How do mathematicians approach a problem, explore the possibilities, and develop an understanding of a whole area around it? The issue is not simply about obtaining 'the answer'; rather, Beardon explains that a mathematical problem is just one of many related ones that should be simultaneously investigated and discussed at various levels, and that understanding this is a crucial step in becoming a creative mathematician. The book begins with some good advice about procedure, presentation, and organisation that will benefit every mathematician, budding, teaching or practised. In the rest of the book, Beardon presents a series of simple problems, then, through discussion, consideration of special cases, computer experiments, and so on, the reader is taken through these same problems, but at an increasing level of sophistication and generality. Mathematics is rarely a closed book, and seemingly innocent problems, when examined and explored, can lead to results of significance.

Mathematical Explorations follows on from the author's previous book, Creative Mathematics, in the same series, and gives the reader experience in working on problems requiring a little more mathematical maturity. The author's main aim is to show that problems are often solved by using mathematics that is not obviously connected to the problem, and readers are encouraged to consider as wide a variety of mathematical ideas as possible. In each case, the emphasis is placed on the important underlying ideas rather than on the solutions for their own sake. To enhance understanding of how mathematical research is conducted, each problem has been chosen not for its mathematical importance, but because it provides a good illustration of how arguments can be developed. While the reader does not require a deep mathematical background to tackle these problems, they will find their mathematical understanding is enriched by attempting to solve them.

Introduction to Atmospheric Modelling explores the power of mathematics to help us understand complex atmospheric phenomena through mathematical modelling. The author has thoughtfully chosen a path into and through the subject that gives the reader a glimpse of the dynamics underlying phenomena ranging from a sea breeze through mid-latitude cyclonic disturbances to Rossby waves, mainly through the lens of scaling analysis. Written for students with backgrounds in mathematics, physics and engineering, this book will be a valuable resource as they begin studying atmospheric science.

Mathematical Modelling in One Dimension demonstrates the universality of mathematical techniques through a wide variety of applications. Learn how the same mathematical idea governs loan repayments, drug accumulation in tissues or growth of a population, or how the same argument can be used to find the trajectory of a dog pursuing a hare, the trajectory of a self-guided missile or the shape of a satellite dish. The author places equal importance on difference and differential equations, showing how they complement and intertwine in describing natural phenomena.

A First Course in Computational Algebraic Geometry is designed for young students with some background in algebra who wish to perform their first experiments in computational geometry. Originating from a course taught at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, the book gives a compact presentation of the basic theory, with particular emphasis on explicit computational examples using the freely available computer algebra system, Singular. Readers will quickly gain the confidence to begin performing their own experiments.

Ordinary Differential Equations introduces key concepts and techniques in the field and shows how they are used in current mathematical research and modelling. It deals specifically with initial value problems, which play a fundamental role in a wide range of scientific disciplines, including mathematics, physics, computer science, statistics and biology. This practical book is ideal for students and beginning researchers working in any of these fields who need to understand the area of ordinary differential equations in a short time.

From Measures to Itô Integrals gives a clear account of measure theory, leading via L2-theory to Brownian motion, Itô integrals and a brief look at martingale calculus. Modern probability theory and the applications of stochastic processes rely heavily on an understanding of basic measure theory. This text is ideal preparation for graduate-level courses in mathematical finance and perfect for any reader seeking a basic understanding of the mathematics underpinning the various applications of Itô calculus.

Understanding Fluid Flow takes a fresh approach to introducing fluid dynamics, with physical reasoning and mathematical developments inextricably intertwined. The 'dry' fluid dynamics described by potential theory is set within the context of real viscous flows to give fundamental insight into how fluids behave. The book gives a flavour of theoretical, experimental and numerical approaches to analysing fluid flow, and implicitly develops skills in applied mathematical modelling of physical systems. It is supplemented by movies that are freely downloadable.