David S. G. Stirling – författare

This book gives a rigorous and practical treatment of integral equations. These are significant because they occur in many problems in mathematics, physics and engineering and they offer a powerful (sometimes the only) technique for solving these problems. The book aims to tackle the solution of integral equations using a blend of abstract 'structural' results and more direct, down-to-earth mathematics. The interplay between these two approaches is a central feature of the text and it allows a thorough account to be given of many of the types of integral equation which arise in application areas. Since it is not always possible to find explicit solutions of the problems posed, much attention is devoted to obtaining qualitative information and approximations to the solutions, with the associated error estimates. This treatment is intended for final year mathematics undergraduates, postgraduates and research workers in application areas such as numerical analysis and fluid mechanics.

This fundamental and straightforward text addresses a weakness observed among present-day students, namely a lack of familiarity with formal proof. Beginning with the idea of mathematical proof and the need for it, associated technical and logical skills are developed with care and then brought to bear on the core material of analysis in such a lucid presentation that the development reads naturally and in a straightforward progression. Retaining the core text, the second edition has additional worked examples which users have indicated a need for, in addition to more emphasis on how analysis can be used to tell the accuracy of the approximations to the quantities of interest which arise in analytical limits.- Addresses a lack of familiarity with formal proof, a weakness observed among present-day mathematics students- Examines the idea of mathematical proof, the need for it and the technical and logical skills required