Accessible study provides detailed account of the Hamiltonian treatment of aberration theory in geometrical optics. Many classes of optical systems defined in terms of their symmetries. Detailed solutions. 1970 edition.

Introduction -- Characteristic functions -- Symmetries and regularity -- The symmetric system (part I) -- The symmetric system (part II) -- Symmetric systems with additional symmetries -- The semi-symmetric system -- Systems with translational symmetry, and plane-symmetric systems -- Systems with toroidal symmetry -- Chromatic defects of the image -- Anisotropy -- The computation of aberration coefficients.

"The straight-forward clarity of the writing is admirable." — American Mathematical Monthly. This work provides an elementary and easily readable account of linear algebra, in which the exposition is sufficiently simple to make it equally useful to readers whose principal interests lie in the fields of physics or technology. The account is self-contained, and the reader is not assumed to have any previous knowledge of linear algebra. Although its accessibility makes it suitable for non-mathematicians, Professor Mirsky's book is nevertheless a systematic and rigorous development of the subject. Part I deals with determinants, vector spaces, matrices, linear equations, and the representation of linear operators by matrices. Part II begins with the introduction of the characteristic equation and goes on to discuss unitary matrices, linear groups, functions of matrices, and diagonal and triangular canonical forms. Part II is concerned with quadratic forms and related concepts. Applications to geometry are stressed throughout; and such topics as rotation, reduction of quadrics to principal axes, and classification of quadrics are treated in some detail. An account of most of the elementary inequalities arising in the theory of matrices is also included. Among the most valuable features of the book are the numerous examples and problems at the end of each chapter, carefully selected to clarify points made in the text.

Contains the complete English text of all thirteen books of the "Elements," along with critical analysis of each definition, postulate, and proposition.

Practical text focuses on fundamental applied math needed to deal with physics and engineering problems: elementary vector calculus, special functions of mathematical physics, calculus of variations, much more. 1968 edition.

As the author notes in the preface, "The purpose of this book is to acquaint a broad spectrum of students with what is today known as 'abstract algebra.'" Written for a one-semester course, this self-contained text includes numerous examples designed to base the definitions and theorems on experience, to illustrate the theory with concrete examples in familiar contexts, and to give the student extensive computational practice.The first three chapters progress in a relatively leisurely fashion and include abundant detail to make them as comprehensible as possible. Chapter One provides a short course in sets and numbers for students lacking those prerequisites, rendering the book largely self-contained. While Chapters Four and Five are more challenging, they are well within the reach of the serious student.The exercises have been carefully chosen for maximum usefulness. Some are formal and manipulative, illustrating the theory and helping to develop computational skills. Others constitute an integral part of the theory, by asking the student to supply proofs or parts of proofs omitted from the text. Still others stretch mathematical imaginations by calling for both conjectures and proofs.Taken together, text and exercises comprise an excellent introduction to the power and elegance of abstract algebra. Now available in this inexpensive edition, the book is accessible to a wide range of students, who will find it an exceptionally valuable resource. Unabridged, corrected Dover (1989) republication of the edition published by Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 1969.