Maths textbooks recommendations

[JamesM]

I need a maths textbook. What I'm looking for is something that covers stuff at probably around about introductory undergraduate applied maths/engineering level, like: special functions, line integrals, vector calculus, complex analysis, ODEs, PDEs, linear algebra, that sort of thing.

I have my eye on the likes of Arfken's "Mathematical Methods for Physicists" and "Advanced Engineering Mathematics" by O'Neil, but I'd love to hear some more suggestions (and feel free to add any titles that you're keen on about any mathematical topic).

[calladus]

Originally posted by JamesM
I need a maths textbook. What I'm looking for is something that covers stuff at probably around about introductory undergraduate applied maths/engineering level, like: special functions, line integrals, vector calculus, complex analysis, ODEs, PDEs, linear algebra, that sort of thing.

I have my eye on the likes of Arfken's "Mathematical Methods for Physicists" and "Advanced Engineering Mathematics" by O'Neil, but I'd love to hear some more suggestions (and feel free to add any titles that you're keen on about any mathematical topic).

Sounds like you want a generalize volume of mathematics - are you sure that is good enough for what you want to do?

If you want in depth, then you should get several books, algebra, calculus, and higher level math.

[JamesM]

Originally posted by calladus

Sounds like you want a generalize volume of mathematics - are you sure that is good enough for what you want to do?


Yeah, it'll do for the moment. I'm only a computational chemist, so it'll be a good enough start. Something general like Arfken, I'm thinking.

Although I would like a recommendation for a linear algebra textbook, too...

[Hydrogen Cyanide]

I like Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyszig ... and so did a co-worker who was the theorectical analyst in my group. He kept borrowing my book... I always had to get it from him when I needed to refresh my memory on Laplace transforms and coordinate transformations.

here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0471154962/103-6489828-3236638?vi=glance

[Tez]

here are two free introductory linalg books I have in my favourites:

http://www.matrixanalysis.com/DownloadChapters.html

http://www.math.unl.edu/~tshores/linalgtext.html

The books I use most (though are possibly more advanced than you want) are Horn and Johnsons two books on matrix analysis, and Bhatia's.

Arfken is very useful - I dont know how good it is to actually learn things from. As someone said, you probably are better off getting introductory texts in calculus, analysis etc etc...