"This important volume is the first part of a two-part textbook (the second part is entitled Conservation laws and elliptic equations). The text includes interesting homework problems that implement different aspects of most of the schemes discussed. The implementation aspect of this text includes a large amount of computing. Other useful aspects of computing included in this volume are symbolic computing and the use of graphics for analysis. Prerequisites suggested for using this book might include one semester of partial differential equations and some programming capability. This book will be a good reference text for students." -- MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS