A First Course in Differential Equations (Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics) - Softcover

Logan, J. David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0387259643 ISBN 13: 9780387259642

Publisher: Springer, 2005

Synopsis

Therearemanyexcellenttextsonelementarydi?erentialequationsdesignedfor the standard sophomore course. However, in spite of the fact that most courses are one semester in length, the texts have evolved into calculus-like pres- tations that include a large collection of methods and applications, packaged with student manuals, and Web-based notes, projects, and supplements. All of this comes in several hundred pages of text with busy formats. Most students do not have the time or desire to read voluminous texts and explore internet supplements. The format of this di?erential equations book is di?erent; it is a one-semester, brief treatment of the basic ideas, models, and solution methods. Itslimitedcoverageplacesitsomewherebetweenanoutlineandadetailedte- book. I have tried to write concisely, to the point, and in plain language. Many worked examples and exercises are included. A student who works through this primer will have the tools to go to the next level in applying di?erential eq- tions to problems in engineering, science, and applied mathematics. It can give some instructors, who want more concise coverage, an alternative to existing texts.

About this title

About the Author

J. David Logan is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He is the author of another recent undergraduate textbook, Applied Partial Differential Equations, 2nd Edition (Springer 2004).

From the Back Cover

This text is designed for the standard post-calculus course in elementary differential equations. It is a brief, one-semester treatment of the basic ideas, models, and solution methods. The book, which serves as an alternative to existing texts for instructors who want more concise coverage, emphasizes graphical, analytical, and numerical approaches, and is written with clear language in a user-friendly format. It provides students with the tools to continue on to the next level in applying differential equations to problems in engineering, science, and applied mathematics.

The topics include:

* separable and linear first-order equations;

* autonomous equations;

* second order linear homogeneous and nonhomogeneous equations;

* Laplace transforms;

* linear and nonlinear systems in the phase plane.

Many exercises are provided, in addition to examples from engineering, ecology, physics, economics, and other areas. An expanded section on the required linear algebra is presented, and an appendix contains templates of Maple and MATLAB commands and programs which are useful in differential equations.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0387259643
• ISBN 13: 9780387259642
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 305