Which Introductory PDE Book Best Suits a Physics Major?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recommendations for introductory books on partial differential equations (PDEs) suitable for physics majors, with a focus on applied content and Fourier methods. Participants share their experiences and preferences regarding various texts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests "Partial Differential Equations in Physics" by Arnold Sommerfeld, highlighting its application focus and inclusion of exercises with solutions.
  • Another participant appreciates the problem-solving aspect of Sommerfeld's book, noting the non-trivial exercises and the availability of hints and solutions.
  • A participant mentions using "Introduction to Partial Differential Equations" by Yehuda Pinchover and Jacob Rubinstein, describing it as accessible for beginners with answers provided for odd problems.
  • Several participants recommend Haberman's book for its application focus, although there are concerns about its cost and the necessity of the latest edition.
  • Another participant raises a question about the necessity of the 4th edition of Haberman's book, suggesting that the 2nd edition may suffice despite lacking coverage of certain topics relevant to quantum mechanics.
  • Links to various books are shared, indicating a range of options available for readers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on which book is the best fit for physics majors, with multiple recommendations and no clear consensus on a single text. Concerns about the editions and costs of certain books also indicate varying preferences.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the importance of supplementary materials for easier practice problems, particularly for those unfamiliar with concepts like Fourier series. There is also a discussion about the adequacy of different editions of the same book in covering essential topics.

Who May Find This Useful

Physics majors seeking introductory resources on partial differential equations, particularly those interested in applied methods and problem-solving approaches.

physicist311
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Does anybody know a good introductory book on PDEs? I am a physics major and something applied is what I'm looking for. It must have a good amount on Fourier methods too. Thanks.
 
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This is actually quite an old book, but I love it: "Partial Differential Equations in Physics" by Arnold Sommerfeld. Emphasis on applications (a whole chapter devoted to applications to 'problems of radio'), written by a physicist for physicists, and has exercises with solutions.
 
Hey dx, first let me say thanks for posting. It is sometimes hard to get people to reply and I appreciate it. Onto the book, I looked over the table of contents at amazon and it looks good by first inspection. Also, the solutions to problems is a huge factor in my decision whether or not to buy the book. Can you tell me anything else like: ingenuity of the problems, scope of the book, amount of rigor, friendly writing style, etc...? Thanks again.
 
Hi physicist311,

The exercises are usually non-trivial, but the good thing is you won't get frustrated since there are hints and solutions. If you want to use this book, I suggest that you also get an easier supplementary book which has a lot of easy practice problems just to get familiar with concepts, especially if you haven't seen stuff like Fourier series before. The amount of rigor is just right for physicists.
 
  • #11
malawi_glenn said:
It is modern and nice, but really expensive though..

Yeah, but does one really need the 4th edition? The 2nd edition is cheap. After that the publisher is just trying to force students to buy new.
 
  • #12
Daverz said:
Yeah, but does one really need the 4th edition? The 2nd edition is cheap. After that the publisher is just trying to force students to buy new.

I have the second edition and I don't think it covers spherical problems as good as needed for quantum mechanics, I had to do some photocopies from the 4th ed for supplementation
 

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