
16
Some Mathematical Aspects of
Thermodynamics
16.1 Introduction
In this chapter we discuss some mathematical aspects of thermodynamics. This is
not going to be an extensive account of the foundations and applications of a mathe-
matical theory of thermodynamics. It is instead intended in the first place as a guide
to the mathematics that has already been extensively used so far in the book like the
properties and uses of the partial derivatives, integrability conditions etc. Therefore,
the first parts of this chapter will explain, in as straightforward a manner as possi-
ble, these aspects. Readers who were unfamiliar with these concepts and could no