Product Description

Mathematical concepts and theories underpin much of the physical sciences and engineering. Yet maths is a subject that many students find challenging, and even intimidating - despite it being so central to their field of study. Mathematical Techniques provides a complete course in mathematics, covering all the essential topics with which a physical sciences or engineering student should be familiar. By breaking the subject into small, modular chapters, the book introduces and builds on concepts in a progressive, carefully-layered way - always with an emphasis on how to use the power of maths to best effect, rather than on theoretical proofs of the maths presented. With a huge array of end of chapter problems, and new self-check questions, the fourth edition of Mathematical Techniques provides extensive opportunities for students to build their confidence in the best way possible: by using the maths for themselves. Online Resource Centre The Online Resource Centre features the following materials for all users of the book: · Figures from the book in electronic format, ready to download · A downloadable solutions manual, featuring worked solutions to all end of chapter problems · Mathematica-based programs, relating to the Projects featured at the end of the book

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59045 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 864 pages

About the Author
Dominic Jordan and Peter Smith are members of the Mathematics Department at Keele University. They both have long experience of teaching this material, at many different levels, and to a wide variety of students.

Customer Reviews

What can I say?
Wow, I've found my new bible!!! After failing my first maths module at uni, (D'OH!!!) I decided that I needed a new maths textbook to help me. After much searching, I found this comprehensive, and yes enjoyable read. It covers all of the topics in my course, and in such a way that I'm not baffeled, by technical language or jargon. Back to basics you could say, but not in a patronising way. A must for all first years taking physics.

A very useful book
This one text covered all of the maths involved in my first year physics degree course, including my optional statistics module, and some error analysis.

The contents and index are detailed, the introductions at the beginning of each chapter are easy to read and understand - for those of us who don't appreciate awkward sentences interspersed with unnecessary jargon and equations, that will neither be remembered nor understood (and don't need to be). I have also found the summary boxes particularly useful when revising for exams or checking things i should know when doing questions.

Overall i was very impressed with this book, much less dry than most of the competition, and not something i will be selling before i finish my degree.

one of the best around
Good comprehensive coverage of most things you'll need in 1st and 2nd year sci/tech courses in top end British Uni's. However it lacks the rigorous formality of the more hardcore texts for Math degrees but will serve you well for engineering and physics related stuff (like it says on the cover).

It's useful to note that this book won't guide you through the concepts and problems in an 'idiot's guide' step-by-step fashion. It's written under the assumption that you've done some A-Level + maths for a while and have had some experiencing in muddling through things on your own. Moreover, much of the format is laid out in a summary type fashion with breif intros and a few examples culminating in a lucid statement of concepts. This approach is usefull especially after you've waded through heavy class notes and are gagging for something concise that puts the stuff in a nutshell....much needed clarity, like finally seeing through the smoke.

The exercise problems are tough, ball breakingly hard in fact! Often leaping beyond the seemingly easy illustrations of the examples. You'll need help from other resources to get through them. Maybe this is deliberate as it get's you desperately banging your head against the wall and /if when you finally get the method right - you won't make the same mistake again.

keep this book after you're done, it'll serve as a good reference thing as well.