Singular Points of Smooth Mappings (Research Notes in Mathematics 25)

Pitman Publishing Limited, 1979, 239 pages. Pages yellowing, previous owner's name in black pen at top left of front endpaper, secondhand wear to cover, spine creased and very faded.

This book is almost wholly concerned with the local theory, where relatively little machinery is needed intially, and takes as its main theme the fundamental problem of listing singularity types. The central idea of transversatility is systematically developed from a geometric viewpoint, leading to a discussion of the first-order Thom singularity sets. Unfolding is introduced in a finite-dimensional situation where it is easier to understand. The necessary background material is explained in detail and technicalities have been kept to a minimum, making the book accessible to anyone familiar with the calculus of several variables; numerous examples are given to illustrate the theory. Of interest to pure and applied mathematicians, some physicists and engineers, and research workers in the life sciences needing to apply singularity theory in their own work.