Essential Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences

Since Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998) by Riley, Hobson and Bence, hereafter denoted by MMPE, was first published, the range of material it covers has increased with each subsequent edition (2002 and 2006). Most of the additions have been in the form of introductory material covering polynomial equations, partial fractions, binomial expansions, coordinate geometry and a variety of basic methods of proof, though the third edition of MMPE also extended the range, but not the general level, of the areas to which the methods developed in the book could be applied. Recent feedback suggests that still further adjustments would be beneficial. In so far as content is concerned, the inclusion of some additional introductory material such as powers, logarithms, the sinusoidal and exponential functions, inequalities and the handling of physical dimensions, would make the starting level of the book better match that of some of its readers.

To incorporate these changes, and others to increase the user-friendliness of the text, into the current third edition of MMPE would inevitably produce a text that would be too ponderous for many students, to say nothing of the problems the physical production and transportation of such a large volume would entail.