70 Book Reviews

approach which exploits the structure of a simulation model in order to simplify che statistical analysis. However as this approach is not appropriate to every model, the time series approach, which provides tech- niques for analysing sequences of correlated observa- tions of the type that emerge from a simulation, is also described.

It contrast to most textbooks on simulation, which cover the subject in the order modeling, programming and statistical analysis, the author int, aduces these topics in parallel. It is claimed that this approach shortens the time it takes a student to begin building, programming and analysing a model. Throughout the book the author uses the same example to illustrate the alternative approaches and this helps the reader absorb the similarities and the difference.

As with most textbooks on simulation the subjects of random number generation mad sampling from distributions on a computer are covered, and in this ease the treatment is extensive. The discussion of prime modulus multiplicative generators is highly detailed. Alternative algorithms for sampling from various distributions are given with the view that some that are not necessarily efficient on today's computers may be so on the next generation.

There is a liberal supply of challenging exercises at the end of each chapter. They are detailed and the author develops and extends problems from earlier chapters. Some have the flavour of examination questions and as ~ t h exam~ations you are not pro- vided with solutior.s.

This then is a technical book for the specialist or student. It is clearly not intended to be a work to assist the non-OR specialist in understanding what simulation is all abc~ut.

Jan SZ YMANK1EIClCZ The P-E Consulting tlroup Egham, Surrey: UK

H. HUFFMAN and L.R. FIBER Principles of Business Mathematics Using the Elec- tronic Calculator McGraw-Hill, D~sseldorf, 1978, xfi + 404 pages, DM 23,80

This book opens with an introduction to electronic calculators and follows with four sections: Part 1: Mathematics of Accounting and Records

Management, Part 2: Mathematics of Financial and Office Mai.-

agement, Part 3: Mathematics of Marketing and Retailing, and Part 4: Review of Fundaraentals. It is amazingly voluminous for the extremely simple treatment of calculator use witl~ which it concerns itself. It is suitable for use as a programmed learning text for office juniors or school children who have never seen a calculator before and lack the interest or initiative to sort things out for themselves.

The introduction to calculators confines itself to the cheapest and most simple machines one can purchase. There is no consideration of trigonometric function keys or even square root for example.

The succeeding three sections to the introduction then plod through different business environments in which one is taken step by step through how to compute compound interest, determine payments on installment sales, etc., etc. Computation of standard deviation for example, is 'estimated' by dividing the range by 4 (our calculator does not possess ~/x, remember)!

The review of fundamental concepts closes the publication with a trip through how to add, subtract, divide, multiply and even deal with metric (those damned Europeans!) I seriously considered letting my nine year old daughter loose on it to help her learn to use her new present of a calculator from ffandma.

No; to be kind, the book does introduce and work through how to use a calculator to do simple, every- day 'sums' used in shops and offices where calculators could lurk. For the consideration of the readers of this publication, however, it is a misleading title and far from what might be expected of 'Business Mathe- matics'. My title would be: Teach Yourself Simple Sums On A Simple Calculator.

Ken JONES GMS Computing Ltd Sheffield, England