Ordinary differential equations serve as mathematical models for many exciting real world problems. This textbook organizes material around theorems and proofs, comprising of 42 class-tested lectures that effectively convey the subject in easily manageable sections.
This book is intended as an alternative to the standard differential equations text, which typically includes a large collection of methods and applications, packaged with state-of-the-art color graphics, student solution manuals, the latest fonts, marginal notes, and web-based supplements. These texts adds up to several hundred pages of text and can be very expensive for students to buy. Many students do not have the time or desire to read voluminous texts and explore internet supplements. Here, however, the author writes concisely, to the point, and in plain language. Many examples and exercises are included. In addition, this text also encourages students to use a computer algebra system to solve problems numerically, and as such, templates of MATLAB programs that solve differential equations are given in an appendix, as well as basic Maple and Mathematica commands.
This concise and up-to-date textbook is designed for the standard sophomore course in differential equations. It treats the basic ideas, models, and solution methods in a user friendly format that is accessible to engineers, scientists, economists, and mathematics majors. It emphasizes analytical, graphical, and numerical techniques, and it provides the tools needed by students to continue to the next level in applying the methods to more advanced problems. There is a strong connection to applications with motivations in mechanics and heat transfer, circuits, biology, economics, chemical reactors, and other areas. Moreover, the text contains a new, elementary chapter on systems of differential equations, both linear and nonlinear, that introduces key ideas without matrix analysis. Two subsequent chapters treat systems in a more formal way. Briefly, the topics include: First-order equations: separable, linear, autonomous, and bifurcation phenomena; Second-order linear homogeneous and non-homogeneous equations; Laplace transforms; and Linear and nonlinear systems, and phase plane properties.