Essential Maths for Geoscientists is an accessible, student-friendly introduction to the essential mathematics required by those students taking degree courses within the Geosciences. Clearly structured throughout, Essential Maths for Geoscientists carefully guides the student step by step through the mathematics they will encounter and will provide numerous applied examples throughout to enhance students understanding and to place each technique into context.
Opening with a chapter explaining the need for studying mathematics within geosciences Essential Maths for Geoscientists then moves on to cover algebra, equations, solutions, logarithms and exponentials, statistics and probability, trigonometry, vectors and calculus. The final chapter helps to bring it all together and provides the students with sample projects to test their knowledge. Worked applied examples are included in each chapter along with applied problem questions which are a mix of straightforward maths questions, word questions (developing maths to words), and more involved questions that involve the manipulation and interpretation of real and synthetic data.
Preface
1 How Do You Know that Global Warming Is Not a Hoax? 1
2 Preamble 7
3 Algebra 37
4 Solving Equations 53
5 Logarithms and Exponentials 67
6 Uncertainties, Errors, and Statistics 77
7 Trigonometry 95
8 Vectors 105
9 Calculus 1: Differentiation 113
10 Calculus 2: Integration 125
11 Bringing It All Together 133
A Answers to Problems 143
B A Brief Note on Excel 197
C Further Reading 199
Index 201