Introduction to Differential Equations

This text introduces students to the theory and practice of differential equations, which are fundamental to the mathematical formulation of problems in physics, chemistry, biology, economics, and other sciences. The book is ideally suited for undergraduate or beginning graduate students in mathematics, and will also be useful for students in the physical sciences and engineering who have already taken a three-course calculus sequence. This second edition incorporates much new material, including sections on the Laplace transform and the matrix Laplace transform, a section devoted to Bessel's equation, and sections on applications of variational methods to geodesics and to rigid body motion. There is also a more complete treatment of the Runge-Kutta scheme, as well as numerous additions and improvements to the original text. Students finishing this book will be well prepared for advanced studies in dynamical systems, mathematical physics, and partial differential equations.