This book evolved from a set of lecture notes for a course on ‘Introduction to Mathematical Physics’, that I have given at California State University, Stanislaus (CSUS) for many years. Physics majors at CSUS take introductory mathematical physics before the physics core courses, so that they may acquire the expected level of mathematical competency for the core course. It is assumed that the student has an adequate preparation in general physics and a good understanding of the mathematical manipulations of calculus. For the student who is in need of a review of calculus, however, Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 are included.

This book is not encyclopedic in character, nor does it give in a highly mathematical rigorous account. Our emphasis in the text is to provide an accessible working knowledge of some of the current important mathematical tools required in physics.

The student will find that a generous amount of detail has been given mathematical manipulations, and that ‘it-may-be-shown-thats’ have been kept to a minimum. However, to ensure that the student does not lose sight of the development underway, some of the more lengthy and tedious algebraic manipulations have been omitted when possible.

Each chapter contains a number of physics examples to illustrate the mathematical techniques just developed and to show their relevance to physics. They supplement or amplify the material in the text, and are arranged in the order in which the material is covered in the chapter. No effort has been made to trace the origins of the homework problems and examples in the book. A solution manual for instructors is available from the publishers upon adoption.