inControl ep14 - Cleve Moler: Numerical Analyst, First MATLAB Programmer, and MathWorks Co-Founder
Jul 9, 2023
Cleve Moler, a pioneer in numerical mathematics and the creator of MATLAB, shares his incredible journey from the University of Utah to co-founding MathWorks. He delves into the fascinating origins of MATLAB and the iconic MathWorks logo. The conversation touches on 'embarrassingly parallel computations' and the notorious Pentium bug that shook the tech world. Cleve also offers valuable advice for aspiring mathematicians, emphasizing the evolution and impact of numerical analysis in modern computing.
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Stay in School Advice
- Stay in school as long as you can to learn deeply.
- Continuing education allows you to build a strong foundation before entering the workforce.
Origin of MathWorks Logo
- The MathWorks logo is a solution to the wave equation on an L-shaped membrane.
- This symbol first appeared as an example in Cleve Moler's thesis and later became the logo.
Tough PhD Defense Questions
- Cleve Moler faced unexpected tough questions on group theory and topology during his PhD defense.
- Despite the surprise, he passed after some committee discussion on exam scope.