Engineering Mathematics is an introductory mathematics course for students on science and engineering degree and pre-degree courses.

The aim of this book is to provide students with sound mathematical skills, a working knowledge necessary for their further studies and an appreciation of the basic concepts involved.

The programmed structure of this book allows for general classroom use as well as individual self-study. It is an ideal tool for mathematics education and essential for subsequent revision.

The fourth edition of Engineering Mathematics contains 10 new programmes at a "foundation" level which will allow students of all abilities and levels to mathematical background to access this book from the beginning of their courses. All the programmes in this book include worked examples graded for progression, and conclude with test exercises and a set of further questions for essential practice. Answers to all problems are provided.

About the Author
K. A. Stroud was formerly Principal Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry Unversity). He is also the author of Further Engineering Mathematics, a companion volume to this text.

Since the publication of the third edition of "Engineering Mathematics", considerable changes in syllabuses and options for A level qualifications in mathematics have been introduced nationally, as a result of which students with various levels of mathematical background have been enrolling for undergraduate courses in engineering and science. These changes have lead to the need for learning materials aimed at different levels. This text therefore includes ten programmes which act as an introduction to "Engineering Mathematics" and is designed for those students approaching the subject for the first time.

2006-09-13 Maths made easy with Ken Stroud

I can only sing the praises of this book and recommend it to anyone undertaking mathematics as part of higher education: such as a degree or HND in Engineering. This book covered most areas of my first year undergraduate course in Engineering.

I went to university as a mature student from industry and soon found that I had gaps in my mathematical knowledge that needed filling pretty dam quickly. I also found that several students from the regular `A' level intake also had gaps depending on their background. These gaps were a function of such things as: the emphasis your school or college put on a topic, the exam board you sat and your final `A' level grade. After getting limited help from other students who also had "gaps" I concluded I needed to enroll onto a remedial course with hours to suit me! Luckily for me a former OND student who had suffered the same anguish recommended this book as a possible solution.

Ken Stroud has developed a book that really is a learning course that teaches you rather than lectures to you. Ken holds your hand, assumes you know very little and guides you through the mysteries of Engineering Mathematics. I knew some highflying students found his style patronizing but for those of us who needed that extra help we were happy.

Ken's format works by introducing a concept as simply as is practical and then asks you a few easy questions about what you have read. Ken shows you all the "short-cuts" you should be looking out for to keep things simple and then takes the technical content up a notch. As the level of complexity increases this is repeated to reinforce key areas. You are taken through plenty of worked specimens, step by step, detail by detail with "all the working" shown. In order to test you there are plenty of examples to go at and answers provided. Ken encourages you to maintain your own notebook of proofs and formulae for quick reference and this idea worked for me.

The beauty of this type of book is you can indulge whenever you wish and `teach yourself' free of the constraints of the lecture room. On the few occasions I got lost there was always a fellow Ken Stroud enthusiast or high-flyer to point me in the right direction. In my case I was a willing learner who wanted to put the hours in but needed a tutor at unsociable times-Ken Stroud hit the spot. Without exaggeration I think this book was a major contribution to getting me through my undergraduate first year Mathematics. As my competence and confidence grew I found myself making that transition to applying the techniques to Engineering subjects without being prompted.

The only disappointing part to the book was it didn't cover all of the second year topics. This was solved by the excellent follow up book Further Engineering Mathematics!