The Functions of Mathematical Physics (Dover Books on Physics & Chemistry) [Paperback]

Harry Hochstadt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 29, 2012 | Series: Dover Books on Physics & Chemistry

Comprehensive textbook provides both mathematicians and applied scientists with a detailed treatment of orthogonal polynomials, principal properties of the gamma function, hypergeometric functions, Legendre functions, confluent hypergeometric functions, and Hill's equation. Lucid and useful presentations for anyone working in pure or applied mathematics or physics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (February 29, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486652149
• ISBN-13: 978-0486652146
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,962,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Special Functions Introduction., October 8, 2000

By 

Marete - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Functions of Mathematical Physics (Dover Books on Physics & Chemistry) (Paperback)

This is a very nice introduction to special functions, which historically have seen important applications in Physics and Applied Mathematics.

Functions and Equations studied include: Orthogonal Polynomials, Gamma Function, Hypergeometric Functions, Legendre Polynomials, Bessel Functions, Hill Equation.

I would recommend this book to 2 kinds of people:

a) Students of Physics and Applied Math;

b) Students of PURE mathematics, who having completed studying a first rigorous course in Real Anaysis, PLUS a course in Complex Analysis [Holomorphic Functions, Conformal Mapping, Analytic Continuations, etc] , want to apply whatever analytical agility they will have acquired. This sort of person will find herself applying a lot of the analysis she has learned.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Generally good but a minor mistakes occurs, August 23, 2001

By 

Wan Koon Yat "wankoonyat" (North Point Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Functions of Mathematical Physics (Dover Books on Physics & Chemistry) (Paperback)

This is a good concise book concerning with those functions relevant to physical applications. However, there is a mistkake at page 61 about the defintion of Gamma fuctions. In fact the second defintion is also due to Euler, and not Gauss. Gauss's one is the Factorial fuction. I hope in the future if the book is revised, this mistake can be corrected.
Another mistake (probably printing mistake ) occurs in page 62,line six. uk should be equal to I/k - ln(k+1/k ).

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written coverage of special functions, April 23, 2009

By 

Kris - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Functions of Mathematical Physics (Dover Books on Physics & Chemistry) (Paperback)

This is a well-written book, but it is not introductory at all. I wouldn't recommend this unless you are looking for a cohesive and unique book to bring your existing understanding to the next level. There are several sections that I have never seen elsewhere or at least not in this form, including the use of hypergeometric functions in conformal mapping or using these same functions to derive integral expressions from differential equations.

Rather than being a catalog of relationships, as many special function books tend to be, this book works its way along building concepts through unique applications and perspectives, in a non-traditional manner. If you just are seeking a book to look up relationships and formulas between types of functions and integrals, go get Abramowitz & Stegun or Andrews. This book will be interesting if you have had the traditional treatment of special functions already, but it could be confusing as a first exposure to special functions.

If you are looking for some more depth to your understanding of special functions and in particular hypergeometric functions (regular and confluent), this is a highly recommended book. Too bad it is out of print, but you can probably find a used Dover paperback somewhere.