Paperback, color print on 70lb white paper. Other e- and printed color and b&w editions are or will be also available. * * * About the book: An excellent textbook established at several universities. Primarily written for students at technical universities, it is also a very useful handbook for engineers, PhD students and scientists. Now available in several forms at all continents. - - - This textbook introduces the reader into various interpolation methods. The interpolation domain is usually divided into interpolation elements, such as finite elements and boundary elements. Interpolation on these elements is provided by shape functions, which are systematically defined in global and local coordinates by using null-points, null-lines or null-planes. - - - Why the interpolation and shape functions are so important? Simply, because various various numerical methods (such as FEM and BEM) are based on them. - - - The book is divided into seven chapters. The first chapter briefly explaines a background of interpolation. There is explained a difference between simple interpolation methods and higher level interpolation methods, as well as two kinds of interpolation formulas which uses coordinate and shape functions. In the second chapter are described various polynomial interpolation methods. It is also shown how Chebyshev polynomial interpolation my suppress Runge's phenomenon and reduce interpolation error. In the third chapter non-polynomial methods (exponential, logarithmic, and rational) are discussed. - - - These methods are important if the interpolation is performed over the semi-infinite or infinite domain, while described Fourier interpolations should be used if the interpolation function is periodic. Piecewise interpolation with one dimensional interpolation elements and splines are described in the fourth chapter. - - - Interpolation on triangular and rectangular elements, as well as construction of their shape functions are described in the fifth and sixth chapter. Finally, volume interpolation elements (tetrahedral, prismatic and cube elements) are described in seventh chapter. - - - Practical application is supported by 10 algorithms and 43 examples. Described interpolation elements can be easily used in finite and boundary element methods. Besides its practical usage, the given text with 131 figures and 26 tables, represents a valuable background for understanding, developing and applying various numerical methods. * * * Author: Boris Obsieger, D.Sc., professor at the University of Rijeka, Croatia. Head of Section for Machine Elements at the Faculty of Engineering in Rijeka. Holds lectures on Machine Elements Design, Robot Elements Design, Numerical Methods in Design and Boundary Element Method. Several invited lectures. President of CADAM Conferences. Main editor of international journal Advanced Engineering. Author of several books and a lot of scientific papers. * * * Reviewed by: Prof. Maja Fosner, D.Sc., University of Maribor, Slovenia, Prof. Damir Jelaska, D.Sc., University of Split, Croatia, Prof. Valery Lysenko, D.Sc., Academic of the Russian Metrological Academy, Russian Research Institute for Metrological Service, Prof. Iztok Potrc, D.Sc., University of Maribor. Slovenia, Prof. Evgeny Pushkar, D.Sc., Member correspondent of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Moscow State Industrial University, Russia. * * * Previewed by: Senior Lecturer, Katica Jurasi, M.Sc., Assistant, Branimir Ron evi, D. Sc., University of Rijeka, Croatia. * * * Proof reading by: Senior Lecturer, Ksenija Mance, prof., University of Rijeka, Croatia."