Fads are as common in mathematics as in any other human activity, and it is always difficult to separate the enduring from the ephemeral in the achievements of one’s own time. An unfortunate effect of the predominance of fads is that if a student doesn’t learn about such worthwhile topics as the wave equation, Gauss’s hypergeometric function, the gamma function, and the basic problems of the calculus of variations―among others―as an undergraduate, then he/she is unlikely to do so later.
The natural place for an informal acquaintance with such ideas is a leisurely introductory course on differential equations. Specially designed for just such a course, Differential Equations with Applications and Historical Notes takes great pleasure in the journey into the world of differential equations and their wide range of applications. The author―a highly respected educator―advocates a careful approach, using explicit explanation to ensure students fully comprehend the subject matter.
With an emphasis on modeling and applications, the long-awaited Third Edition of this classic textbook presents a substantial new section on Gauss’s bell curve and improves coverage of Fourier analysis, numerical methods, and linear algebra. Relating the development of mathematics to human activity―i.e., identifying why and how mathematics is used―the text includes a wealth of unique examples and exercises, as well as the author’s distinctive historical notes, throughout.
- Provides an ideal text for a one- or two-semester introductory course on differential equations
- Emphasizes modeling and applications
- Presents a substantial new section on Gauss’s bell curve
- Improves coverage of Fourier analysis, numerical methods, and linear algebra
- Relates the development of mathematics to human activity―i.e., identifying why and how mathematics is used
- Includes a wealth of unique examples and exercises, as well as the author’s distinctive historical notes, throughout
- Uses explicit explanation to ensure students fully comprehend the subject matter
Outstanding Academic Title of the Year, Choice magazine, American Library Association.
B. Ryan –
Exactly what I needed.
Joseph Hill –
Without a doubt, George Simmons is a top rated, and down to earth, author. Indeed, you shall greatly benefit from his pedagogy, or teaching style. In fact, this is the second textbook that I have owned via this author; the first was his Calculus and Analytic Geometry text from the late 1990s.
Ron Toolsie –
If you already have studied differential equations, this book is a fairly easy read, being fairly comprehensive and well written. Some of the topics are glossed over in one or two pages…and in the case of the Bernoulli Equations, in just a couple paragraphs.
The problem sets are sufficiently broad to develop a good feel for the methods.
My biggest ‘complaint’ is that this is not a hard cover, as the pages do not stay open by themselves. But I know it was a soft cover when I bought it.
If you have never studied DiffEq before, I would suggest you look elsewhere for an introductor text…the excellent book by Dennis Zill would be the first place I would start.
Jm –
I looked at a lot of ode books. This one rates near the top. Very happy to read it.