This is an excellent tool kit for solving the mathematical problems encountered by undergraduates in physics and engineering. This second book in a two volume work introduces integral and differential calculus, waves, matrices, and eigenvectors. All mathematics needed for an introductory course in the physical sciences is included. The emphasis is on learning through understanding real examples, showing mathematics as a tool for understanding physical systems and their behavior, so that the student feels at home with real mathematical problems. Dr. Lyons brings a wealth of teaching experience to this refreshing textbook on the fundamentals of mathematics for physics and engineering.

Physics and engineering students need a clear understanding of mathematics in order to solve a vast array of problems posed to them in coursework. Unfortunately, in many textbooks, mathematical proofs and techniques obscure a fundamental understanding of the physical principles. In a clear and didactic manner, this book explains to the student why particular advanced mathematical techniques are useful for solving certain problems. The aim is to convey a deeper appreciation of mathematical methods that are applicable to physics and engineering through a discussion of a wide range of real physical problems. The topics covered include simultaneous equations, three-dimensional geometry and vectors, complex numbers, differential equations, partial derivatives, Taylor series, and Lagrange multipliers.

It is usually straightforward to calculate the result of a practical experiment in the laboratory. Estimating the accuracy of that result is often regarded by students as an obscure and tedious routine, involving much arithmetic. An estimate of the error is, however, an integral part of the presentation of the results of experiments. This textbook is intended for undergraduates who are carrying out laboratory experiments in the physical sciences for the first time. It is a practical guide on how to analyse data and estimate errors. The necessary formulas for performing calculations are given, and the ideas behind them are explained, although this is not a formal text on statistics. Specific examples are worked through step by step in the text. Emphasis is placed on the need to think about whether a calculated error is sensible. At first students should take this book with them to the laboratory, and the format is intended to make this convenient. The book will provide the necessary understanding of what is involved, should inspire confidence in the method of estimating errors, and enable numerical calculations without too much effort. The author's aim is to make practical classes more enjoyable. Students who use this book will be able to complete their calculations quickly and confidently, leaving time to appreciate the basic physical ideas involved in the experiments.

Written by a non-statistician for non-statisticians, the book emphasizes the practical approach to those problems in statistics that arise regularly in data analysis situations in nuclear and high energy physics experiments. Rather than concentrate on proofs and theorems, the author provides an abundance of simple examples that illustrate the general ideas presented. This allows the reader to obtain maximum information in the simplest manner. Possible difficulties with the various techniques, and pitfalls to be avoided, are also discussed. This commonsense approach to statistical formalism enables nuclear physicists to better understand how to do justice to their analysis and interpretation of data.

This is an excellent tool kit for solving the mathematical problems encountered by undergraduates in physics and engineering. This second book in a two volume work introduces integral and differential calculus, waves, matrices, and eigenvectors. All mathematics needed for an introductory course in the physical sciences is included. The emphasis is on learning through understanding real examples, showing mathematics as a tool for understanding physical systems and their behavior, so that the student feels at home with real mathematical problems. Dr. Lyons brings a wealth of teaching experience to this refreshing textbook on the fundamentals of mathematics for physics and engineering.

Physics and engineering students need a clear understanding of mathematics in order to solve a vast array of problems posed to them in coursework. Unfortunately, in many textbooks, mathematical proofs and techniques obscure a fundamental understanding of the physical principles. In a clear and didactic manner, this book explains to the student why particular advanced mathematical techniques are useful for solving certain problems. The aim is to convey a deeper appreciation of mathematical methods that are applicable to physics and engineering through a discussion of a wide range of real physical problems. The topics covered include simultaneous equations, three-dimensional geometry and vectors, complex numbers, differential equations, partial derivatives, Taylor series, and Lagrange multipliers.

This textbook is intended for undergraduates who are carrying out laboratory experiments in the physical sciences for the first time. It is a practical guide on how to analyze data and estimate errors. The necessary formulas for performing calculations are given, and the ideas behind them are explained, although this is not a formal text on statistics. Specific examples are worked through step by step in the text. Emphasis is placed on the need to think about whether a calculated error is sensible. Students should take this book with them to the laboratory, and the format is intended to make this convenient. The book will provide the necessary understanding of what is involved, should inspire confidence in the method of estimating errors, and enable numerical calculations without too much effort.