Guide to Essential Math: A Review for Physics, Chemistry and Engineering Students

by Sy M. Blinder

Overview

This book reminds students in junior, senior and graduate level courses in physics, chemistry and engineering of the math they may have forgotten (or learned imperfectly) that is needed to succeed in science courses. The focus is on math actually used in physics, chemistry, and engineering, and the approach to mathematics begins with 12 examples of increasing complexity, designed to hone the student's ability to think in mathematical terms and to apply quantitative methods to scientific problems. Detailed illustrations and links to reference material online help further comprehension. The second edition features new problems and illustrations and features expanded chapters on matrix algebra and differential equations.

• Use of proven pedagogical techniques developed during the author’s 40 years of teaching experience
• New practice problems and exercises to enhance comprehension
• Coverage of fairly advanced topics, including vector and matrix algebra, partial differential equations, special functions and complex variables

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780124071582
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	02/14/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Professor Blinder is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a senior scientist with Wolfram Research Inc., Champaign, IL.. After receiving his A.B. in Physics and Chemistry from Cornell University, he went on to receive an A. M in Physics, and a Ph. D. in Chemical Physics from Harvard University under Professors W. E. Moffitt and J. H. Van Vleck.
He has held positions at Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie-Mellon University, Harvard University, University College London, Centre de Méchanique Ondulatoire Appliquée in Paris, the Mathematical Institute in Oxford, and the University of Michigan.
Prof Blinder has won multiple awards for his work, published 4 books, and over 100 journal articles. His research interests include Theoretical Chemistry, Mathematical Physics, applications of quantum mechanics to atomic and molecular structure, theory and applications of Coulomb Propagators, structure and self-energy of the electron, supersymmetric quantum field theory, connections between general relativity and quantum mechanics.

Table of Contents

1 Mathematical Thinking 2. Numbers3 Algebra 4 Trigonometry5 Analytic Geometry 6 Calculus 7 Series and Integrals 8 Differential Equations 9 Matrix Algebra10 Multivariable Calculus 11 Vector Analysis 12 Special Functions 13 Complex Variables

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

A highly accessible presentation of fundamental mathematical techniques needed in science and engineering courses

Editorial Reviews

"Blinder throws a life saver to upper-level and early graduate students of physics, chemistry, and engineering who passed the prerequisite freshman and sophomore mathematics courses but are now discovering that they did not really learn very much. All the information is still in their heads, he says, it just needs to be found, dusted off, and loosened up with some exercise."—Reference & Research Book News, October 2013

From the Publisher