Yet another book recommendation request

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for books on partial differential equations (PDEs) and complex analysis, with a focus on both theory and applications. Participants share their experiences with specific texts and express preferences for certain teaching approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, Scott, seeks recommendations for books on PDEs and complex analysis, expressing concern about the quality of Dover books and mentioning existing texts he owns.
  • Another participant suggests "Partial Differential Equations" by W. Strauss as a friendly introduction, despite its cost.
  • For complex analysis, a recommendation is made for the "Schaum's Outline" by M. Spiegel.
  • Scott inquires whether the recommended PDE book teaches from a complex perspective or a trigonometric perspective, indicating a preference for the former.
  • A later reply clarifies that the Strauss book focuses on the trigonometric perspective.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to teaching PDEs, as Scott expresses a desire for a complex-variable approach while the suggested book is noted to focus on trigonometric methods.

Contextual Notes

Scott mentions finding mistakes in his current PDE textbook, which may influence his search for a more reliable resource.

Spectre5
Messages
182
Reaction score
0
Hey,

I am looking for some recommendations on books covering partial differential equations and another one on complex analysis. I don't have a lot of extra money, so I am kind of hoping that someone has experience with some of the Dover books, and could possible recommend any of them? I have looked at many of them on amazon.com, but I simply have no idea which ones are "better" or "worse".


I am very interesting in both the theory and applications of partial differential equations and complex analysis.


Currently, I do have:
An Introduction to Partial Differential Equations by Matthew P Coleman
and
Fundamentals of Complex Analysis by E. B. Saff and A. D. Snider

(these are the books I have from my courses in them)


Thanks for any recommendations!

-Scott

PS:
The book I have on Partial Differential Equations is a first edition book and I have found many mistakes throughout the book (mistakes within the book as well as incorrect answers to selected problems).
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
No suggestions?
 
OK, here goes:

PDE's It's not cheap, but I really like it:, by W. Strauss. I took a course from it, and it is about as friendly an introduction as possible, considering the subject.

Complex Variables I recommend the Schaum's Outline , by M. Spiegel.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look into those. In that pde book, does it teach pde's from the complex perspective or trigonometric?

i.e. My pde book now avoids as many uses of complex variables as possible and converts everything to sin/cos and sinh/cosh instead of complex exponentials. I would like to get a pde book that teaches the complex approach to pde's.

Which method does that book use?

thanks

-Scott
 
Spectre5 said:
Which method does that book use?

It focuses on the trigonometric perspective.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K