Math Refresher for Scientists and Engineers, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

John R. Fanchi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471384577 | ISBN-13: 978-0471384571 | Publication Date: May 11, 2000 | Edition: 2

All of the basic math that scientists and engineers need-now expanded and revised!

Whether you need to understand advances in modern technology, prepare for professional exams, or simply brush up on skills acquired long ago,

John Fanchi's quick reference guide to applied math is for you. He has updated his 1997 book to include probability and statistics in new chapters with exercises and solutions. Fanchi explains all topics clearly and methodically, from the ground up. He begins with straightforward concepts in college math and gradually progresses to more advanced topics, using practical applications throughout to demonstrate relationships between different areas. The wealth of numerical methods and illustrative examples further enhances the utility of this truly indispensable book. Math Refresher for Scientists and Engineers, Second Edition reviews:
* Algebra
* Geometry, analytic geometry, trigonometry, and hyperbolic functions
* Vectors, matrices, and linear algebra
* Differential calculus, integral calculus, and special integrals
* Partial derivatives
* Ordinary differential equations and ODE solution techniques
* Partial differential equations
* Probability and statistics

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Franchi transforms continuing education courses he has taught...into a guide to applied mathematics for understanding advances in modern technology, preparing for professional exams, or brushing up on skills acquired long ago." (SciTech Book News, Vol. 24, No. 4, December 2000)

From the Publisher

Whether you need to understand the latest technology or are preparing to take a professional exam, if you are a scientist or engineer, this handy refresher reference walks you through the math skills you need to succeed. Introduces concepts in college algebra and trigonometry and moves on to concepts in calculus, linear algebra and differential equations. Filled with examples, exercises, and applications, and includes solutions to these exercises at the end of the book. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press; 2 edition (May 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471384577
• ISBN-13: 978-0471384571
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,490,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice refresher, and useful as a reference, too., May 8, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: Math Refresher for Scientists and Engineers, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

It's been a few years since I graduated from college, and although I use mathematics every day in my work, I've realized, over the years, that I don't use some aspects of mathematics very much (formal proofs, for example) and that I've become a bit rusty in some areas. Mathematics has always been one of my passions, though, so when I found this book I bought it with the hope that reading it would help me brush up. I wasn't disappointed.

This book is, as the title says, a refresher. It's intended for the reader who has already complete course work in the material, but wants to review it, or use it possibly as a reference. Fanchi's book covers most branches of mathematics that the typical undergraduate is likely to encounter, with a few notable exceptions. There is no discussion about tensors and nothing on things like topology. The book's chapters follow what is probably the traditional route many of us took in our introduction to mathematics. The first chapter is a review of algebra, followed by geometry, trigonometry, and hyperbolic functions. These are followed by analytic geometry, linear algebra, and calculus (broken into chapters dealing with differential calculus, partial derivatives, integrals, and ordinary differential equations).

Since this is a refresher book, the author assumes that the reader has already been exposed, either through experience or course work, to the subjects being covered. So, the material is not introduced the way it typically is found in traditional texts. There is, for example, relatively little developmental material leading up to key concepts. This is both expected and appropriate.

The book excels in several areas, including the use of examples, which are found liberally throughout the text. I highly recommend readers work through these exercises, especially since many of them have solutions that are, themselves, important and useful material. Each exercise comes complete with worked-out solutions in the back of the book, so if you want, you can use this as a very effective book for self-education, almost as if you were going back to school to take a refresher course.

As with any book, reliability and accuracy is critical. Especially for a reference-type book that you are likely to use when you don't have a lot of time to question, or check, the accuracy of the material. Fanchi does an excellent job in this regard; I found almost no errors (and none that were serious). Another thing I look for in a reference book is a good index. I know that the next time I pick it up, it'll be because I remember reading something in it, and I know the answer I'm looking for is in there somewhere, but I cannot remember the page. The first place I'll go is the index, and with a good one (like the one in Fanchi's book) I should be able to track down the solution without too much wasted time.

There were a couple of pleasant surprises in this book. One was the three chapters on probability and statistics. The other was the section (in the chapter on ordinary differential equations) dealing with nonlinear dynamics and chaos. Frankly, I was surprised to see the subject of chaos discussed in this book at all (especially since tensors are not). My only complaint is that there is not an entire chapter devoted to the subject.

The book is easy to read, and well organized. I found it very enjoyable. It's the sort of book that you can easily read for an hour, cover 20 or 30 pages, and not feel too exhausted - if, that is, you are reading it as a review. However, as I said, I'd not recommend this as an introductory text for any of these subjects (and I think the author, by reason of his choice of title, would agree).

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent one stop reference., January 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Math Refresher for Scientists and Engineers (Paperback)

After returning to college after 8 years working I required a review of math concepts. Math Refresher provided all the relevant topics logically laid out in a single volume. The relatively low cost of this book compared to other math references was an additional bonus.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, May 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Math Refresher for Scientists and Engineers (Paperback)

Indeed this is an excellent and unique reference. I have used it as a math review for the Professional Engineer examination. I would love to see an expanded 2nd edition that would perhaps cover the material more in depth (e.g., more sample problems) without making the volume too ponderous. Anyone would be hard pressed to find a more concise and useful reference.