Anyone want to recommend a good book for D.E.?

[MrDudeMan]

my differential equations book is, purely stated, utter crap. it sucks. i dont understand a damn thing and the examples are totally bogus. it isnt just me either...i did fine in Calc 1-3 (As) but none of this is making any sense.

please, someone recommend a decent DE book.

 

[interchange]

Do you have a linear/discrete math book? Some of those cover differential equations from a couple different angles that may help. Maybe only first/second order diffeqs though.

 

[CycloWizard]

I might recommend getting one of those Schaum's books for DEs. Cookie-cutter approaches for solving linear ODEs work just about every time, and that seems to be the approach taken in that type of book. If you're a math major, this might not be the best approach, but if you're an engineer, it should suffice.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
I might recommend getting one of those Schaum's books for DEs. Cookie-cutter approaches for solving linear ODEs work just about every time, and that seems to be the approach taken in that type of book. If you're a math major, this might not be the best approach, but if you're an engineer, it should suffice.

im a CE major, so i need to get through this course...but i always want to learn what i need to learn to do my job well.

thanks for the recommendations guys.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: Bigsm00th
im a CE major, so i need to get through this course...but i always want to learn what i need to learn to do my job well.

thanks for the recommendations guys.

CE = chemical eng? Computer eng? Civil eng?

Doesn't really matter. All you need to do to ace an ODE class (and be an expert at actually solving said equations in real practice) is the following formula:

1. Memorize the solution procedure for each type of ODE.
2. Learn how to identify the different types of ODEs.
...
4. Profit!

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: Bigsm00th
im a CE major, so i need to get through this course...but i always want to learn what i need to learn to do my job well.

thanks for the recommendations guys.

CE = chemical eng? Computer eng? Civil eng?

Doesn't really matter. All you need to do to ace an ODE class (and be an expert at actually solving said equations in real practice) is the following formula:

1. Memorize the solution procedure for each type of ODE.
2. Learn how to identify the different types of ODEs.
...
4. Profit!

i thought it was generally understood on the forums that CE was computer engineer...my mistake. my classes are geared more toward hardware design, which is good because that is mostly where my interests are.

 

[RossGr]

Boyce & Diprima is the classic DE text.

More info

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: Bigsm00th
i thought it was generally understood on the forums that CE was computer engineer...my mistake. my classes are geared more toward hardware design, which is good because that is mostly where my interests are.

Since this is a computer forum, I assumed that, but I'm a chem eng so I had to ask.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: Bigsm00th
i thought it was generally understood on the forums that CE was computer engineer...my mistake. my classes are geared more toward hardware design, which is good because that is mostly where my interests are.

Since this is a computer forum, I assumed that, but I'm a chem eng so I had to ask.

i know you are a chem eng...you always have something intelligent to offer the conversation :beer:

Ross, thanks for the link