Differential Equations: A Systems Approach

Written for beginners, this well organized introduction promotes a solid understanding of differential equations that is flexible enough to meet the needs of many different disciplines. With less emphasis on formal calculation than found in other books all the basic methods are covered—first order equations, separation, exact form, and linear equations—as well as higher order cases, linear equation with constant and variable coefficients, Laplace transform methods, and boundary value problems. The book's systems focus induces an intuitive understanding of the concept of a solution of an initial value problem in order to resolve potential confusion about what is being approximated when a numerical method is used. The author outlines first order equations including linear and nonlinear equations and systems of differential equations, as well as linear differential equations including the Laplace transform, and variable coefficients, nonlinear differential equations, and boundary problems and PDEs. For those looking for a solid introduction to differential equations.