Differential Equations Essential Skills Practice Workbook with Answers

by Chris McMullen

This workbook on differential equations serves either as a handy supplement to current students or as a useful review for students who have previously studied the material. (It is not intended to serve as the sole resource for new students.) This book focuses on essential techniques for solving and understanding differential equations. (It is not designed to provide exhaustive, comprehensive coverage like you would get from a 500+ page textbook.) Topics include: first-order differential equations, second-order differential equations, separable equations, linear equations, homogeneous equations, exact differential equations, autonomous differential equations, the Wronskian, initial-value and boundary-value problems, applications of differential equations, power series solutions, recurrence relations, Legendre, Chebyshev, Laguerre, and Hermite Polynomials, Rodrigues’ formula, and more. The author, Chris McMullen, PhD, has over twenty years of experience teaching math skills to physics students. He prepared this workbook of the Improve Your Math Fluency series to share his strategies for solving differential equations.

Genres: Mathematics

157 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2022

About the author

Dr. Chris McMullen has over 20 years of experience teaching university physics in California, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. Dr. McMullen is also an author of math and science books. Whether in the classroom or as a writer, Dr. McMullen loves sharing knowledge and the art of motivating and engaging students.

Chris McMullen earned his Ph.D. in phenomenological high-energy physics (particle physics) from Oklahoma State University in 2002. Originally from California, Dr. McMullen earned his Master's degree from California State University, Northridge, where his thesis was in the field of electron spin resonance.

Dr. McMullen is well-known for:
• engaging students in challenging ideas through creativity
• breaking difficult problems down into manageable steps
• providing clear and convincing explanations to subtle issues
• his mastery of physics and strong background in mathematics
• helping students become more fluent in practical math skills

As a physics teacher, Dr. McMullen observed that many students lack fluency in fundamental math skills. In an effort to help students of all ages and levels master basic math skills, he published a series of math workbooks on arithmetic, fractions, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus called the Improve Your Math Fluency Series. Dr. McMullen has also published a variety of science books, including introductions to basic astronomy and chemistry concepts in addition to physics workbooks.

Dr. McMullen is very passionate about teaching. Many students and observers have been impressed with the transformation that occurs when he walks into the classroom, and the interactive engaged discussions that he leads during class time. Dr. McMullen is well-known for drawing monkeys and using them in his physics examples and problems, using his creativity to inspire students. A stressed-out student is likely to be told to throw some bananas at monkeys, smile, and think happy physics thoughts.

Dr. McMullen first published The Visual Guide to Extra Dimensions, Volumes 1 and 2, to share his passion for the geometry and physics of the fourth dimension. Dr. McMullen has coauthored a half-dozen articles on current and future collider searches for large extra dimensions.

In addition to writing and teaching, Dr. McMullen enjoys Scrabble, golf, and chess.