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Books : reviews

G. Stephenson.
An Introduction to Matrices, Sets and Groups.
Longman. 1965

(read but not reviewed)

This book provides an easily comprehensible and virtually self-contained introduction to three important branches of mathematics which are of extreme importance to students of science and engineering. It should be suitable for physicists, chemists and engineers at any stage of their degree course. These topics do not rest on the differential calculus and are usually met for the first time at University level. The book assumes only a minimum of mathematical knowledge such as is required for University Entrance Examinations.

G. Stephenson.
An Introduction to Partial Differetial Equations for Science Students: 2nd edn.
Longman. 1970

(read but not reviewed)

This book provides an introduction to various techniques used in the solution of certain partial differential equations of physical interest. Amongst these are the Fourier and Laplace transforms, and the method of Green’s functions.

It is intended as a companion volume to the author’s An Introduction to Matrices, Sets and Groups for Science Students (Longman) and is primarily suitable for second and third year undergraduate physicists, chemists and engineers. A basic first year ancillary mathematics course is therefore assumed, apart from which the book is virtually self-contained.

G. Stephenson.
Mathematical Methods for Science Students: 2nd edn.
Longman. 1973

rating : 3.5 : worth reading

This well-established textbook presents, in one volume, a good introduction to most of the mathematical techniques which an undergraduate physicist or chemist should know. It should also be of equal value to engineering students. It is not burdened with physical examples and should therefore be comprehensible to various types of scientist. Only an elementary knowledge of the differential calculus is assumed, and the book is suitable for any student who has studied mathematics up to G.C.E. Advanced Level, and who is going on to a degree or diploma course requiring ancillary mathematics. No attempt has been made, however, to follow any particular examination syllabus, and certain topics such as group theory, which are not at present examined, are nevertheless introduced in a simple way.

In this second edition the structure of the first has been adhered to and new material has been added only to existing chapters. Among the topics now covered in more detail are functions of a complex variable, linear inequalities, three-dimensional geometry, matrix eigenvalues and eigenvectors, Bessel functions, simultaneous differential equations and vector operators.

Additional problems have been included in many chapters.

A good lucid introductory text