Do you want a rigorous book that remembers where PDEs come from and what they look like? This highly visual introduction to linear PDEs and initial/boundary value problems connects the math to physical reality, all the time providing a rigorous mathematical foundation for all solution methods. Readers are gradually introduced to abstraction – the most powerful tool for solving problems – rather than simply drilled in the practice of imitating solutions to given examples. The book is therefore ideal for students in mathematics and physics who require a more theoretical treatment than given in most introductory texts. Also designed with lecturers in mind, the fully modular presentation is easily adapted to a course of one-hour lectures, and a suggested 12-week syllabus is included to aid planning. Downloadable files for the hundreds of figures, hundreds of challenging exercises, and practice problems that appear in the book are available online, as are solutions.

'I love this bare-handed approach to PDEs. Pivato has succeeded in creating a deeply engaging introductory PDE text; confidence building hands-on work and theory are woven together in a way that appeals to the intuition. Add to that the truly reasonable price, and you have the hands down winner in the field of introductory PDE books. The next time I teach introductory PDEs, I will use Pivato's new text.'

Kevin R. Vixie - Washington State University

'… the framework of its content is clear and firm … extensive and insightful analysis of issues regarding … different systems of coordinates … an excellent reference for anyone concerned with scientific, informational, or research subjects … The book gives the student most that one could require or even imagine.'

Source: Contemporary Physics