Rating: 
Summary: Worth every penny
Review: When I left the college book store some $100 dollars lighter I thought this just the usual ridulously overpriced textbook.
Don't kid yourself. THIS BOOK HAS ALMOST EVERYTHING you need to know for the mathematical part of your undergraduate physics career. Simply explained and easy to use, this book will save you hours and hours of mathematical frustration. I just wish I had it when I was a freshman. The problems are awesome and usually of theoretical importance. The only thing is that the chapters on complex integration and integral transforms are a little bit above my level. I recommend buying this book if you have the need to use math whatever your occupation is.
Rating:
Summary: Talk about persistence...
Review: As an undergrad, I was fortunate enough to learn directly from Mary Boas, as she taught from the first edition of the book. During 4 semesters of undergraduate physics, my classmates and I worked virtually every problem in the book (this translates to 3+ hours of homework a night).
Now, over 20 years later, I still find myself referring to the subsequent editions I've bought on a regular basis in my professional career. I still have a reasonably clear recollection and understanding of the material. I also find myself recommending this book to others on a regular basis.
Work the problems. You'll be glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: The best math book I have ever used!
Review: As someone who enjoys applied mathematics, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys steady state temperature distribution problems as much as I do. This book has truly tested my knowledge of linear algebra, differential equations, and Fourier Analysis. My background has strengthened in these areas primarily because of my professor but also by this excellent textbook.
Rating:
Summary: WAY TOO EXPENSIVE: BARNES AND NOBLE HAVE IT FOR HALF PRICE
Review: BARNES AND NOBLE HAVE THIS BOOK FOR ONLY $93.75 DON'T BE DUPED
Rating: 
Summary: This is not the best math methods book
Review: Boas is overrated. The book "Mathematical methods for Physics and engineering" by Riley, Hobson, and Bence is much better.
Rating:
Summary: This is not the best math methods book
Review: Boas is overrated. The book "Mathematical methods for Physics and engineering" by Riley, Hobson, and Bence is much better.
Rating:
Summary: This is not the best math methods book
Review: Boas is overrated. The book "Mathematical methods for Physics and engineering" by Riley, Hobson, and Bence is much better.
Rating:
Summary: The Physics Bible
Review: Everyone doing a physics degree knows that it is often the case that there is no ideal book for the area that you're studying. For instance, in atomic physics, you need to use Eisberg, Bransden, and Rae (or at least, you do for my course). Here's the good news: when it comes to maths, there is only one book that you will ever need, and it's this one. No matter what stage of your degree you're at, this book will always come in handy. The maths behind quantum mechanics or thermodynamics is made trivial thanks to a few clarifying words from good ol' Mary L. When it comes to revising for those dreaded finals, Boas is the ideal aid - you just do a quick couple of questions to remind yourself how Lagrange Multipliers work and you're home and dry.I really can't say enough good things about this wonderful little book. If you only buy one book for your physics course, do yourself a favour and buy this one.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for born again physicists
Review: Having been out of mathematics for quite some time, I purchased a few books to get me back into things for a physics class I was taking. It was my finding that Mary Boas by far had the clearest writing style, and would logically build up to advanced tricks for physicists. The book is full of problems that make you convinced of each step within a proof. I really liked that, as it makes you understand the fundamentals. In areas that she does not cover (for example, "Variation of Parameters") she gives excellent sources on where to find the details. I have recommended this book to several friends. I urge you to choose Boas. I had also purchased Arfken and Weber, but their writing style is not as approachable.
Rating:
Summary: A "pocket" reference that even Math students secretly use
Review: Hey, Math undergrads! Home for the summer? Only room in that case for one math text? Make it Boas. She'll get you up to speed on all the mechanics of doing math; calculus, vectors, PDEs, fourier analysis and stuff. Once you have that all down pat you can go and read Spivak or whatever you like and do it properly with all those annoying little proofs ;)
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