Boundary Value Problems, Fourth Edition

by David L. Powers

Boundary Value Problems, Fourth Edition , continues to be the leading text on boundary value problems and Fourier series. The author, David Powers, has written a thorough, theoretical overview of solving partial differential equations by the methods of separation of variables. The text is comprised of five comprehensive parts which a prerequisite summary of ordinary differential equations, Fourier series, and solving linear partial differential equations by separation of variable methods, by Laplace transform methods, and by numerical methods. Professors and students agree that the author is a master at creating linear problems that adroitly illustrate the techniques of separation of variables used to solve science and engineering problems.


* New section on Error Functions in Chapter 2
* New section on Applications of Legendre Polynomials in Chapter 5
* Provides the most comprehensive treatment of The Potential Equation
* Detailed coverage of Laplace Transform
* Presents Numerical Models in Chapter 7
* Addition of about 75 new exercises, including problems from current engineering literature with authentic parameter values

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction

528 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1979

Reviews

[Lukasz Pruski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been teaching undergraduate Partial Differential Equations for 31 years. I have tried various textbooks, including classics such as, for example, Brown and Churchill, and other well-known texts, for instance, by Colton, Jeffrey, Pinsky, Duchateu and Zachman, and others. After each such experiment I come back to David L. Powers. It is a perfect undergraduate text on boundary value problems, Fourier methods, and partial differential equations. The level is just right - not too difficult yet not too trivial. The selection of problems is great, with varying level of difficulty. The author's writing is clear and understandable even by medium-level undergraduates.

I have just reread the textbook in preparation for my spring course, so I am listing the date of finishing as December 20, 2014, although the first time I read this book was in 1989.

Of course, the text would be too low level for a graduate course, but it provides a wonderfully clear introduction to Fourier methods. Highly recommended!

Five stars in its particular niche.