Handbook of Mathematics 6th ed

Book Preface

This sixth English edition is based on the fifth English edition (2007) and corresponds to the improved seventh (2008), eighth (2012) and ninth (2013) German edition. It contains all the chapters of the mentioned editions, but in a renewed, revised and extended form (see also the preface to the fifth English edition).

Special new parts to be mentioned here are such supplementary sections as Geometric and Coordinate Transformations and Plain Projections in Chapter on Geometry, as Quaternions and Applications in Chapter on Linear Algebra, as Lie Groups and Lie Algebras in Chapter on Algebra and Discrete Mathematics and as Matlab in Chapter on Numerical Analysis. The Chapter on Computer Algebra Systems is restricted to Mathematica only as a representative example for such systems. Extended and revised paragraphs are given in Chapter on Geometry about Cardan and Euler angles and about Coordinate transformations, in Chapter on Integral Calculus about Applications of Definite Integrals, in Chapter on Optimization about Evaluation Strategies, in Chapter onTables about Natural Constants and Physical Units (System SI). The Index has been completed to an extent as in the previous German editions.

We would like to cordially thank all readers and professional colleagues who helped us with their valuable statements, remarks and suggestions on the German editions of the book during the revision process. Special thanks go to Mrs. Professor Dr. Gabriella Sz´ep (Budapest), who made this English edition possible by valuable contributions and the basic translation into the English. Furthermore our thanks go to all co-authors for the critical treatment of their chapters.

Dresden, December 2014
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Musiol Prof. Dr. Heiner M¨uhlig