frustration. In contrast, PolymathPlus simplifies the process by abstracting many traditional programming concepts. It enables students to input numerical problems in a format that is both simple and intuitive, reducing the learning curve and streamlining the problem-solving process. This approach not only saves time but also allows students to focus more on the engineering principles at hand rather than getting bogged down by complex programming syntax and errors.

One of the reasons that numerical methods are not used is that traditional textbooks do not incorporate numerical methods. One textbook that has led the way in this area is Fogler’s Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering. In the text of this book he has all of his examples using POLYMATH and on his website[2] he presents the same examples in python, MATLAB, Wolfram CDF Player. Unfortunately even with all of these examples, professors still don’t require students to use numerical methods.

One of the reasons that Professors don’t use these methods is that they are too busy and are unable to devote time learning python or MATLAB. Others try using MATLAB or python, but get frustrated when the solution obtained by POLYMATH has a superior fit to an a known analytical solution. But all is not lost! A new version of POLYMATH is available for use called PolymathPlus. This new program is backwards compatible and can run all of the old polymath files (*.pol). In addition, a new feature of this program is that it can be used on nearly any device since it is now a web application. Yes Mac users can now use POLYMATH! So students can write down the equations needed to solve a problem and then type them into the program on nearly any web browser, press solve, and get a numerical solution. With the use of POLYMATH all chemical engineering students can solve problems requiring numerical solutions.

PolymathPlus has the capability of solving systems of linear or nonlinear equations, systems of differential equations, and linear and nonlinear regressions. A free, student and professional versions of PolymathPlus are available for use. This new version allows professors and students to solve chemical engineering problems that require numerical solutions without having to learn MATLAB or python.

[1] Klaus Schwab, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution: what it means, how to respond,” https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-what-it-means-and-how-to-respond/ 1/14/2016 World Economic Forum

[2] S Fogler, “Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering” https://websites.umich.edu/~elements/6e/01chap/live.html , 4/7/2024.