This book gives a concise overview of the mathematical foundations of kinetics used in
chemistry and systems biology. The analytical and numerical methods used to solve complex rate
equations with the widely used deterministic approach will be described with primary focus on
practical aspects important in designing experimental studies and the evaluation of data. The
introduction of personal computers transformed scientific attitudes in the last two decades
considerably as computational power ceased to be a limiting factor. Despite this improvement
certain time-honored approximations in solving rate equations such as the pre-equilibrium or
the steady-state approach are still valid and necessary as they concern the information content
of measured kinetic traces. The book shows the role of these approximations in modern kinetics
and will also describe some common misconceptions in this field.
