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Overview
There are dozens of books on ODEs, but none with the elegant geometric insight of Arnol'd's book. Arnol'd puts a clear emphasis on the qualitative and geometric properties of ODEs and their solutions, rather than on theroutine presentation of algorithms for solving special classes of equations.Of course, the reader learns how to solve equations, but with much more understanding of the systems, the solutions and the techniques. Vector fields and one-parameter groups of transformations come right from the startand Arnol'd uses this "language" throughout the book. This fundamental difference from the standard presentation allows him to explain some of the real mathematics of ODEs in a very understandable way and without hidingthe substance. The text is also rich with examples and connections with mechanics. Where possible, Arnol'd proceeds by physical reasoning, using it as a convenient shorthand for much longer formal mathematical reasoning. This technique helps the student get a feel for the subject. Following Arnol'd's guiding geometric and qualitative principles, there are 272 figures in the book, but not a single complicated formula. Also, the text is peppered with historicalremarks, which put the material in context, showing how the ideas have developped since Newton and Leibniz. This book is an excellent text for a course whose goal is a mathematical treatment of differential equations and the related physical systems.
Synopsis
There are dozens of books on ODEs, but none with the elegant geometric insight of Arnol'd's book. Arnol'd puts a clear emphasis on the qualitative and geometric properties of ODEs and their solutions, rather than on theroutine presentation of algorithms for solving special classes of equations.Of course, the reader learns how to solve equations, but with much more understanding of the systems, the solutions and the techniques. Vector fields and one-parameter groups of transformations come right from the startand Arnol'd uses this "language" throughout the book. This fundamental difference from the standard presentation allows him to explain some of the real mathematics of ODEs in a very understandable way and without hidingthe substance. The text is also rich with examples and connections with mechanics. Where possible, Arnol'd proceeds by physical reasoning, using it as a convenient shorthand for much longer formal mathematical reasoning. This technique helps the student get a feel for the subject. Following Arnol'd's guiding geometric and qualitative principles, there are 272 figures in the book, but not a single complicated formula. Also, the text is peppered with historicalremarks, which put the material in context, showing how the ideas have developped since Newton and Leibniz. This book is an excellent text for a course whose goal is a mathematical treatment of differential equations and the related physical systems.
Editorials
From the Publisher
"A fresh modern approach to the geometric qualitative theory of ordinary differential equations... suitable for advanced undergraduates and some graduate students."The notions of vector field, phase space, phase flow, and one parameter groups of transformations dominate the entire presentation. The author is acutely aware of the pitfalls of this abstract approach (e.g., putting the reader to sleep) and does a brilliant job of presenting only the most essential ideas with an easily grasped notation, a minimum formalism, and very careful motivation." Technometrics"This college-level textbook treats the subject of ordinary differential equations in an entirely new way. A wealth of topics is presented masterfully, accompanied by many thought-provoking examples, problems, and 259 figures. The author emphasizes the geometrical and intuitive aspects and at the same time familiarizes the student with concepts, such as flows and manifolds and tangent bundles, traditionally not found in textbooks of this level. The exposition is guided by applications taken mainly from mechanics. One can expect this book to bring new life into this old subject." American Scientist