Physics 104A
Mathematical methods of physics

A required class for junior physics majors, Physics 104A focuses on mathematical techniques that are widely used in other upper-level physics coursework. A common textbook is Boas, Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences. The course reviews and extends lower-level topics, such as infinite series and linear algebra. It introduces series expansions in orthogonal functions, primarily Fourier and Legendre series, and uses the expansions for series solutions of partial differential equations.