Excellent introductory text focuses on complex numbers, determinants, orthonormal bases, symmetric and hermitian matrices, first order non-linear equations, linear differential equations, Laplace transforms, Bessel functions, more. Includes 48 black-and-white illustrations. Exercises with solutions. Index.

Preface1. Complex Numbers 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Algebra of Complex Numbers 1.3 The Geometry of Complex Numbers 1.4 Two-dimensional Vectors 1.5 Functions of a Complex Variable 1.6 Exponential Function 1.7 Power Series2. Linear Algebraic Equations 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Matrices 2.3 Elimination Method 2.4 Determinants 2.5 Inverse of a Matrix 2.6 Existence and Uniqueness Theorems3. Vector Spaces 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Three-dimensional Vectors 3.3 Axioms of a Vector Space 3.4 Dependence and Independence of Vectors 3.5 Basis and Dimension 3.6 Scalar Product 3.7 Orthonormal Bases 3.8 Infinite-dimensional Vector Spaces4. Linear Transformations 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Definitions and Examples 4.3 Matrix Representations 4.4 Changes of Bases 4.5 Characteristic Values and Characteristic Vectors 4.6 Symmetric and Hermitian Matrices 4.7 Jordan Forms5. First Order Differential Equations 5.1 Introduction 5.2 An Example 5.3 Basic Definitions 5.4 First Order Linear Equations 5.5 First Order Nonlinear Equations 5.6 Applications of First Order Equations 5.7 Numerical Methods 5.8 Existence and Uniqueness6. Linear Differential Equations 6.1 Introduction 6.2 General Theorems 6.3 Variation of Parameters 6.4 Equations with Constant Coefficients 6.5 Method of Undetermined Coefficients 6.6 Applications 6.7 Green's Functions7. Laplace Transforms 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Existence of the Transform 7.3 Transforms of Certain Functions 7.4 Inversion of the Transform 7.5 Solution of Differential Equations 7.6 Applications 7.7 Uniqueness of the Transform8. Power-Series Methods 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Solution near Ordinary Points 8.3 Solution near Regular Singular Points 8.4 Bessel Functions 8.5 Boundary-value Problems 8.6 Convergence Theorems9. Systems of Differential Equations 9.1 Introduction 9.2 First Order Systems 9.3 Linear First Order Systems 9.4 Linear First Order Systems with Constant Coefficients 9.5 Higher Order Linear Systems 9.6 Existence and Uniqueness Theorem Answers and Hints for Selected Exercises; Index