A First Course In Differential Equations

This text also encourages students to use a computer algebra system to solve problems numerically. It can be stated with certainty that the numerical solution o... » 

This text also encourages students to use a computer algebra system to solve problems numerically. It can be stated with certainty that the numerical solution of differential equations is a central activity in science and engineering, and it is absolutely necessary to teach students scientific computation as early as possible. Templates of MATLAB programs that solve differential equations are given in an appendix. Maple and Mathematica commands are given as well. The author taught this material on several ocassions to students who have had a standard three-semester calculus sequence. It has been well received by many students who appreciated having a small, definitive parcel of material to learn. Therefore the book can be a bridge in their progress to study more advanced material at the junior-senior level, where books leave a lot to the reader and are not packaged with elementary formats. «