Stroud, formerly a professor of mathematics at Lancaster Polytechnic (now Coventry University) in the UK, and Booth (computing and engineering, University of Huddersfield, UK) present mathematics in a step-by-step fashion with a wealth of worked examples and exercises, plus quizes, objectives, and checklists. Each chapter is broken down into discrete steps and concepts, with numbered sections on each page, adding to the readability of the text. Coverage progresses from first- order differential equations through numerical solutions of ordinary differential equations. The book can be used in the classroom or as an in-depth self-study tutorial. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)