This revised edition includes problems and examples that incorporate computer technology. Many of the problems also call for graphing solutions or statements about their behaviour. In doing this, the text clearly demonstrates why solutions are no more important than the conclusions that can be drawn from them. The book includes features such as: a sound and accurate exposition of theory with attention to methods of solution, analysis, and approximation that can be used in many applications; problems on properties of solutions which emphasize the importance of understanding the qualitative behaviour of solutions; use of technology, illustrations, and problem sets to help students develop an understanding of the material; historic footnotes that trace development of the discipline and identify some outstanding individual contributions; and the answers to most of the problems in the book. This edition contains additional features such as: more figures within the text plus problems chosen to promote a more visual understanding of differential equations; problems that explore the effect of changing parameter values; an update of the numerical methods chapter and new figures and problems.
William E. Boyce received his B.A. degree in Mathematics from Rhodes College and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics from Carnegie–Mellon University. He is a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, and the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics. He is currently the Edward P. Hamilton Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Science Education (Department of Mathematical Sciences) at Rensselaer. He is the author of numerous technical papers in boundary value problems and random differential equations and their applications. He is the author of several textbooks including two differential equations texts, and is the coauthor of several textbooks including two differential equations texts, and is the coauthor (with M.H. Holmes, J.G. Ecker and W.L. Siegmann) of a text on using Maple to explore Calculus. He is also coauthor (with R.L. Borrelli and C.S. Coleman) of
Differential Equations Laboratory Workbook (Wiley 1992), which received the EDUCOM Best Mathematics Curricular Innovation Award in 1993. Professor Boyce was a member of the NSF–sponsored CODEE (Consortium for Ordinary Differential Equations Experiments) that led to the Wiley–acclaimed
ODEA Architect. He has also been active in curriculum innovation and reform. Among other things, he was the initiator of the "Computers in Calculus" project at Rensselaer, partially supported by the NSF. In 1991 he received the William H. Wiley Distinguished Faculty Award given by Rensselaer.
Richard C. DiPrima (deceased) received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics from Carnegie–Mellon University. He joined the faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute after holding research positions at MIT, Harvard, and Hughes Aircraft. He held the Eliza Ricketts Foundation Professorship of Mathematics at Rensselaer, was a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Academy of Mechanics, and the American Physical Society. He was also a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, and the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics. He served as the Chairman of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Rensselaer, as President of the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Applied Mechanics Division of ASME. In 1980, he was the recipient of the William H. Wiley Distinguished Faculty Award given by Rensselaer. He received Fulbright fellowships in 1964–65 and 1983 and a Guggenheim fellowship in 1982–83. He was the author of numerous technical papers in hydrodynamic stability and lubrication theory and two texts on differential equations and boundary value problems. Professor DiPrima died on September 10, 1984.
