The discussion revolves around recommendations for math textbooks that are essential for physics students. It includes suggestions for various levels of mathematics, from high school to advanced topics relevant to physics.
Participants share various recommendations and experiences with different textbooks, but there is no consensus on a single best resource. Some express dissatisfaction with specific books, while others suggest alternatives without resolving the disagreements.
Some participants reference specific editions of textbooks and their content, which may vary in quality and coverage. There is also mention of errors in answer keys, indicating potential limitations in some resources.
Students in physics or related fields looking for math textbooks, educators seeking resources for teaching, and individuals interested in improving their mathematical foundations for physics applications.
Hello there, thanks for the recommendations. Going to dig those. I had just finished my calculus book (I used Calculus and its applications 11th edition), but it was not that good. It doesn't cover some important topics and the problems are too elementary, not to mention the lack of varieties in the problems, plus the mistakes in the answer key at the back of the book. I somehow have the boas one that you recommend.jedishrfu said:First, I would recommend the Schaum's Outlines Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables. Its just awesome and its relatively cheap:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1260010538/?tag=pfamazon01-20
Next, there are several good free books at openstax.org for first year college:
- Calculus 1,2,3
- Physics 1,2,3
- Astronomy
There are several high school math in case you want to explore what you missed:
- Pre Algebra, Algebra
- Algebra and Trignometry
- Statistics
strangely no Geometry book though.
https://openstax.org/subjects/math
https://openstax.org/subjects/science
Lastly, would be one or these books:
- Arfken and Weber Mathematical Physics
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9381269556/?tag=pfamazon01-20
- Boas: Mathematical Physics
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0471198269/?tag=pfamazon01-20
- Nearing: Mathematical Tools for Physics
http://www.physics.miami.edu/~nearing/mathmethods/
- Precalculus
The authors are Bittinger, Ellenbogen, and Surgent. Have you seen this book?jedishrfu said:Who was the author? There was one book where the author made millions on its publication and built a home in Toronto called Integral House:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integral_House
The author was Prof James Stewart (not the more famous actor of the same name). His most well-known book was Calculus: Early Transcendentals published in 1995.