This lucid and balanced introduction for first year engineers and applied mathematicians conveys the clear understanding of the fundamentals and applications of calculus, as a prelude to studying more advanced functions. Short and fundamental diagnostic exercises at the end of each chapter test comprehension before moving to new material.

• Provides a clear understanding of the fundamentals and applications of calculus, as a prelude to studying more advanced functions
• Includes short, useful diagnostic exercises at the end of each chapter

This text for advanced undergraduates and graduates reading applied mathematics, electrical, mechanical, or control engineering, employs block diagram notation to highlight comparable features of linear differential and difference equations, a unique feature found in no other book. The treatment of transform theory (Laplace transforms and z-transforms) encourages readers to think in terms of transfer functions, i.e. algebra rather than calculus. This contrives short-cuts whereby steady-state and transient solutions are determined from simple operations on the transfer functions....