Matlab ("matrix laboratory") is a programming language for numerical computing, that provides an extensive set of tools and libraries, a relatively readible structure, and good graphics in 2 and 3 dimensions. Matlab also provides a graphical language (simulink) for system analysis and a symbolic maths package based on Mupad. The numerical parts of this course will be based on Matlab and it is recommended that you use this for the second assignment.
Mathworks courses on matlab are
Matlab Onramp (2 hours) Mathworks.
Matlab Fundamentals, Mathworks
Other courses are
Learning Matlab (1h13m) Steven Moser, Linkedin learning
MATLAB 2018 Essential Training (3h15m) Curt Frye, Linkedin learning
The university has a Matlab licence for all students. But many of the tools are available through other packages (albeit not as good). Some alernatives are
Method 1: AppsAnywhere: https://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/its/AppsAnywhere.aspx
Method 2: Create an account at mathworks.com using your student email address. (https://uk.mathworks.com/mwaccount/) (https://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/its/services/its-SerCat/MatlabStudents.aspx) Download MATLAB (Individual)