Calculus: Concepts and Methods CONCEPTS AND METHODS

This second edition of a text for a course on calculus of functions of several variables begins with basics of matrices and vectors and a chapter recalling the important points of the theory in one dimension. It then introduces partial derivatives via functions of two variables and then extends the discussion to more than two variables. This pattern is repeated throughout the book, with two variables being used as a springboard for the more general case. The book distinguishes itself from the competition with its introduction of elementary difference equations, including the use of the difference operator, as well as differential equations and complex numbers. It overcomes the difficulty of visualizing curves and surfaces from equations with the use of many computer graphics in full color, and it contains more than 250 exercises. With applications to economics and an emphasis on practical problem-solving in the sciences rather than the proof of formal theorems, this text should provide excellent motivation to students.

The pebbles used in ancient abacuses gave their name to the calculus, which today is a fundamental tool in business, economics, engineering and the sciences. This introductory book takes readers gently from single to multivariate calculus and simple differential and difference equations. Unusually the book offers a wide range of applications in business and economics, as well as more conventional scientific examples. Ideas from univariate calculus and linear algebra are covered as needed, often from a new perspective. They are reinforced in the two-dimensional case, which is studied in detail before generalisation to higher dimensions. Although there are no theorems or formal proofs, this is a serious book in which conceptual issues are explained carefully using numerous geometric devices and a wealth of worked examples, diagrams and exercises. Mathematica has been used to generate many beautiful and accurate, full-colour illustrations to help students visualise complex mathematical objects. This adds to the accessibility of the text, which will appeal to a wide audience among students of mathematics, economics and science.

Preface; Preliminaries; 1. Matrices and vectors; 2. Functions of one variable; 3. Functions of several variables; 4. Stationary points; 5. Vector-valued functions; 6. Optimization of scalar-valued functions; 7. Inverse functions; 8. Implicit functions; 9. Differentials; 10. Sums and integrals; 11. Multiple integrals; 12. Differential and difference equations of order one; 13. Complex numbers; 14. Higher order differential and difference equations.

Takes readers gently from single to multivariate calculus and simple differential and difference equations. Unusually the book offers a wide range of applications in business and economics, as well as more conventional scientific examples. Full colour Mathematica diagrams have been used to give accurate and attractive diagrams to help students visualise the complex mathematical objects.