Publisher's Synopsis
This is a low-level mathematics book for the growing number of students entering engineering and science courses with limited ability in mathematics. The text aims to cover aspects of engineering mathematics which new students are known to find difficulty with and should equip these students with the techniques and confidence needed to successfully tackle a first year engineering mathematics course.;The book begins with a discussion of the basic tools of mathematics - symbols, indices, scientific notation - and describes the use of significant figures. A strong emphasis is given to the manipulation of algebraic expressions using a range of techniques, and these techniques are applied to the solutions of linear, quadratic and simultaneous equations. These first three chapters are designed to give the student confidence in handling mathematical expressions which can then be related to standard geometric functions and logarithms.;The practical aspects of mathematics in handling experimental data are discussed, and the introduction of the straight line form of graph is used to develop the ideas of differentiation. The concepts of maxima and minima are considered. Graphical methods are given further emphasis with a chapter on graph sketching, including methods for changing axes. Integration is introduced at an elementary level.;Wherever possible, techniques are described in terms of "recipes", breaking each technique into a series of simple steps, to allow the student to work out what the problem is and how to solve it correctly. The author has found that the use of these "recipes" is particularly helpful in giving students the confidence to tackle a wide range of problems. Proofs are only rarely dealt with as they lie outside the objectives of the book. Instead, instruction is given through considerable use of worked examples and problems.;This book should be of interest to first year diploma and degree engineering and science students as well as students on Access and Foundation courses.
