This text focuses on the natural union between partial differential equations and a powerful computational language such as Maple. The marriage between partial differential equations and Maple is a perfect one because the animation capabilities of the software allow students and practitioners to see real-time displays of the solutions on a computer screen; one can visualize what could only be imagined years ago.

Each chapter is a self-contained unit which first develops the necessary mathematical concepts needed to set up problems and generate solutions. A sample problem is solved mathematically and then later solved using Maple. Maple commands are used only minimally for the main purpose of eliminating the tedious parts of the solutions. In this manner, one is doing what is most important: learning the mathematics first and then using Maple only as a computational tool. With the interactive software, students can now rapidly set up their own problems and generate their own solutions and graphics with real-time animation.

The book is intended for use as a stand-alone text for a computer-based course in solutions to boundary value problems. It can also serve as an important supplementary resource for setting up and solving problems using the powerful Maple machine.