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Title: Differential Equations (with CD-ROM) by Paul Blanchard, Robert L. Devaney, Glen R. Hall ISBN: 0-534-38514-1 Publisher: Brooks Cole Pub. Date: 18 January, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $113.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.73 (11 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: A Student¿s Perspective
Comment: As a recent differential equations student, I have mixed feelings about this book. I did thoroughly read those portions of the book covered by my instructor, and I did learn enough from it to get an A in the class. So I'll concede that it does a fairly good job as a textbook. In fact, I found it relatively easy to understand, which surprised me given the subject. However, the book has two serious shortcomings.
First, it's too verbose. The authors probably could have cut the size of this book in half without sacrificing any of its clarity or utility; in fact, they would likely have improved upon both had they done so. Mind you, I'm not suggesting that it's boring, it's just too long for a student in a hurry.
The second shortcoming is its questionable value as a reference book. Most math books with which I'm familiar have extensive indexes, and do a good job of highlighting important concepts and formulas. This book does neither. The index for this 786 page book is just over nine pages long. That might not sound bad, but many of the entries refer back to specific examples and homework problems with arcane names like "Magic Fingers", "Glass Harmonica", and "Robo-lobster", even while many key words were omitted. To make matter worse, the authors (according to their preface for students) made it a point not to mark important material in a way that would make it stand out. They also wrote many of their more advanced examples in a way that forces students to derive the intermediate steps on their own. This is arguably educational, as it forces students to practice earlier material while they're reading, but I can only imagine the hell it's going to put me through when I have to refer back to the book years from now.
In short, if you have a lot of time on your hands, this is a great book from which to learn differential equations. However, it's a terrible reference book, and nearly impossible to skim. In fact, it's even hard to study from.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent Textbook - Not So Good Reference
Comment: As a differential equations instructor I used Boyce and DiPrima for many years. Its a good, solid presentation of differential equations and a great reference. However, I was always disappointed that my students ended up with no "feel" for differential equations. Also I became convinced that more methods were needed for nonlinear differential equations. After using a couple of other books which seemed to be slanted toward more qualitative approaches I came across Blanchard's book. I used it as a textbook for my class for several years now and I have found it to be a near perfect match to my goals. Some consider it wordy but I appreciate the motivation and insight the authors try to bring to the concepts. As a result it is not a good reference but as a textbook it is great. There are plenty of graphical tools. Quite suprising to me is how much the book illuminates DE's by simply analyzing the components of the DE, even before any solution is attempted. These features, along with some integrated applications, gives students much more of the "feel" for differential equations I have been looking for.
Rating: 1
Summary: Horrible paedagogical dreck
Comment: This book is a DE text for students who've had the misfortune to have been subjected to "reformed calculus"--- i.e., calculus without algebra. There is very little substance here, only high-school level chit-chat and "qualitative analysis" of nearly trivial problems. The writing style is insulting to anyone other than brain-dead pedagogs.
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Title: Student Solutions Manual for Differential Equations by Paul Blanchard, Robert L. Devaney, Glen R. Hall ISBN: 0534352537 Publisher: Brooks Cole Pub. Date: January, 1998 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: Electric Circuits Revised and PSpice Supplement Package, Sixth Edition by James W. Nilsson, Susan Riedel ISBN: 0130770795 Publisher: Prentice Hall Pub. Date: 27 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $116.00 |
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Title: Linear Algebra and Its Applications (3rd Edition) by David C. Lay ISBN: 0201709708 Publisher: Pearson Addison Wesley Pub. Date: 18 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $108.00 |
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Title: The Analysis and Design of Linear Circuits, Fourth Edition by Roland E. Thomas, Albert J. Rosa ISBN: 0471272132 Publisher: Wiley Text Books Pub. Date: 06 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $122.95 |
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Title: Mechanics of Materials with Tutorial CD by Ferdinand Pierre Beer, E. Russell, Jr Johnston, John T. Dewolf, Jr. Johnston ISBN: 0072486732 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math Pub. Date: 09 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $138.45 |
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