Essential Mathematical Methods for Physicists[0120598779]
By addebook • Jul 3rd, 2008 • Category: Mathematics •
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Essential Mathematical Methods for Physicists
By Hans J. Weber
Publisher: Academic Press
Number Of Pages: 932
Publication Date: 2003
Sales Rank: 677632
ISBN / ASIN: 0120598779
EAN: 9780120598779
Binding: Hardcover
Manufacturer: Academic Press
Studio: Academic Press
Average Rating: 3
This new adaptation of Arfken and Weber’s bestselling Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Fifth Edition, is the most comprehensive, modern, and accessible text for using mathematics to solve physics problems. Additional explanations and examples make it student-friendly and more adaptable to a course syllabus.
KEY FEATURES:
· This is a more accessible version of Arfken and Weber’s blockbuster reference, Mathematical Methods for Physicists, 5th Edition
· Many more detailed, worked-out examples illustrate how to use and apply mathematical techniques to solve physics problems
· More frequent and thorough explanations help readers understand, recall, and apply the theory
· New introductions and review material provide context and extra support for key ideas
· Many more routine problems reinforce basic concepts and computations
Review:
Weak on rigor & physical insight = bad book
Strengths:
- Fairly complete coverage of the various properties of special functions. The introduction of these subjects is not good, but one could use it as a refrence for formulas.
Weaknesses:
- Topic selection and rigor are weak. Many important areas of mathematical physics are skipped over, or short changed. For example, the section on tensors is far too short. In addition, everything is introduced in index notation instead of coordinate free form. Also, the group theory section is very weak (not to mention short). The rotation group and lorentz group are discussed briefly, but there is no systematic introduction to lie groups or other important topics.
- The book seems to focus on special functions, and solving differential equations. However, it does not introduce hilbert spaces well, and therefore the presentation seems like a bewildering array of bessel this and fourier that, without anything to tie it all together.
Overall, I’d say the book sacrifices depth by covering too many topics. If you want to really succeed you’re going to need a full course each on linear (& some multilnear) algebra, mutlivariable calc & vector analysis, differential equations, complex analysis, differential geometry and group theory. If you want a condensed version, get byron and fuller. It’s written systematically, and strikes (in my opinion) a perfect balance between rigor and pragmatism.
Review:
Won’t teach you much
This book, like others have said, is a good book to go to if you need to look something up quickly, but is not something to learn from. We use this book in an undergrad math methods course in the physics department. Luckily i major in math, and know the topics we are covering, otherwise, this book would be useless.
Review:
Great undergrad physics major book!
This undergraduate text makes Arfken really accessible. The new examples are great and most are from various fields of physics. This has helped me in my mechanics, E and M, and quantum mechanics classes. The long index is complete and really helps to find things quickly. The chapter on probability & statistics explains concepts especially well.
Review:
Better Overview then Book
This book is much better as a reference book for someone who already understands the material then for a student just learning. The book covers everything from Coordinate Systems to Calculus of Variantions, PDQ’s, and Special Unitary Groups in highly dense sections, with little or no examples.
The problems are extraordinarly tough, and they seem disjointed, lacking any real focus and coherence, exp. towards the front of the book. Once you get past the physics in the first part, and into the math section of the book, it slows down, and really explains ideas, as well as providing excellent problems to work.
I would recommend this book as a reference, but there are better books out there. For reference, I would also recommend Schaums Outlines; and for a text book, I would recommend David Hilbert’s Mathematical Methods Vol I, and Vol II.
Review:
Better as a reference
I used this book for an undergraduate math methods for physicists course. While in the class I found it very difficult to learn anything from it, as it is rather dense. I found that most websites I looked to for help cited the book though. Now I find this book to be a very useful reference. It’s definitions are fairly concise and topics are not spread throughout the book. Bottom line: great reference, poor learning tool.
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