Complex Variables: Introduction and Applications (Cambridge Texts in Applied Mathematics) [Paperback]

Mark J. Ablowitz (Author), Athanassios S. Fokas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0521534291 | ISBN-13: 978-0521534291 | Edition: 2

Complex variables offer very efficient methods for attacking many difficult problems, and it is the aim of this book to offer a thorough review of these methods and their applications. Part I is an introduction to the subject, including residue calculus and transform methods. Part II advances to conformal mappings, and the study of Riemann-Hilbert problems. An extensive array of examples and exercises are included. This new edition has been improved throughout and is ideal for use in introductory undergraduate and graduate level courses in complex variables. First Edition Hb (1997): 0-521-48058-2 First Edition Pb (1997): 0-521-48523-1

Editorial Reviews

Review

'... an excellent text, and one of the most complete and well-written books on complex variables I have seen ... The index is nicely composed, complete, and accurate ... useful as a reference ... I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject and have placed it prominently upon my reference bookshelf.' Duwayne Anderson, Optics and Photonics News

'... an excellent text, and one of the most complete and well-written books on complex variables I have seen ... I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject...'. Optics and Photonics News

'Overall the book feels 'road-tested' both in the lecture theatre and in the crucible of research and the clear well-written text is complemented by a superb collection of worked examples and exercises ranging in scope from routine applications of techniques to more substantial illustrations of the theory.' The Mathematical Gazette

'... the book is valuable for students in engineering and physical sciences.' ZAMM

Book Description

Complex variables provide powerful methods for attacking many difficult problems, and it is the aim of this book to provide a thorough grounding in these methods and their application. Part I of this text provides an introduction to the subject, including residue calculus and transform methods. Part II moves on to conformal mappings, and the study of Riemann-Hilbert problems. An extensive array of examples and exercises are included. This new edition has been improved throughout and is ideal for use in introductory undergraduate and graduate level courses in complex variables.

Product Details

• Paperback: 660 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (April 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521534291
• ISBN-13: 978-0521534291
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #579,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete reference book for complex variables, December 11, 2000

By 

Duwayne Anderson (Saint Helens, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complex Variables: Introduction and Applications (Cambridge Texts in Applied Mathematics) (Paperback)

Whether you are a student, or just in need of a good reference text, Mark J. Ablowitz' and Athanassios Fokas' book belongs in your library. Complex Variables, Introduction and Applications is refreshingly well written. In clear and logical flow, the authors present the subject of complex variables in an easy-to-understand, yet complete format suitable for both students and practicing professionals.

This text offers a broad coverage of the subject, from fundamental properties of complex numbers, analytic functions, and singularities to more advanced topics such as conformal mapping and Riemann-Hilbert problems. Although individuals interested in pure mathematics may find some of the proofs insufficiently rigorous, those using the book as a reference for engineering or scientific problems may find the text too rigid. Overall, however, the authors have done an excellent job balancing the subject matter and successfully achieving their goal of, when necessary, "sacrificing a rigorous axiomatic development with a logical development based upon suitable assumptions."

Although the mathematical development of the text is clear, concise, and easy to follow, many of the applied examples, such as those for uniform flow in section 2.1, would benefit from further physical insight. Individuals already familiar with physics will have no difficulty following many of the examples, and extending them to other situations. Those less grounded in the physical sciences, however, may find the starting equations for some of the examples to be less than intuitive. Though additional explanations would increase the book's already substantial heft, the change would benefit many readers.

It is a joy to read a well-written technical book with almost no typographical or technical errors. Except for minor (and easily recognizable) typographical errors such as that in equation 2.2.12b, the book is nearly flawless. This leaves the student free to concentrate on learning the material unencumbered by worries about the text's accuracy.

The index is nicely composed, complete, and accurate. This makes the book particularly useful as a reference. Typically, the reader will have little trouble using the index to go directly to the pages of most interest and applicability regarding the subject of inquiry. It would be nice to see a more complete bibliography, as well as a summary of common symbols. Especially useful would be a summary of some of the more important equations (such as Green's theorem, Cauchy's theorem, the Fourier transform, the Helmholtz equation, etc.) derived or demonstrated in the book. A list of important equations, particularly, would improve the book's utilization as a desk reference.

For the student, the text presents answers to odd-numbered questions in the back of the book. For the most part, the text presents only the answers, but occasionally the authors provide additional insight into the problem's solution, as in section 5.2. This will be useful for those engaged in independent study.

Overall, this is an excellent text, and one of the most complete and well-written books on complex variables I have seen. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject, and have placed it prominently upon my reference bookshelf.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The numerous pictures are enough to recommend this text, June 7, 2001

By 

UNPINGCO (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complex Variables: Introduction and Applications (Cambridge Texts in Applied Mathematics) (Paperback)

This text is distinguished by the numerous diagrams that appear on practically every other page. If you're graphically oriented, like I am, then this itself is enough to recommend this book. Concepts such as branch points and multivalued complex functions are much easier to understand when there is a picture to accompany the concept. The second half of the book is concerned with applications and includes several useful asymptotic methods such as Laplace's integral method. These asymptotic techniques are good for evaluating particularly nasty integrals in which the integrand is really concentrated somewhere in the interval. On the downside, this is not a very formally rigorous book. On the other hand, such formalism is easier to digest once you've seen numerous pictures and examples, in my own opinion.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book -- Unique selection of topics, March 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Complex Variables: Introduction and Applications (Cambridge Texts in Applied Mathematics) (Hardcover)

This is the only textbook that I know that introduces and explains the Hilbert-Riemann problem in a pedagogical way. If anyone knows of any other such book, please tell us. It also deals in a very introductory way with all sort of really nice topics that one cannot find discussed (at a really introductory level) in any similar book: the Painleve property, the classification of singularities, asymptotic expansions, etc, etc. All very powerful applied mathematics.