Differential Equations for Engineers

Wei-Chau Xie is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environment Engineering and the Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. He is the author of Dynamic Stability of Structures and has published numerous journal articles on dynamic stability, structural dynamics and random vibration, nonlinear dynamics and stochastic mechanics, reliability and safety analysis of engineering systems, and seismic analysis and design of engineering structures. He has been teaching differential equations to engineering students for almost twenty years. He received the Teaching Excellence Award in 2001 in recognition of his exemplary record of outstanding teaching, concern for students, and commitment to the development and enrichment of engineering education at Waterloo. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award in 2007, which is the highest formal recognition given by the University of Waterloo for a superior record of continued excellence in teaching.

• 1. Introduction; 2. First-order and simple higher-order differential equations; 3. Applications of first-order and simple higher-order equations; 4. Linear differential equations; 5. Applications of linear differential equations; 6. The Laplace transform and its applications; 7. Systems of linear differential equations; 8. Applications of systems of linear differential equations; 9. Series solutions of differential equations; 10. Numerical solutions of differential equations; 11. Partial differential equations; 12. Solving ordinary differential equations using Maple; Appendix A. Tables of mathematical formulas.

"It is warmly recommended as a core reading for a standard one-semester course on dierential equations for engineering students. The material in the book is very carefully organized, the presentation is transparent and rigorous, numerous illustrations, use of shades and mini-diagrams" in formulas help to follow the details better and to grab the ideas faster." - Yuri V. Rogovchenko, ZentralBlatt MATH