Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide [Paperback]

K. F. Riley (Author), M. P. Hobson (Author), S. J. Bence (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521679710 | ISBN-13: 978-0521679718 | Publication Date: March 13, 2006 | Edition: 3

The third edition of this highly acclaimed undergraduate textbook is suitable for teaching all the mathematics for an undergraduate course in any of the physical sciences. As well as lucid descriptions of all the topics and many worked examples, it contains over 800 exercises. New stand-alone chapters give a systematic account of the 'special functions' of physical science, cover an extended range of practical applications of complex variables, and give an introduction to quantum operators. Further tabulations, of relevance in statistics and numerical integration, have been added. In this edition, half of the exercises are provided with hints and answers and, in a separate manual available to both students and their teachers, complete worked solutions. The remaining exercises have no hints, answers or worked solutions and can be used for unaided homework; full solutions are available to instructors on a password-protected web site, www.cambridge.org/9780521679718.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From reviews of previous editions: '...a great scientific textbook. It is a tour de force ... to write mathematical sections that are both complete and at an appropriate academic level. The authors have clearly succeeded in this challenge, making this a remarkable pedagogical book ... The choice of exercises is excellent and possibly the best feature of the book. In summary, this textbook is a great reference at undergraduate levels, particularly for those who like to teach or learn using lots of examples and exercises.' R. Botet, European Journal of Physics

'... the book provides scientists who need to use the tool of mathematics for practical purposes with a single, comprehensive book. I recommend this book not only to students in physics and engineering sciences, but also to students in other fields of natural sciences.' P. Steward, Optik

'... suitable as a textbook for undergraduate use ... this is a book that in view of its content and its modest softcover price, will find its way on to many bookshelves.' Nigel Steele, Times Higher Education Supplement

'Riley et al. has clear, thorough and straightforward explanations of the subjects treated. It rigorously adopts a three-stage approach throughout the book: first a heuristic, intuitive introduction, then a formal treatment, and finally one or two examples. This consistent presentation, the layout, and the print quality make the book most attractive ... and value for money. It contains a thousand pages, there are plenty of exercises with each chapter.' J. M. Thijssen, European Journal of Physics

This is a valuable book with great potential use in present-day university physics courses. Furthermore, the book will be useful for graduate too, and researchers will find it useful for looking up material which they have forgotten since their undergraduate days.' J. M. Thijssen, European Journal of Physics

'This textbook is a well-written, modern, comprehensive, and complete collection of topics in mathematical methods ranging from a review of differential and integral calculus to group and representation theory, probability, the calculus of variations, and tensors.' Science Books and Films

'This is a very comprehensive textbook suitable for most students enrolling on undergraduate degree courses in engineering. It contains 31 stand-alone chapters of mathematical methods which enable the students to understand the principles of the basic mathematical techniques and the authors have produced a clear, thorough and straightforward explanation of each subject. ... finding a single textbook which covers the engineering student's need throughout their entire course is by no means an easy task. I believe the authors have achieved it ... complete fully worked solutions ... which I think is a useful asset for both students and lecturers.' Civil Engineering

' ... this highly acclaimed undergraduate textbook is suitable for teaching all the mathematics ever likely to be needed for an undergraduate course in any of the physical sciences. As well as lucid descriptions of all the topics covered and many worked examples, it contains more than 800 exercises.' L'enseignement mathematique

Book Description

This highly acclaimed undergraduate textbook teaches all the mathematics for undergraduate courses in the physical sciences. Containing over 800 exercises, half come with hints and answers and, in a separate manual, complete worked solutions. The remaining exercises are intended for unaided homework; full solutions are available to instructors.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1362 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 3 edition (March 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521679710
• ISBN-13: 978-0521679718
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just one comment, this is a great book., May 29, 2007

By 

Morning Bird (VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide (Paperback)

This is one of the best mathematical methods book, very readable.
It has very clear explainations, in each topic it's developing from basic intuitions until it reaches the genralized equations, several detailed examples help a reader checks his understanding and follows the authors.

The contents are very well-organized and self-contained, one can looks directly at the topic he wants to know. It's lucid and normally answer and teach a reader what he wants to do. All definitions make sense and a reader can accepts easily it's a smart thing to do math that way.

It also serves as a one-stop, if you feel confused when you're reading because your background knowledge is not strong enough, just search for the previous related topics, all brilliant explainations are waiting for you to grasp them, make you ready for what you need.

Any undergrads and beginning grad students in Physics will find this book is great. This is an excellent example how to write an approachable math methods book. Eventhough it has a thick over than 1,300 pages, but it never turns a reader away becuase of its thickness at all. Once one starts reading it, he'll enjoy and come back looking for another explaination.

One more great point is, this book contains a lot of real physical examples besides the math formulations, make a reader understands the topic deeply and sees a practical use.

Besides the book, I totally don't agree with a previous comment from a chemical physicist who gave this book just one star.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive AND comprehensible, October 15, 2007

By 

Harvey S. Picker (Hartford, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide (Paperback)

I've been teaching an upper-level course in math methods of physics on and off for thirty-five years or so. This is as good a text as I've found. In fact, I've been using this book since it began life as a much smaller volume by Riley alone. It has always provided a down-to-earth exposition of applicable mathematics. Now it provides more than ever, include two nice chapters on group theory, with more problems than the previous editions.

Despite its broad coverage, it is not an encyclopedia. Individual sections are thorough, well illustrated by examples, and comprehensible. Yes, I might have organized some of the material somewhat differently. But that is largely a matter of taste.

The reviewer who alleges that one must have mastered a lot of math to benefit from this book clearly has not read the first chapter. The book by Boas with which he compares it is a) less comprehensive, b) at a lower level overall, c) and a lot more expensive.

At $63, this volume is a real bargain.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars clear exposition of practical material, October 17, 2007

By 

Davit Potoyan "David the invincible" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide (Paperback)

Beautifuly organized compendium of mathematical tools which are daily bread and butter of every theoretical physicst. Excellent for first year graduate students wanting to pursue career in any branch of theoretical physics.
The main advantages which distinguishes this classic from others is clear and conscise pedagogical style and excellent selection of topics which are being discussed fully and without sacrifising mathematical rigour.
However for advanced students this text may sometimes bore with overdetailed explanations and minor details.
Summing up everything, if you wanna learn mathphys and want to start you are in the right place.