All You Wanted to Know about Mathematics but Were Afraid to Ask
Mathematics Applied to Science

Practical and entertaining maths for science, addressing the real world rather than dry theorems.

Louis Lyons (Author)

9780521436007, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 5 October 1995

344 pages, 65 b/w illus. 1 table
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.51 kg

"Professor Lyons has the ability to reach students and expand their minds mathematically." Journal of College Science Teaching

Why is the square root of minus one relevant to electrical circuits? Can geometry be used to solve problems in the physical sciences? How could you help a being on a distant planet distinguish left and right? With a clear understanding of mathematics, these questions can be solved. But in many textbooks, mathematical proofs and techniques cloud the issue of understanding the physical principles. This book shows why particular techniques are useful by providing clear and full explanations. The aim is to convey a deeper appreciation of mathematical methods that are applicable to physics and engineering. A wide range of real physical problems are discussed. The author has thirty years experience of teaching mathematics to undergraduates. This book is based on the explanations he has found to be most successful in teaching.

Preface
1. Simultaneous equations
2. Three-dimensional geometry
3. Vectors
4. Complex numbers
5. Differential equations
6. Partial derivatives
7. Taylor series
8. Lagrange multipliers
Appendix 1. Basic techniques
Appendix 2. Useful formulae.

Subject Areas: Maths for engineers [TBJ], Maths for scientists [PDE]