Mathematical Foundations of Finite Elements and Iterative Solvers

This textbook describes the mathematical principles of the finite element method, a technique that turns a (linear) partial differential equation into a discrete linear system, often amenable to fast linear algebra. Reflecting the author's decade of experience in the field, Mathematical Foundations of Finite Elements and Iterative Solvers examines the crucial interplay between analysis, discretization, and computations in modern numerical analysis; furthermore, it recounts historical developments leading to current state-of-the-art techniques. While self-contained, this textbook provides a clear and in-depth discussion of several topics, including elliptic problems, continuous Galerkin methods, iterative solvers, advection-diffusion problems, and saddle point problems. Accessible to readers with a beginning background in functional analysis and linear algebra, this text can be used in graduate-level courses on advanced numerical analysis, data science, numerical optimization, and approximation theory. Professionals in numerical analysis and finite element methods will also find the book of interest.