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Preface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2013

Paul Bamberg
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Shlomo Sternberg
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts and Tel-Aviv University
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Summary

This book, with apologies for the pretentious title, represents the text of a course we have been teaching at Harvard for the past eight years. The course is aimed at students with an interest in physics who have a good grounding in one-variable calculus. Some prior acquaintance with linear algebra is helpful but not necessary. Most of the students simultaneously take an intensive course in physics and so are able to integrate the material learned here with their physics education. This also is helpful but not necessary. The main topics of the course are the theory and physical application of linear algebra, and of the calculus of several variables, particularly the exterior calculus. Our pedagogical approach follows the ‘spiral method’ wherein we cover the same topic several times at increasing levels of sophistication and range of application, rather than the ‘rectilinear approach’ of strict logical order. There are, we hope, no vicious circles of logical error, but we will frequently develop a special case of a subject, and then return to it for a more general definition and setting only after a broader perspective can be achieved through the introduction of related topics. This makes some demands of patience and faith on the part of the student. But we hope that, at the end, the student is rewarded by a deeper intuitive understanding of the subject as a whole.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1988

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  • Preface
  • Paul Bamberg, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Shlomo Sternberg, Harvard University, Massachusetts and Tel-Aviv University
  • Book: A Course in Mathematics for Students of Physics
  • Online publication: 05 August 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139171670.001
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  • Preface
  • Paul Bamberg, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Shlomo Sternberg, Harvard University, Massachusetts and Tel-Aviv University
  • Book: A Course in Mathematics for Students of Physics
  • Online publication: 05 August 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139171670.001
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Preface
  • Paul Bamberg, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Shlomo Sternberg, Harvard University, Massachusetts and Tel-Aviv University
  • Book: A Course in Mathematics for Students of Physics
  • Online publication: 05 August 2013
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139171670.001
Available formats
×