Special Functions and Orthogonal Polynomials (Hardcover)

Richard Beals

ISBN 10: 1107106982 / ISBN 13: 9781107106987

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2016

About this Item

Hardcover. The subject of special functions is often presented as a collection of disparate results, rarely organized in a coherent way. This book emphasizes general principles that unify and demarcate the subjects of study. The authors' main goals are to provide clear motivation, efficient proofs, and original references for all of the principal results. The book covers standard material, but also much more. It shows how much of the subject can be traced back to two equations - the hypergeometric equation and confluent hypergeometric equation - and it details the ways in which these equations are canonical and special. There is extended coverage of orthogonal polynomials, including connections to approximation theory, continued fractions, and the moment problem, as well as an introduction to new asymptotic methods. There are also chapters on Meijer G-functions and elliptic functions. The final chapter introduces Painleve transcendents, which have been termed the 'special functions of the twenty-first century'. This book provides a graduate-level introduction to special functions - a very active area of research and application. Emphasis is given to unifying aspects and to motivation, making it ideal for self-study, while its comprehensive coverage of standard and newer topics and its extensive bibliography also make it a valuable reference. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781107106987

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Special Functions and Orthogonal Polynomials (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1107106982
• ISBN 13: 9781107106987
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The subject of special functions is often presented as a collection of disparate results, rarely organized in a coherent way. This book emphasizes general principles that unify and demarcate the subjects of study. The authors' main goals are to provide clear motivation, efficient proofs, and original references for all of the principal results. The book covers standard material, but also much more. It shows how much of the subject can be traced back to two equations - the hypergeometric equation and confluent hypergeometric equation - and it details the ways in which these equations are canonical and special. There is extended coverage of orthogonal polynomials, including connections to approximation theory, continued fractions, and the moment problem, as well as an introduction to new asymptotic methods. There are also chapters on Meijer G-functions and elliptic functions. The final chapter introduces Painlevé transcendents, which have been termed the 'special functions of the twenty-first century'.

About the Authors

Richard Beals is a former Professor of Mathematics at the University of Chicago and Yale University. He is the author or co-author of books on mathematical analysis, linear operators and inverse scattering theory, and has authored more than 100 research papers in areas including partial differential equations, mathematical economics and mathematical psychology.

Roderick Wong is Chair Professor of Mathematics at the City University of Hong Kong. He is the author of books on asymptotic approximations of integrals and applied analysis. He has published over 140 research papers in areas such as asymptotic analysis, singular perturbation theory and special functions.