Hey guys, I'm a chemistry major who also loves physics, but now I need to learn differential equations to keep learning on my own time. I don't have time to take it as part of my core classes but still want to learn Diffy Q, multivariate calculus, and linear algebra.

Does anybody know any good text books on these subjects I could use to work through to learn myself? Preferably ones that have solutions manuals available so I can do back of the chapter problems and have some way to get feedback.

Any info leading to a book will be rewarded with 4.81fg!

1.
Calculus, Vol. 2: Multi-Variable Calculus and Linear Algebra with Applications to Differential Equations and Probability (Volume 2) Hardcover – June 20, 1969 , by Tom M. Apostol (Author)
2.
Multivariate Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations Calculus Hardcover – 1974 , by Richard E. Williamson (Author), Hale F. Trotter (Author)
3.
Advanced Multivariate Statistics with Matrices (Mathematics and Its Applications) Hardcover – August 5, 2005 , by Tõnu Kollo (Author), D. von Rosen (Author)
4.
Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Forms: A Unified Approach, 4th edition
5.
Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations (Second Edition) , by Stanley I. Grossman Author(s)

i receomend the second book for you.

Have you personally used any of these?

Differential equations are just about recognizing patterns in the equations, and applying said formula to that pattern. It is more memorization than anything. You should understand the equations, which comes with practice.

The older the book, the better the book. I used Kreyszig's book called advanced engineering mathematics but i had a terrible professor. I would also recommend looking up MIT courses on it, which will most likely be the best help. Once you learn the base solution for the differential equation, i recommend using MATLAB or Mathematica with the given assumptions to solve the equation and have them spit out the same equation

This post was edited by TheStealthTarget on Dec 27 2014 01:53pm

This isn't true at all, once you get past the absolute basics.
I take it you never learned how to prove existence and uniqueness of solutions?
Or convergence of Fourier series?

I did, but it is useless when you can solve PDE/ODE's with a numerical method. Make assumptions to ODE/PDE and solve. test your numerical method against the analytical method with the assumptions. make the problem non-linear and update with the numerical method which analytically doesn't have a solution...

This post was edited by TheStealthTarget on Dec 28 2014 07:02pm

Are you learning for yourself or for class?
Usually just patrickjmt on youtube is good enough for classes

There's one great book but forgot it's name. I have it in pdf with the solution manual, if i find it ill pm you it

This post was edited by iconveyi on Dec 29 2014 11:42pm

Elementary differential equations, by Wiley

Used in ordinary differential equations. Solid book.

Diffy Q is a bitch, haven't found one good book on it

It's the only course I got a B in for math ..........Shames me to this day