Differential Equations Workbook For Dummies

by Steven Holzner

Overview

Tips, tricks and lots of practice to help students get a handle on these complex calculus problems

Pre-calculus classes prepare students for studies in calculus and other advanced Differential equations are essential in physics, economics, engineering, and many other scientific and technical disciplines. This new Dummies Workbook is a hands-on companion for students grappling with differential equations in classes such as calculus, AP calculus, physics, and engineering. It features numerous practice exercises and clear, concise examples to help students improve their problem-solving skills and score better in science, math, and standardized tests. This practice-oriented workbook covers such challenging topics as first-order and second-order differential equations, constant coefficients, undetermined coefficients, variation of parameters, initial-value problems, the Laplace transform, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470472019
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	08/03/2009
Series:	For Dummies Books
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Steven Holzner, PhD, served on the faculty of Cornell University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is an award-winning author who has written Physics For Dummies, Quantum Physics For Dummies, and more.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Tackling First Order Differential Equations 5

Chapter 1: Looking Closely at Linear First Order Differential Equations 7

Chapter 2: Surveying Separable First Order Differential Equations 29

Chapter 3: Examining Exact First Order Differential Equations 59

Part II: Finding Solutions to Second and Higher Order Differential Equations 79

Chapter 4: Working with Linear Second Order Differential Equations 81

Chapter 5: Tackling Nonhomogeneous Linear Second Order Differential Equations 105

Chapter 6: Handling Homogeneous Linear Higher Order Differential Equations 129

Chapter 7: Taking On Nonhomogeneous Linear Higher Order Differential Equations 153

Part III: The Power Stuff: Advanced Techniques 175

Chapter 8: Using Power Series to Solve Ordinary Differential Equations 177

Chapter 9: Solving Differential Equations with Series Solutions Near Singular Points 199

Chapter 10: Using Laplace Transforms to Solve Differential Equations 225

Chapter 11: Solving Systems of Linear First Order Differential Equations 249

Part IV: The Part of Tens 273

Chapter 12: Ten Common Ways of Solving Differential Equations 275

Chapter 13: Ten Real-World Applications of Differential Equations 279

Index 283