1. Sep 12, 2017

### oristo42

In the syllabus of the class, it recommended three mathematical background books:

Mathematical Methods for Physicists by Arfken

Mathematical Methods in Chemistry and Physics by Starzak.

Mathematical Methods in the physical sciences by Boas

I don't know difference between these three. Any recommendations?

2. Sep 12, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

While its not on your list, the Schaums Outline: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables is a definite keeper.

https://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outl...sr=1-1&keywords=schaums+mathematical+handbook

Its cheap at $10-$20 and is very accessible and comprehensive for applied math and quite useful in a physics context. I would get the paper version too not an ebook version as I've heard that the equations don't render correctly and often get messed up or that its just hard to read the formulas on the screen.

One other is Prof Nearing's book (free but seems to be offline perhaps affected by Irma):

http://www.physics.miami.edu/nearing/mathmethods/mathematical_methods-three.pdf

There is also a DOVER publication of the book:

https://www.amazon.com/Mathematical...-1-fkmr0&keywords=dover+nearing+math+handbook

And lastly, Prof Kip Thorne's book (just published \$120):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691159025/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

and some more detail from Princeton Press:

http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10157.html

Of the books you mentioned, I like Arfken's book but I don't use it on a day to day basis and I did find a couple of typos in it that never seem to get fixed like every book seems to have. I've heard that Boaz's book is more approachable for undergrads but I felt the Arfken book laid out things structurally a little better.

For Thorne's book, I've seen preprints that were available online. He said in the preface that he was aiming for a more geometric view of the subject which might make it more accessible than either Arfken or Boaz. Also it will have a more physics based scope.

3. Sep 12, 2017

### jasonRF

Are these available in your library? Your prof may have even placed them on reserve. If at all possible, look at the books before buying. You might not need/want any of them. If you do decide to buy without reading, i recommend you get cheap used copies of old editions.

Jason

4. Sep 12, 2017

### ZapperZ

Staff Emeritus