Mathematical Methods of Physics (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Jon Mathews (Author), Robert L. Walker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0805370021 | ISBN-13: 978-0805370027 | Publication Date: 1970 | Edition: 2nd

This well-known text treats a variety of essential topics, ranging in difficulty from simple differential equations to group theory. Physical intuition, rather than rigor, is used to develop mathematical facility, and the authors have kept the text at a level consistent with the needs and abilities of upper-division students. This book covers subjects which are often ignored in traditional texts; for example, statistics and the fitting of experimental data, dispersion relations and super-convergence relations and the group SU(3).

Product Details

• Paperback: 501 pages
• Publisher: W.A. Benjamin; 2nd edition (1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805370021
• ISBN-13: 978-0805370027
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #689,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rewarding book, April 26, 2002

By 

pnmti (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mathematical Methods of Physics (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I would not say Mathews & Walker [MW] is better than other books such as Arfken & Weber or Boas. But I recommend this book because it is VERY DIFFERENT than others. If Arfken is like a reference book, MW is like a lecture note. It does not cover every bits and pieces; So as another reviewer wrote below, MW is not for those who are not familiar with Differential Equations, Linear Algebra and Complex Variables (these subjects are almost the core mathematical courses which a physics student must take).

But for those who have some knowledge of above mentioned mathematics, by reading MW carefully, you will be nourished with incredible amount of mathematical insight which physicists use.

Also, you will be happy to know that this book was evolved from the course originally based on lectures by Feynman while he was at Cornell and was still a young professor just come out from Los Alamos. Feynman later said that from the experience at Los Alamos he knew which mathematical methods worked and was useful, and he tried to teach those skills in his course. MW is still full of that spirit.

The book is relatively slim than other mathematical methods books, and really fun to read. You will find small but valuable facts which could not be found anywhere else scattered throughout the book.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for learning mathematical physics, May 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mathematical Methods of Physics (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This is my favorite book on mathematical physics. Others are good for exhaustive reference (Morse and Feshbach) or mathematical rigor (Courant and Hilbert), but if you just want to learn how to solve the problems, get this book. It is based on a course that Feynman gave and his mark is upon it, even if he didn't write it.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An mathematical physics book for physicist, December 10, 1999

By 

Oliver Lass - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mathematical Methods of Physics (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This is a very good book on mathematical methods for physicist and should be used together with Arfken or Byron/Fuller. It really complements espacially Arfken's book, since it covers aspects not treated there. Just one very illustrative things is the treatment of integral equations. It gives you a direct glimpse of path integrals by demonstrating the use of graphs for solving intergral equations and thus gives a deeper insight into it. It is really an excellent complement espacially for those who have to work with Arfken.