Synopsis
This richly illustrated textbook offers a complete introduction to topics in ordinary differential equations. It is aimed at mathematics, computer science, physics, and engineering majors who have completed at least two semesters of calculus.
The book begins with a discussion of definitions, terminology, and basic analytic procedures and then introduces solution curve families and Picard’s theorem. Later chapters cover everything from algorithms used to solve first-order equations and higher-order linear equations to Kepler’s laws of motion and linear differential equations with power series solutions.
Many differential equations are solved with a variety of example solutions. Rather than expecting students to master specialized software, the book offers tutorials and templates for solving differential equations using the Voyage 200 and TI-92 Plus calculators.
In addition to providing a wide-ranging overview of the fundamentals of ordinary differential equations, the book explores several more esoteric subjects:
- the calculus of variations
- the Riccati equation
- elliptic integrals and elliptic functions
- linear differential equations not in standard form
- Hamilton’s principle
- cubic and hyperbolic spline interpolation
With its thorough coverage of both standard and intermediate level topics in ordinary differential equations, the book can be used to individualize instruction depending on students’ interests and goals.
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About the Author
A California native born in Pasadena, Terry Barbee received a PhD in mathematics from the University of California, Irvine, in 1979.
Barbee worked in the fields of orbital and satellite dynamics and taught mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, Irvine; and Irvine Valley College.
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