What do you think?
Rate this book
Solution Techniques for Elementary Partial Differential Equations
Of the many available texts on partial differential equations (PDEs), most are too detailed and voluminous, making them daunting to many students. In sharp contrast, Solution Techniques for Elementary Partial Differential Equations is a no-frills treatment that explains completely but succinctly some of the most fundamental solution methods for PDEs.
After a brief review of elementary ODE techniques and discussions on Fourier series and Sturm-Liouville problems, the author introduces the heat, Laplace, and wave equations as mathematical models of physical phenomena. He then presents a number of solution techniques and applies them to specific initial/boundary value problems for these models. Discussion of the general second order linear equation in two independent variables follows, and finally, the method of characteristics and perturbation methods are presented.
Most students seem to like concise, easily digestible explanations and worked examples that let them see the techniques in action. This text offers them both. Ideally suited for independent study and classroom tested with great success, it offers a direct, streamlined route to competence in PDE solution techniques.
After a brief review of elementary ODE techniques and discussions on Fourier series and Sturm-Liouville problems, the author introduces the heat, Laplace, and wave equations as mathematical models of physical phenomena. He then presents a number of solution techniques and applies them to specific initial/boundary value problems for these models. Discussion of the general second order linear equation in two independent variables follows, and finally, the method of characteristics and perturbation methods are presented.
Most students seem to like concise, easily digestible explanations and worked examples that let them see the techniques in action. This text offers them both. Ideally suited for independent study and classroom tested with great success, it offers a direct, streamlined route to competence in PDE solution techniques.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2002
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 13, 2016
Edit PLEASE NOTE: A few people have messaged me about the pdf solutions manual that I mention below. Unfortunately, no--I cannot hand out the solutions manual to you, since they are copyrighted. I would love to help you if you have a specific question perhaps; otherwise, I hope the best for you on your PDE class, and thanks for understanding. :)
...
As thorough and informative as this book is, I'm glad I don't have to look at it ever again (well, I guess I might still need to reference it for my future classes...).
Professor Constanda actually taught my PDE class, so this book greatly complemented his teaching style. I would especially recommend getting the solution manual for the exercises at the end of the chapters. Prof. Constanda gave us the pdf version of the solutions, so I'm not actually sure if there is a separate book for that or what. Nevertheless, it was extremely helpful.
Like any math textbook, the pages are dense with information that students probably have to go through a few times to fully understand. However, the plethora of example questions is clear and thorough enough to answer most questions I had when I was going through the exercises. Of course, I might be biased since my class was taught by the author.
The book also doesn't weigh that much, which, as a textbook-lugging student, is an important factor that most professors don't really consider unfortunately.
...
As thorough and informative as this book is, I'm glad I don't have to look at it ever again (well, I guess I might still need to reference it for my future classes...).
Professor Constanda actually taught my PDE class, so this book greatly complemented his teaching style. I would especially recommend getting the solution manual for the exercises at the end of the chapters. Prof. Constanda gave us the pdf version of the solutions, so I'm not actually sure if there is a separate book for that or what. Nevertheless, it was extremely helpful.
Like any math textbook, the pages are dense with information that students probably have to go through a few times to fully understand. However, the plethora of example questions is clear and thorough enough to answer most questions I had when I was going through the exercises. Of course, I might be biased since my class was taught by the author.
The book also doesn't weigh that much, which, as a textbook-lugging student, is an important factor that most professors don't really consider unfortunately.
Displaying 1 of 1 review