Basic Mathematics for the Biological and Social Sciences

Book excerpt: Basic Mathematics for the Biological and Social Sciences deals with the applications of basic mathematics in the biological and social sciences. Mathematical concepts that are discussed in this book include graphical methods, differentiation, trigonometrical or circular functions, limits and convergence, integration, vectors, and differential equations. The exponential function and related functions are also considered. This monograph is comprised of 11 chapters and begins with an overview of basic algebra, followed by an introduction to infinitesimal calculus, scalar and vector quantities, complex numbers, and the simplest types of differential equation. The use of graphs in the presentation of data is also described, along with limits and convergence, rules for differentiation, the exponential function, and maxima and minima. Techniques of integration, vectors and their derivatives, and simultaneous differential equations are explored as well. Examples from biology, economics and related subjects, probability theory, and physics are provided. This text will be a useful resource for mathematicians as well as biologists and social scientists interested in applying mathematics to their work.