Partial differential equations are fundamental to the modeling of natural phenomena. The desire to understand the solutions of these equations has always had a prominent place in the efforts of mathematicians and has inspired such diverse fields as complex function theory, functional analysis, and algebraic topology. This book, meant for a beginning graduate audience, provides a thorough introduction to partial differential equations.

This modern take on partial differential equations does not require knowledge beyond vector calculus and linear algebra. The author focuses on the most important classical partial differential equations, including conservation equations and their characteristics, the wave equation, the heat equation, function spaces, and Fourier series, drawing on tools from analysis only as they arise. Within each section the author creates a narrative that answers the five questions: What is the scientific problem we are trying to understand? How do we model that with PDE? What techniques can we use to analyze the PDE? How do those techniques apply to this equation? What information or insight did we obtain by developing and analyzing the PDE? The text stresses the interplay between modeling and mathematical analysis, providing a thorough source of problems and an inspiration for the development of methods.

Our understanding of the fundamental processes of the natural world is based to a large extent on partial differential equations (PDEs). The second edition of Partial Differential Equations provides an introduction to the basic properties of PDEs and the ideas and techniques that have proven useful in analyzing them. It provides the student a broad perspective on the subject, illustrates the incredibly rich variety of phenomena encompassed by it, and imparts a working knowledge of the most important techniques of analysis of the solutions of the equations. In this book mathematical jargon is minimized. Our focus is on the three most classical PDEs: the wave, heat and Laplace equations. Advanced concepts are introduced frequently but with the least possible technicalities. The book is flexibly designed for juniors, seniors or beginning graduate students in science, engineering or mathematics.

This text explores the essentials of partial differential equations as applied to engineering and the physical sciences. Discusses ordinary differential equations, integral curves and surfaces of vector fields, the Cauchy-Kovalevsky theory, more. Problems and answers.

This textbook is designed for a one year course covering the fundamentals of partial differential equations, geared towards advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in mathematics, science, engineering, and elsewhere. The exposition carefully balances solution techniques, mathematical rigor, and significant applications, all illustrated by numerous examples. Extensive exercise sets appear at the end of almost every subsection, and include straightforward computational problems to develop and reinforce new techniques and results, details on theoretical developments and proofs, challenging projects both computational and conceptual, and supplementary material that motivates the student to delve further into the subject. No previous experience with the subject of partial differential equations or Fourier theory is assumed, the main prerequisites being undergraduate calculus, both one- and multi-variable, ordinary differential equations, and basic linear algebra. While the classical topics of separation of variables, Fourier analysis, boundary value problems, Green's functions, and special functions continue to form the core of an introductory course, the inclusion of nonlinear equations, shock wave dynamics, symmetry and similarity, the Maximum Principle, financial models, dispersion and solutions, Huygens' Principle, quantum mechanical systems, and more make this text well attuned to recent developments and trends in this active field of contemporary research. Numerical approximation schemes are an important component of any introductory course, and the text covers the two most basic approaches: finite differences and finite elements.

Combining both the classical theory and numerical techniques for partial differential equations, this thoroughly modern approach shows the significance of computations in PDEs and illustrates the strong interaction between mathematical theory and the development of numerical methods. Great care has been taken throughout the book to seek a sound balance between these techniques. The authors present the material at an easy pace and exercises ranging from the straightforward to the challenging have been included. In addition there are some "projects" suggested, either to refresh the students memory of results needed in this course, or to extend the theories developed in the text. Suitable for undergraduate and graduate students in mathematics and engineering.

This text offers students in mathematics, engineering, and the applied sciences a solid foundation for advanced studies in mathematics. Features coverage of integral equations and basic scattering theory. Includes exercises, many with answers. 1988 edition.