Understanding Nonlinear Dynamics

This book presents the main concepts and applications of nonlinear dynamics at an elementary level. The book is based on a one-semester undergraduate course that has been given since 1975 at McGill University and has been constantly updated to keep up with current developments. Based on the authors' successful course for undergraduate students in the biological sciences, the primer presents the main concepts of non-linear dynamics at a level requiring only one year of calculus. This text will appeal to courses being offered in both mathematics and biology. Topics include finite difference equations, the concept of chaos, networks, cellular automata, on- and two-dimensional differential equations, the dynamics of non-linear equations, and linear stability analysis. Examples are all from the biological sciences, exercises are included in each chapter, and basic mathematical reviews are included in an appendix.