Boundary Value Problems and Partial Differential Equations, Seventh Edition published
When David Powers joined the Clarkson Math Department in 1967, his first assignment was teaching an upper-level course for engineering students. The textbook was not well suited for the students’ interest and the course came to be known as “Mystery Math.” At the suggestion of department chair A. George Davis, David began writing detailed notes for the course, which were typed and distributed as copies, complete with blue ink and the familiar aroma.
Over time, the material was refined to include clearer explanations, engineering-focused examples, and additional exercises. In 1971, David submitted the manuscript to several publishers, and Academic Press accepted it. The first edition of Boundary Value Problems was published in 1972. A highly favorable review in the American Mathematical Monthly helped the book gain wide recognition, leading to second edition in 1979 and an Arabic Translation in 1980.
Later editions expanded to include additional topics, exercises, solution manuals, and supplemental materials. The fifth edition in 2006 featured a CD with solution animations and other resources, which were later moved to a website for the sixth edition in 2010 and continue with the new seventh edition.