Differential Equations and Their Applications : An Introduction to Applied Mathematics (Texts in Applied Mathematics, Vol. 11) (Hardcover)

by Martin Braun (Author) "This book is a study of differential equations and their applications..." (more)
Key Phrases: blood glucose regulatory system, operational loss rate, twelve innovations, Iwo Jima, Van Meegeren, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"…this book is the most attractive, motivated, and well-written work of its kind known to me..." -- AMERICAN SCIENTIST

Product Description
This text is a clearly written and complete introductory study of differential equations and their applications. Suitable for a one- or two-semester course on the subject, the material is fully comprehensible to anyone who has studied college-level calculus. This book distinguishes itslef from other differential equation texts through its application of the subject matter to fascinating events and its incorporation of relatively recent developments in the field. Some applications include:* a proof that the painting, "Disciples of Emmaus," bought by the Rembrandt Society of Belgium was a modern forgery;* a mathematical explanation of the Tacoma Bridge disaster;* a model of the blood glucose regulatory system which leads to a criterion for the diagnosis of diabetes;*an explanation of why the predator portion (sharks, skates, rays, etc. ) of all fish caught in the port of Flume, Italy, rose dramatically during the years of World War I;* a mathematical verification of Darwin's law that "the more similar two species are, the fiercer is the struggle for existence between them. "An introduction to bifurcation theory, computer programs in C, Pascal, and Fortran, and many original and challenging exercises contribute to the quality of this text.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 578 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 4th edition (December 5, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387978941
• ISBN-13: 978-0387978949
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #79,067 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #19 in	Books > Science > Mathematics > Applied > Differential Equations
  #19 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Mathematics > Applied > Differential Equations
  #29 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Mathematics > Mathematical Analysis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best in the field, January 2, 1997

By A Customer

This book covers its material thoroughly and clearly with the most interesting set of applications I've seen in a high-level text. It also contains all the linear algebra needed to understand the material. This book was based on a course the author taught. Indeed, Braun's claim that students taking linear algebra would refer to his course for a refresher is well-deserved. Exercises are generally difficult but the examples are easy to follow. Buy this if you want to truly understand the subject matter.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and stimulating text, July 7, 2005

By	Steve Keen "Debunking Economics" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

As an academic I rarely if ever use textbooks because I find their writing style bland and disengaging--especially in my own area (economics). Braun's text is the exception to the rule: this is a textbook that is so well written it could qualify as entertainment. At the same time the major issues in the field are covered well, complete with an overview of the linear algebra required for doing ODEs and a good introduction to nonlinearity and chaos. It may not, as one reviewer notes, provide a complete and rigorous coverage of this highly technical field, but it does what a text should do but so few achieve: it excites its readers and inspires them to delve further into this fascinating discipline.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning D.E.'s Can Actually be Fun, July 13, 1998

By A Customer

I have used this to teach DE's in a one to one tutoring context for a couple of years now, since I first picked it off a library shelf and felt literally like jumping for joy over how good it was. Not that I dislike Boyce / DiPrima, but suddenly I had a text that was really fun! Now, this is definitely a "what DE's are good for" kind of text, so if you feel that your students should suffer teething pains on a dry theoretical tome, this is NOT the book for you. Nevertheless, having had students chew up all their available time on this book, because they loved it, makes me recommend it highly.