Data Analysis

Abstract

For the present edition, the book has undergone two major changes: Its appearance was tightened significantly and the programs are now written in the modern programming language Java. Tightening was possible without giving up essential contents by expedi- ent use of the Internet. Since practically all users can connect to the net, it is no longer necessary to reproduce program listings in the printed text. In this way, the physical size of the book was reduced considerably. The Java language offers a number of advantages over the older program- ming languages used in earlier editions. It is object-oriented and hence also more readable. It includes access to libraries of user-friendly auxiliary rou- tines, allowing for instance the easy creation of windows for input, output, or graphics. For most popular computers, Java is either preinstalled or can be downloaded from the Internet free of charge. (See Sect. 1.3 for details.) Since by now Java is often taught at school, many students are already somewhat familiar with the language.