Ordinary Differential Equations (Universitext) - Softcover

Arnold, Vladimir I.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3540345639 ISBN 13: 9783540345633

Publisher: Springer, 2006

Synopsis

Few books on Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) have the elegant geometric insight of this one, which puts emphasis on the qualitative and geometric properties of ODEs and their solutions, rather than on routine presentation of algorithms.

From the reviews:

"Professor Arnold has expanded his classic book to include new material on exponential growth, predator-prey, the pendulum, impulse response, symmetry groups and group actions, perturbation and bifurcation." --SIAM REVIEW

About this title

Review

From the reviews:

"Professor Arnold has expanded his classic book to include new material on exponential growth, predator-prey, the pendulum, impulse response, symmetry groups and group actions, perturbation and bifurcation ... . The new edition is highly recommended as a general reference for the essential theory of ordinary differential equations and as a textbook for an introductory course for serious undergraduate or graduate students. ... In the US system, it is an excellent text for an introductory graduate course." (Carmen Chicone, SIAM Review, Vol. 49 (2), 2007)

"Vladimir Arnold’s is a master, not just of the technical realm of differential equations but of pedagogy and exposition as well. ... The writing throughout is crisp and clear. ... Arnold’s says that the book is based on a year-long sequence of lectures for second-year mathematics majors in Moscow. In the U.S., this material is probably most appropriate for advanced undergraduates or first-year graduate students." (William J. Satzer, MathDL, August, 2007)

Synopsis

There are dozens of books on ODEs, but none with the elegant geometric insight of Arnol'd's book. Arnol'd puts a clear emphasis on the qualitative and geometric properties of ODEs and their solutions, rather than on the routine presentation of algorithms for solving special classes of equations. Of course, the reader learns how to solve equations, but with much more understanding of the systems, the solutions and the techniques. Vector fields and one-parameter groups of transformations come right from the start and Arnol'd uses this "language" throughout the book. This fundamental difference from the standard presentation allows him to explain some of the real mathematics of ODEs in a very understandable way and without hiding the substance.The text is also rich with examples and connections with mechanics. Where possible, Arnol'd proceeds by physical reasoning, using it as a convenient shorthand for much longer formal mathematical reasoning. This technique helps the student get a feel for the subject. Following Arnol'd's guiding geometric and qualitative principles, there are 272 figures in the book, but not a single complicated formula.

Also, the text is peppered with historical remarks, which put the material in context, showing how the ideas have developed since Newton and Leibniz. This book is an excellent text for a course whose goal is a mathematical treatment of differential equations and the related physical systems.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 3540345639
• ISBN 13: 9783540345633
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 342