Advanced Mathematical Methods with Maple [Hardcover]

Derek Richards (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521779812 | ISBN-13: 978-0521779814 | Publication Date: December 17, 2001 | Edition: 1st

The last five years have seen an immense growth in the use of symbolic computing and mathematical software packages such as Maple. The first three chapters of this book provide a user-friendly introduction to computer-assisted algebra with Maple. The rest of the book then develops these techniques and demonstrates the use of this technology for deriving approximate solutions to differential equations (linear and nonlinear) and integrals. In each case, the mathematical concepts are comprehensively introduced, with an emphasis on understanding how solutions behave and why various approximations can be used. Where appropriate, the text integrates the use of Maple to extend the utility of traditional approximation techniques. Advanced Mathematical Methods with Maple is the ideal companion text for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of mathematics and the physical sciences. It incorporates over 1000 exercises with different levels of difficulty, for which solutions are provided on the Internet.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The aspect of the book that I particularly liked followed from the background of the author, who is not a physicist but an applied mathematician. This background meant that a wider view of the material was presented than we might expect from a physicist. For example, most physicists, when asked about perturbation theory might first talk about how a small change in an operator would lead to a small change in eigenvalues and the associated eigenfunctions. It is hard to do full justice here to a substantial book, over 800 pages in length, with its content of interesting and, at times, novel material. ... [The book] represents very good value. Final year undergraduates in theoretical or mathematical physics and theoretically and mathematically oriented postgraduates or researchers should give very serious consideration to purchasing this book.' D. Waxman, Contemporary Physics

Book Description

The last five years have seen an immense growth in the use of mathematical software packages such as Maple. This book is the ideal companion text for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of mathematics and the physical sciences. It provides a user-friendly introduction to computer-assisted algebra with Maple and then demonstrates the use of this technology for deriving approximate solutions to integrals and differential equations. In each case, the mathematical concepts are comprehensively introduced and over 1000 exercises are incorporated, for which solutions are provided on the internet.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 878 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1st edition (December 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521779812
• ISBN-13: 978-0521779814
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,824,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A vigorous intro to advanced mathematics for applications, May 22, 2002

By 

Stephen R. Addison (Conway, AR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Mathematical Methods with Maple (Hardcover)

I'll begin by noting the unintended humour on Amazon's part, the Preface is signed Derek Richards, Milton Keynes, January 2001, by Derek Richards of England's Open University. Milton Keynes, named for John Milton and John Maynard Keynes, is, of course the location of the Open University. Amazon credits the preface to Milton keynes. Not the first work that Milton Keynes has been credited with, certainly not the last. [This is no longer relevant as the attribution has been fixed.]

Anyway, to the book. Books on mathematical methods for physics have been lagging behind technical innovations. This book introduces Maple in the first three chapters and then uses it extensively in chapters that begin with functions, series and limit, and ranges through most topics in differential equations to dynamical systems. I would have liked to see an introduction to symmetry methods and Lie groups as they are particularly easy to implement on computer algebra systems. But then again the book is already long at 862 pages. Anyway, this book is a must have for working physicists and applied mathematicians. A good text for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Many solutions are available through the author's web site.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Math (with a little Maple), November 17, 2005

By 

J. S. Judd - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Advanced Mathematical Methods with Maple (Hardcover)

This book is to help you learn mathematics. It will not teach you much Maple.
If you want to learn about lots of things Maple can do, including such mundane things as plotting graphs, writing programs, etc etc etc, go and get a user's manual on Maple or an Intro to Maple book. I made the mistake of thinking this book was going to teach me Maple and illustrate what can be done using moderately common mathematical examples. I was disappointed. The first three chapters introduce basics about using Maple's command/response paradigm, but it covers nothing more than what the author abolutely needs for his subsequent tome on mathematics. The rest of the book has precious little Maple code in it anywhere.

My 1 star rating for this book is from the point of view of learning Maple; it might be quite good at what it's real objective is. Now that I know what it's all about the title seems honest enough "Advanced Mathematical Methods with Maple". However, you are warned.