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what is a good book to learn first order differential equations ??
The discussion centers on recommended textbooks for learning first order differential equations, with specific endorsements for Shepley L. Ross's "Differential Equations," which is favored for its clarity, despite some difficulty in the operator method section. Other notable mentions include "Differential Equations" by Zill and "Differential Equations" by Boyce/Prima, both recognized as standard university texts. The book by Simmons, "Differential Equations with Applications and Historical Notes," is appreciated for its thought-provoking problems but criticized for its lack of comprehensive coverage. Participants agree that Ross is a solid primary resource, best supplemented with Zill or Boyce/Prima.
PREREQUISITESStudents, educators, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of first order differential equations through recommended literature and problem-solving strategies.
MidgetDwarf, what are the topics that you found lacking in the book by Simmons?MidgetDwarf said:Ross: Differential Equations
Maurris Terrabaun (Not sure how this is spelled): It is a dover title.
Zill or Boyce/Prima: These are the standard textbooks used at universities. Generic, but get the job done.
I would purchase Ross and supplement it with either Boyce/Prima or Zill.
The Terrabaun book is also nice, but for some reason I prefer Ross.
My only complaint with Ross, is that the operator method section can be hard to read for some people. A few of my friends found that section to be incoherent. I found it readable. Laplace Transform is explained well, but Zill gives a bit more explanation. That is the only thing I liked about ZIll.
Zill/Boyce have harder plug and chug problems.
The book by Simmons: Differential Equations with Applications and Historical Notes, is also nice. I found it to concise for my needs. Lots of thinking problems. It is an interesting read, like all of Simmons books. Found the coverage lacking.