An Introduction to Partial Differential Equations

This book is an introduction to methods for solving partial differential equations (PDEs). After the introduction of the main four PDEs that could be considered the cornerstone of Applied Mathematics, the reader is introduced to a variety of PDEs that come from a variety of fields in the Natural Sciences and Engineering and is a springboard into this wonderful subject. The chapters include the following topics: First-order PDEs, Second-order PDEs, Fourier Series, Separation of Variables, and the Fourier Transform. The reader is guided through these chapters where techniques for solving first- and second-order PDEs are introduced. Each chapter ends with a series of exercises illustrating the material presented in each chapter. The book can be used as a textbook for any introductory course in PDEs typically found in both science and engineering programs and has been used at the University of Central Arkansas for over ten years.