Allan C. Peterson - Böcker

Difference Equations, Second Edition, presents a practical introduction to this important field of solutions for engineering and the physical sciences. Topic coverage includes numerical analysis, numerical methods, differential equations, combinatorics and discrete modeling. A hallmark of this revision is the diverse application to many subfields of mathematics. Phase plane analysis for systems of two linear equations Use of equations of variation to approximate solutions Fundamental matrices and Floquet theory for periodic systems LaSalle invariance theorem Additional applications: secant line method, Bison problem, juvenile-adult population model, probability theory Appendix on the use of Mathematica for analyzing difference equaitons Exponential generating functions Many new examples and exercises

The development of time scales is still in its infancy, yet as inroads are made, interest is gathering steam. Of a great deal of interest are methods being intro­ duced for dynamic equations on time scales, which now explain some discrepancies that have been encountered when results for differential equations and their dis­ crete counterparts have been independently considered. The explanations of these seeming discrepancies are incidentally producing unifying results via time scales methods. The study of dynamic equations on time scales is a fairly new subject, and research in this area is rapidly growing. It has been created in order to unify continuous and discrete analysis, and it allows a simultaneous treatment of dif­ ferential and difference equations, extending those theories to so-called dynamic equations. An introduction to this subject is given in Dynamic Equations on Time Scales: An Introduction with Applications (MARTIN BOHNER and ALLAN PETER­ SON, Birkhauser, 2001 [86]). The current book is designed to supplement this introduction and to offer access to the vast literature that has already emerged in this field. It consists of ten chapters, written by an international team of 21 experts in their areas, thus providing an overview of the recent advances in the theory on time scales. We want to emphasize here that this book is not just a collection of papers by different authors.

For over 300 years, differential equations have served as an essential tool for describing and analyzing problems in many scientific disciplines. This carefully-written textbook provides an introduction to many of the important topics associated with ordinary differential equations. Unlike most textbooks on the subject, this text includes nonstandard topics such as perturbation methods and differential equations and Mathematica. In addition to the nonstandard topics, this text also contains contemporary material in the area as well as its classical topics.This second edition is updated to be compatible with Mathematica, version 7.0. It also provides 81 additional exercises, a new section in Chapter 1 on the generalized logistic equation, an additional theorem in Chapter 2 concerning fundamental matrices, and many more other enhancements to the first edition.This book can be used either for a second course in ordinary differential equations or as an introductory course for well-prepared students. The prerequisites for this book are three semesters of calculus and a course in linear algebra, although the needed concepts from linear algebra are introduced along with examples in the book. An undergraduate course in analysis is needed for the more theoretical subjects covered in the final two chapters.

The development of time scales is still in its infancy, yet as inroads are made, interest is gathering steam. Of a great deal of interest are methods being intro­ duced for dynamic equations on time scales, which now explain some discrepancies that have been encountered when results for differential equations and their dis­ crete counterparts have been independently considered. The explanations of these seeming discrepancies are incidentally producing unifying results via time scales methods. The study of dynamic equations on time scales is a fairly new subject, and research in this area is rapidly growing. It has been created in order to unify continuous and discrete analysis, and it allows a simultaneous treatment of dif­ ferential and difference equations, extending those theories to so-called dynamic equations. An introduction to this subject is given in Dynamic Equations on Time Scales: An Introduction with Applications (MARTIN BOHNER and ALLAN PETER­ SON, Birkhauser, 2001 [86]). The current book is designed to supplement this introduction and to offer access to the vast literature that has already emerged in this field. It consists of ten chapters, written by an international team of 21 experts in their areas, thus providing an overview of the recent advances in the theory on time scales. We want to emphasize here that this book is not just a collection of papers by different authors.

This text provides the first comprehensive treatment of the discrete fractional calculus. Experienced researchers will find the text useful as a reference for discrete fractional calculus and topics of current interest. Students who are interested in learning about discrete fractional calculus will find this text to provide a useful starting point. Several exercises are offered at the end of each chapter and select answers have been provided at the end of the book.The presentation of the content is designed to give ample flexibility for potential use in a myriad of courses and for independent study. The novel approach taken by the authors includes a simultaneous treatment of the fractional- and integer-order difference calculus (on a variety of time scales, including both the usual forward and backwards difference operators). The reader will acquire a solid foundation in the classical topics of the discrete calculus while being introduced to exciting recent developments, bringing them to the frontiers of the subject.  Most chapters may be covered or omitted, depending upon the background of the student. For example, the text may be used as a primary reference in an introductory course for difference equations which also includes discrete fractional calculus. Chapters 1—2 provide a basic introduction to the delta calculus including fractional calculus on the set of integers.  For courses where students already have background in elementary real analysis, Chapters 1—2 may be covered quickly and readers may then skip to Chapters 6—7 which present some basic results in fractional boundary value problems (FBVPs). Chapters 6—7 in conjunction with some of the current literature listed in the Bibliography can provide a basis for a seminar in the current theory of FBVPs. For a two-semester course, Chapters 1—5 may be covered in depth, providing a very thorough introduction to both the discrete fractional calculus as well as the integer-order calculus.