Excel exercises for first-year engineering students

Several Excel applications are presented which are part of the syllabus in the first semester of engineering studies at Haugesund College. The aim of the applications is for the students to acquire both computing skills and mathematical understanding at the same time. The applications cover numerical solution of equations, differentiation, approximations of e and pi, Fourier series, the 'Chaos game', the 'Logistic equation', Lissajou's patterns, and a mathematical riddle. Students react positively at the prospect of using a computer for applications, and show significant improvement of their skills.