Mathematical methods for physics and engineering

Name: Mathematical methods for physics and engineering
ISBN: 0521679710

by K. F. Riley, M. P. Hobson, S. J. Bence, Kenneth Franklin Riley, Michael Paul Hobson, Stephen John Bence · first published 1997

9mentions

5recommended by

5HN commenters

2014–2025first – last mentioned

100% recommend

Why HN recommends it

Broad, comprehensive coverage of the math physicists and engineers use, with a computational, applied slant; often called a single book that covers nearly everything needed, suited to students and working scientists.

Summarised by Claude from recommending comments

Mathematics

"The third edition of this highly acclaimed undergraduate textbook is suitable for teaching all the mathematics for an undergraduate course in any of the physical sciences. As well as lucid descriptions of all the topics and many worked examples, it contains over 800 exercises. New stand-alone chapters give a systematic account of the 'special functions' of physical science, cover an extended range of practical applications of complex variables, and give an introduction to quantum operators. Further tabulations, of relevance in statistics and numerical integration, have been added. In this edi

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What Hacker News says

dsacco · Feb 12, 2018 · Recommends

…the depth of an introductory course). For a more expansive coverage of the topics with a computational slant, there are two excellent books I'd recommend: 1. Engineering Mathematics by K.A. Stroud 2. Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering by Riley, Hobson, Bence Both of those will cover the topics in a very hands on, practice-oriented fashion, albeit with a bit of a departure from some of the theory. They're very helpful as a supplement…
on “Ask HN: Resources to learn Discrete Mathematics?” ↗
amai · Mar 12, 2016 · Recommends

A single book is enough to learn mathematics: Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need. And if that is not enough for you get Cahill: Physical Mathematics This will give you advanced topics like differential…
on “How to Learn Advanced Mathematics Without Heading to University” ↗
pneumo · Jan 14, 2014 · Recommends

…(for physics and engineering), which is kind of another world from what mathematicians do. I'm not sure which you would prefer, but if it's the former I recommend checking out the table of contents from Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering by Riley, Hobson and Bence(can be viewed on amazon). It has a nice listing of all the topics, mostly in the order you'd want to study them (with a few exceptions). Doubt I'd recommend it as a first book…
on “Ask HN: What actually goes into learning math? I don't know where to start.” ↗
amai · Oct 28, 2018 · Recommends

I repeat my comment from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11274264 „A single book is enough to learn mathematics: Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need. And if that is not enough for you get Cahill: Physical Mathematics This will give you advanced topics like differential…
on “Ask HN: How to learn advanced maths” ↗
rramadass · Oct 26, 2020 · Recommends

…ones. To that end, i can recommend the following; Mathematical Techniques: An Introduction for the Engineering, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences by Jordan and Smith - This book is really accessible. Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide by Riley, Hobson, Bence - A more advanced coverage of topics than the one above. Mathematics for Physicists: Introductory Concepts and Methods by Altland and Delft - The coverage…
on “Ask HN: Is there a website specialized in mathematics courses?” ↗
amai · Nov 15, 2021 · Recommends

If you want to spend some money instead on a modern book: Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need. And if that is not enough for you get Cahill: Physical Mathematics This will give you advanced topics like differential…
on “Higher Math for Beginners (1987)” ↗
amai · May 31, 2022 · Recommends

I repeat my comment from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11274264 „A single book is enough to learn mathematics: Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need. And if that is not enough for you get Cahill: Physical Mathematics This will give you advanced topics like differential…
on “Ask HN: Serious mathematics books that can replace a good teacher?” ↗
amai · May 31, 2022 · Recommends

I repeat my comment from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11274264 „A single book is enough to learn mathematics: Riley, Hobson, Bence: Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide It has a whopping 1300 pages, but it has everything you need. And if that is not enough for you get Cahill: Physical Mathematics This will give you advanced topics like differential…
on “Ask HN: How to learn math from zero for adults?” ↗
hintymad · Nov 24, 2025 · Recommends

…best allocate time. For instance, I find studying probability models more helpful than studying the measure theory when it comes to applied data science or statistics. I also find studying books like Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering, which focuses a lot more on intuition and applications than rigor, is more effective for me than going pure math books.
on “Calculus for Mathematicians, Computer Scientists, and Physicists [pdf]” ↗