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    Cover of Mathematical methods for physics and engineering

    Mathematical methods for physics and engineering

    K. F. Riley, M. P. Hobson, S. J. Bence, Kenneth Franklin Riley · 1997

    "The third edition of this highly acclaimed undergraduate textbook is suitable for teaching all the mathematics for an undergraduate course in any of the physical sciences. As well as lucid descriptions of all the topics and many worked examples, it contains over 800 exercises. New stand-alone chapters give a systematic account of the 'special functions' of physical science, cover an extended range of practical applications of complex variables, and give an introduction to quantum operators. Further tabulations, of relevance in statistics and numerical integration, have been added. In this edition, half of the exercises are provided with hints and answers and, in a separate manual available to both students and their teachers, complete worked solutions."--Amazon.com.

    Mathematics
    Open LibraryAmazon
    Stats for nerds
    5recommend
    9mentions
    5people
    2014–2025years
    100% recommend

    Mentions per year

    2014201620182020202220242025

    What Hacker News says

    1. hintymadNov 2025
      Honest question: what kind of rigor and abstraction can help us apply maths to solve problems? Don't get me wrong: I enjoy studying abstract maths and was pretty good at it in school. It's just that when it comes to what to study to make one a more effective problem solver in engineering, I was wonder I can best allocate time. For instance, I find studying probability models more helpful than studying the measure theory when it comes to applied data science or statistics. I also find studying books like Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering, which focuses a lot more on intuition and applications than rigor, is more effective for me than going pure math books.
      thread
    2. amaiMay 2022
      I repeat my comment from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11274264

      „A single book is enough to learn mathematics: Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need.

      And if that is not enough for you get Cahill: Physical Mathematics This will give you advanced topics like differential forms, path integrals, renormalization group, chaos and string theory.“

      thread
    3. amaiMay 2022
      I repeat my comment from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11274264

      „A single book is enough to learn mathematics: Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need.

      And if that is not enough for you get Cahill: Physical Mathematics This will give you advanced topics like differential forms, path integrals, renormalization group, chaos and string theory.“

      thread
    4. amaiNov 2021
      If you want to spend some money instead on a modern book:

      Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide

      It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need. And if that is not enough for you get

      Cahill: Physical Mathematics

      This will give you advanced topics like differential forms, path integrals, renormalization group, chaos and string theory.

      thread
    5. rramadassOct 2020
      I suggest spending less time with online lectures/videos etc. and more time with actual Books. The online stuff should be an adjunct to your study of books. Also it is best if you look at books dealing with a survey of all the relevant topics required for Science/Engineering before delving into specialized ones. To that end, i can recommend the following;

      Mathematical Techniques: An Introduction for the Engineering, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences by Jordan and Smith - This book is really accessible.

      Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide by Riley, Hobson, Bence - A more advanced coverage of topics than the one above.

      Mathematics for Physicists: Introductory Concepts and Methods by Altland and Delft - The coverage is excellent but somewhat challenging to read.

      thread
    6. amaiOct 2018
      I repeat my comment from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11274264

      „A single book is enough to learn mathematics: Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need. And if that is not enough for you get Cahill: Physical Mathematics This will give you advanced topics like differential forms, path integrals, renormalization group, chaos and string theory.“

      thread

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