Elementary Differential Equations (5th Edition) [Hardcover]

C. Henry Edwards (Author), David E. Penney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 013145773X | ISBN-13: 978-0131457737 | Publication Date: October 30, 2003 | Edition: 5

For briefer traditional courses in elementary differential equations that science, engineering, and mathematics students take following calculus. This accessible, attractive, and interesting text teaches students to first solve those differential equations that have the most frequent and interesting applications. This motivates students and illustrates the standard elementary techniques of solution of differential equations. Precise and clear-cut statements of fundamental existence and uniqueness theorems allow understanding of their role in this subject. The first few sections of most chapters introduce the principle ideas of each topic, with remaining sections devoted to extensions and applications, giving instructors a wide range of choices regarding breadth and depth of coverage. A strong numerical approach emphasizes that the effective and reliable use of numerical methods often requires preliminary analysis using standard elementary techniques.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This popular introduction to elementary differential equations is widely hailed for its exceptional user-friendly exposition, range of real-world applications, numerical and computer material, and treatment of contemporary topics. It is a brief version of elementary differential equations with boundary value problems. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Maintaining a contemporary perspective, this strongly algebraic-oriented text provides a concrete and readable text for the traditional course in elementary differential equations that science, engineering, and mathematics readers take following calculus. Matters of definition, classification, and logical structure deserve (and receive here) careful attention for the first time in the mathematical experience of many of the readers. While it is neither feasible nor desirable to include proofs of the fundamental existence and uniqueness theorems along the way in an elementary course, readers need to see precise and clear-cut statements of these theorems, and understand their role in the subject. Appropriate existence and uniqueness proofs in the Appendix are included, and referred to where appropriate in the main body of the text. Applications are highlighted throughout the text. These include: What explains the commonly observed lag time between indoor and outdoor daily temperature oscillations?; What makes the difference between doomsday and extinction in alligator populations?; How do a unicycle and a two-axle car react differently to road bumps?; Why are flagpoles hollow instead of solid?; Why might an earthquake demolish one building and leave standing the one next door?; How can you predict the time of next perihelion passage of a newly observed comet?; Why and when does non-linearity lead to chaos in biological and mechanical systems?; What explains the difference in the sounds of a guitar, a xylophone, and a drum? Includes almost 300 computer-generated graphics throughout the text. This text, with enough material for 2 terms, provides a concrete and readable text for the traditional course in elementary differential equations that science, engineering, and mathematics readers take following calculus. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (October 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013145773X
• ISBN-13: 978-0131457737
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EXPENSIVE YET OUTSTANDING DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS BOOK, January 17, 2008

By 

JON STRICKLAND "Jon Strickland" (Smithfield, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elementary Differential Equations (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

With the sixth edition of this textbook, Edwards and Penney have made significant strides with interesting examples and chapter problems that can challenge one not only from a mathematical standpoint but also from concepts regarding physics, fluid mechanics, population growth, radioactive decay, etc.

As a teacher, I say that this is a very user-friendly book for an instructor who teaches differential equations as a three-hour college course. The introductory sections are a very good refresher for those who need to brush up on their calculus, especially in working with integrals and derivatives concerning natural logarithms. In each chapter, the range of the problems seems apt. Too often in so many publications are there relatively easy problems only to be followed immediately by exercises that are at an astronomical degree of difficulty for the student and many a professor.

Perhaps the main weaknesses are underscored by the amount of self-discipline an undergraduate might need to read and understand the theory thus application of the topics if he or she is not receiving added guidance from a tutor or quality instructor. This is not entirely a self-explanatory reference, but differential equations is not exactly an introductory level course; and I believe that Edwards and Penney did assimilate a great set of examples and exercises such that even if the material is difficult to grasp, the challenges posed are so relevant to daily life that one who cares to become a specialist in the sciences will be prone to try overriding any difficulties to at least gain a better understanding of the physical phenomena surrounding him or her.

As added kudos, with this volume, Edwards and Penney have helped me to gain a level of appreciation and joy in encountering engineering problems. Though it is pricey for its size, "Elementary Differential Equations" does provide adequate frames of reference without being bogged down with graphs or numerical tables that are not well displayed or explained. All in all, this is an excellent cross-training reference for those who want to enhance their mathematical skills while still developing their technical skills in engineering and various physical sciences.

1.0 out of 5 stars Decent Material but Terrible Authors, December 26, 2011

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ISU AlphaSig (Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Elementary Differential Equations (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

I used this book in a required Diff Eq class at the University. Between the horrendous professor and this wretched book, nobody passed the class. Something to make clear, though, is that this book is downright difficult to understand. The questions are practical, and the formulas are sound, but everything in between is awful.

The tone with which this text is written leaves you feeling like a high school reject for not already understanding how to solve a "non-homogeneous linear 2nd order differential equation". The methods that they use are hard to follow at best, and orienting yourself in the jumble of paragraphs makes it all the more difficult to try making the subject bearable.

I took the class elsewhere, they used Fundamentals of Differential Equations (8th Edition), and that text was infinitely more enjoyable than this overpriced paperweight.

1.0 out of 5 stars Bad Book, October 8, 2011

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J - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Elementary Differential Equations (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

What a bad book to learn Diff Eq with! It might be ok to buy if you already know the subject but lots of initial steps in the sample problems are left out "assuming" you know where to go. Which leaves you hopelessly lost if you don't. I ended up searching other books online just to make it through my course. Waste of money!