Book Description
This extremely readable, highly regarded, and widely adopted text present innovative ways for applying calculus to real-world situations in the business, economics, life science, and social science disciplines. The text's straightforward, engaging approach fosters the growth of both mathematical maturity and an appreciation for the usefulness of mathematics. The authors' tried and true formula — pairing substantial amounts of graphical analysis and informal geometric proofs with an abundance of hands-on exercises — has proven to be tremendously successful.Functions, derivatives, applications of the derivative, techniques of differentiations, exponential and natural logarithm functions, definite integral, variables and trigonometric functions.For individuals interested in a brief introduction to calculus applications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Just awful
I was assigned this book to teach Calculus to business majors.To call it horrid would be an understatement.Important concepts are only briefly touched upon in examples(such as function composition) and takes unacceptable liberties (saying things like "it is sufficient to think of e as 2.7").Too much time is spent on trivialities and busywork, rather than examples that would nail the concept down to the student.The book introduces the concept of the derivative before the limit - that's like learning to ride a bike before you know how to walk!

I've never seen a Calc book worse than this.If I had my druthers, I'd use Stewart for my class.It's not perfect, but at least my students would understand how the limit relates to the derivative, rather than have it introduced and immediately dimissed.

poor
this is one of the worst math books i've ever had - maybe even the worst, and i'm an mechanical engineering major (so i've seen a fair few)! The book doesnt explain why, it gives a few brief examples to simplified elementary problems, and then leaves the subject. When you need to look up how do to a more complicated problem, there is no example or method listed to do it.

the way to learn calculus
The book explains the material in sufficient details and supports it with easy to understand examples. Also, the exercises and assignments are of appropriate level of difficulty. Overall, I think the authors have done a great job. ... Read more

Book Description
CliffsQuickReview course guides cover the essentials of your toughest subjects. Get a firm grip on core concepts and key material, and test your newfound knowledge with review questions.

Whether you're new to limits, derivatives, and integrals or just brushing up on your knowledge of the subject, CliffsQuickReview Calculus can help. This guide covers calculus topics such as limits at infinity, differential rules, and integration by parts. You'll also tackle other concepts, including

• Differentiation of inverse trigonometric functions
• Distance, velocity, and acceleration
• Volumes of solids with known cross sections
• Extreme value theorem
• Concavity and points of inflection

With titles available for all the most popular high school and college courses, CliffsQuickReview guides are comprehensive resources that can help you get the best possible grades. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great supplement for Calc!
You must have this book if you're taking calculus. It breaks concepts down to where you can understand them. I reference this book while doing my homework.

A sip of Calculus
This book is barely a review, all it does is state the core concepts. You will neither understand nor be able to use much of what you learn to do in this book, except perhaps the limits section. I'd rather use this as a reference guide than as an outline. For a better outline which presents you with a better background before you delve deep into the topic of Calculus and explains topics and gives you an insight on the theorems, get Schaum's outline of Calculus. Otherwise, get this as a last resort.

Great Supplement to Your Thick Calc Textbook
I would not of survived Calculus I without this handy little book.For a quick review and as a study guide, you cannot beat this little book when compared to your 900 page textbook.

An excellent quick reference
I bought this slim little book when I was first taking Calculus in High School.It helped me immensely with learning and studying Calculus, and provided a great refresher come test time.Since then, I have sometimes needed a formula, and this manual has again been very useful.Calculus is one of those things you forget if you don't use it, and I was in danger of forgetting it when I took a Physics class which required a basic knowledge of Calculus.Thanks in part to this little book, I was able to brush up on the subject and be prepared for my class, though it has been several years since I first learned Calculus in High School and I have had little occasion to use it since.

This quick review will provide an excellent study guide for anyone, like myself, who doesn't use Calculus in everyday life but still doesn't want to forget it.It has definitely proved to be worth its weight in gold for me!

One of the Best Calculus Resources
I've been teaching myself Calculus using this book as one of my main resources for about a couple of months now and I am learning a lot from it.It may not help much if you need English explanations, but it is great ifyou are trying to find the bare essentials of understanding a concept orthe whole Calculus, and not a whole lot of fluff. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Borderline Worthless
This is one of the most useless textbooks I've come across in my four years as a Mathematics undergrad.

This is more of a manual than a textbook. As others mentioned, it is wholly inappropriate for self-study and frustrating even with guided study.Methods are poorly explained and the author uses difficult-to-compute integrals or derivatives to demonstrate new material.The focus of the new material is quickly forgotten while searching integral tables, frustration builds up, and learning goes down.

Problem sets require tools or methods never mentioned or demonstrated in the preceding chapters, so it is terribly easy to get stuck or spend half an hour staring at a simple problem that requires an obscure theorem from a calc course you may have taken 3 years ago.

Chapters and sections do a poor job of explaining material.I constantly found myself needing other sources when working through problem sets.Theorems and definitions may be stated factually, but should only be considered a reference.The text does not explain their usage or meaning.

I would not recommend this book for learning under any circumstance.
Vector Calculus doesn't have to be difficult, but this book makes it so.

Fool's Gold
This latest edition looks beautiful.Alas, it's more for the student who just wants to compete with other students and not for the thoughtful thinker.

Problems:
1.The text has no references!Not a single one!
2.The writing comes across as stiff and scared.As if the writers feel not quite adequate or are making every effort to make sure some smart *ss doesn't see through them (the historical references that weren't part of edition 3, but are now part of edition 5 are retarded and show the authors to be about the same)
3.There is no indication in the text that the authors really understand some of the more beautiful and useful ways of looking at vectors (for instance how to handle a vector translation of an object when u can look at the process from both a multiple vector and a single vector view; or to look at the addition of a group of vectors either in parallel [at the same time] or in series [in steps of time])

Inadequate for all purposes
This book's target audience is a little unclear. Ostensibly, this is a somewhat more rigorous treatment of multivariable calculus than a typical second-year sequence, but in fact this book is absolutely deficient as an analytical text. There are very few proofs in the book--the proofs of most theorems are relegated to an "internet supplement"--and the ones that are included are at far too low a level and fail to do what the theorems of a good text ought to do: gradually and methodically develop the topic. In some cases, such as the implicit function theorem, the statement of the theorem is just plain convoluted, apparently because the authors attempted to strike some kind of balance between being mathematically correct and working within the comfort zone of students coming out of low-level math courses.

Furthermore, nothing in the book is taught at an appropriate level of generality. For example, many "proofs" involve low-level calculations of dot products when it would be far more elegant, not to mention mathematically preferable, to use the general properties of inner product spaces instead. Many theorems and formulas are stated only for cases in which the domain is in two or three dimensions rather than working in n-dimensional vector spaces, and the complex field is essentially absent from the entire work.

So, since the book is not an analytical treatment, is it useful as a "standard" multivariable text? No. It's extremely difficult to learn the material for the first time from this book because there are numerous unexplained leaps, and examples are scarce. The exercises are useless for developing one's understanding; as other reviewers correctly noted, they frequently involve only a brief calculus setup followed by needlessly contorted algebraic operations, and students are likely to second-guess themselves when they arrive at (correct) answers that are so complicated they look wrong.

Part of the problem is that Marsden and Tromba's text is far shorter than the bulky book makes it appear. The margins, type, and spacing are outrageously generous; many pages are devoted to cute but unnecessary and often irrelevant history essays; and the pictures and figures (whose colors are badly aligned) take up huge amounts of space on the page. There is a vast amount of wasted space that could have been occupied by proofs, examples, motivation for the development of the subject, etc. It's just not worth the price of a textbook to have something with so little useful material.

Rejoice if your university made you use it!
First of all, what is this book about? It's just your regular multivariable calculus stuff, what some would have as calculus 2 (others as calculus 3).
That being said, from the standpoint of someone forced to live the horrors of another calculus 2 book, where the explanations are simplified to the point of not making any real sense, this is a *much better* book, because at least it attempts to give more detailed explanations, instead of shoving definitions. However, they don't appear to be exceptional and, in fact, some stuff is, well, condensed. I liked the rigor in the notation - very important to get used to healthy habits.
I do think it falls a little short of the Essence-Which-a-Calculus-Text-Must-Have, which is to relate the stuff to Physics and applications in a strong way. To reach that goal without dumbing down the explanations and theorems, or making the mathematics so detached from the applications that you loose the connections between the abstractions is a balance that falls upon an author to achieve. After all, Calculus was invented because of Physics (on that note, I liked McCallum's et al. Multivariable Calculus, which was taylored precisely with that aspect as one of its goals - but it's less mathematically advanced).
My guess is that there has to be a great calculus book for undergraduates out there, somewhere. I'm not sure this is it (Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Forms: A Unified Approach, by Hubbard & Hubbard seems to be getting raving reviews).
It's also very nicely illustrated. As I looked more carefully, I came to realize great care was invested in crafting the illustrations - they are a notch higher in quality and really convey imporant information - you know, just the little details, or complexity, that really make a difference (but let's not get all hyped up about it - today, any modern book is - but this is book is very nice).
So, in a nutshell, although I can't vouch for the outstanding quality of the book, my message to those that complained about this being the textbook chosen at their alma mater is: rejoice! You've got a better book than I did!

Note: this review is about the 3rd edition; have only consulted the text (i.e., did not work through the whole book in a class).

Decent
After a couple of weeks of using this textbook, I am mostly happy with it.It does a good job of explaining the material, however, it is not very concise and takes a long discussion to make a point.It is longer than necessary and contains unnecessary features.Other than that, for the money it is a good deal, and thus the four stars. ... Read more

Book Description

This text comprises Chapters 0-7 of Larson and Edwards' Calculus: An Applied Approach, 6/e. For a complete description of this text's features, refer to the entry for that text.

Customer Reviews (6)

Fast shipping
Very fast shipping. Unfortunately I ordered the wrong book so its not as much use for me lol.

Easy book
Easiest calculus book ever, wish it had thorough answers in the back of the book.

Not that helpful for trying to teach yourself
This book assumes a knowledge that not everyone will have.It has an algebra/pre-calc review section, but the review is very basic (ie what an exponent is). The problems require you to remember about negative exponents and cube roots and whatnot.

The explanation parts are very simple and the problems are much more complex.It's hard to make the connection, and the answers in the back don't explain anything.(Don't buy the solutions manual - it's not any more help.)The answers are also simplified in inconsistent ways, so it's sometimes hard to use even if you have the problem right.Calculus for Dummies was more helpful, and explains a little better.It's still not as in depth as the problems in Brief Calculus, though.

(Sidenote: I'm "trying to teach myself" because my professor is incomprensible and has illegible writing as well.)

Yeah, maybe on the cover
I used this book for my high school curiculum and will use the exact same book in my collge calc class.And I have enough experience to say that, although this book seems to be user-friendly, it is by far not.The layout is relatively simple, however is not very in depth. Additionally, this book smashes together several large topics together with very little explanation.This lack of explanation, in turn, makes some of the problems practically impossible due to the fact that you haven't seen any problems like them before.All in all forget this book, and pay attention to your instructor.

Student Friendly Text
This is a great book.It helped me pass my business calculus course. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (12)

What you really want in a math text
This is the single text you need to de-mystify calc. It's advantage is that it explains by demonstration... again and again and again... with increasing, but gradual, difficulty.

Keep in mind that most texts are pumped out by publishing houses to churn numbers and are authored by academic staff desiring a professional profile.
This REA text gives you the universal nuts and bolts of calculus without the publishing-house baggage.

One of the better calculus books
This is a pretty good calculus help book, especially if you're looking for a book that will teach you how to do a lot of problems.This book gives step-by-step solutions to the problems it presents, so if you can't figure out what the next step is, you can just glance at the solution to figure it out.

This is exactly what a math student needs, a book that gives plenty of practice problems and solutions to the problems.This book does fall short in afew areas though.It doesn't cover everything in a calculus course (especially in the later levels of calculus), and at times, the things it does cover it doesn't cover enough (like it will give only one or two examples of a certain type of problem, which isn't very helpful).And sometimes the solutions seems to simplify too much or skip a step, leaving you pondering how they from one step to the next.However, this is a problem that seems to plague all solution-type of texts.And my final complaint is that the type of font they use in this book isn't exactly asthetically pleasing.They could have use a different font or do something else to make it nicer to look at.

Overall though, this book gets 4 stars from me because it is one of the better calculus help books I have seen, even if it does have a few short comings here and there.

Forget this, if you want the best and most comprehensive TRY
THE KING OF ALL MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!

Problems in Mathematical Analysis (Hardcover)
by g. yankovsky (Translator), B. Demidovich (Author
Publisher: mir publisher; 4th Printing edition (1976)
ASIN: B000GTC2GA

This is exactly what the title says
Even if you understand the principles, the handful of problems in the average textbook are too few to really drill you on the procedures. It's a little like the difference between understanding some music theory and being able to play an instrument. Practice, for those of us who are not math prodigies, is essential. If you are willing to put in the hours and hours, this hugh collection of solved problems is well worth the price.

Step by Step
I have been out of college for 7 years.I began Grad school last quarter.This book gave me the basic steps to relearn and remember Calculus.It takes you through each kind of problem without skipping steps or assuming you already know what you are doing.A big crutch for understanding single and multivariable calculus.-I passed the placement exam and then used the book to assist in other engineering classes. ... Read more

Book Description
Both Calculus AB and Calculus BC are covered in this comprehensive AP test preparation manual. Prospective test takers will find four practice exams in Calculus AB and four more in Calculus BC, with all questions answered and explained. The manual also provides a detailed10-chapter review covering topics for both exams. Students who purchase this version of the manual, with its enclosed CD-ROM, will get two additional practice tests, one in Calculus AB, and the other in Calculus BC. Tests on the CD-ROM come with answers explained and automatic scoring of the multiple-choice questions. The authors also offer an overview of the AP Calculus exams, which includes good advice to students on making best use of their graphing calculator. ... Read more

Book Description
Stewart's CALCULUS: CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS, Third Edition offers a streamlined approach to teaching calculus, focusing on major concepts and supporting those with precise definitions, patient explanations, and carefully graded problems. CALCULUS: CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS is highly regarded because it has successfully brought peace to departments that were split between reform and traditional approaches to teaching calculus. Not only does the text help reconcile the two schools of thought by skillfully merging the best of traditional calculus with the best of the reform movement, it does so with innovation and meticulous accuracy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Only buy it if you are taking the class.
Its a great math book but I quickly sold the book as I can't pass calculus.

Poor

I taught this class with this book several times, and it makes the material more difficult. It is one of the poorest textbooks available for this class.

It's actually worth the huge price tag
I was turned on to Stewart through his excellent multivariable calculus text. Having been so impressed by that book I decided to fork out the bucks for the this text. Yea - I know - the material in this text is a pre-requisite to the other but I own a kazillion mathematics books and at this point in my life, I've been through various levels of Calc so many times that order is irrelevent. Anyway, for me, this book is really worth the huge price tag. I frequently open it up and read it for pleasure. Sick, huh? But it's that good! Stewart is great at chosing examples to work out fully for your eddification. He also is great at selecting interesting and illustrative problems that aren't presumptuous of the student's abilities at clairvoyance (unlike some other textbook authors I could mention). Lastly, the everything about this book reeks of quality: from the mathematical content (btw - it has excellent graphics!) and Stewart's obvious underlying teaching abilities to the physical characteristics of the binding and page materials. The book is a jewell.

Well, I could go on but you probably get the idea. I wish J. Stewart would do a textbook of similar quality on Linear Algebra or better yet, Differential Geometry! That would really destroy the myth that money can't buy happiness.

Good Calculus Book
I've learned calculus long time ago, but recently I need it to read a financial book.This book worked for me.I am surprised to know that calculus is easy due to the book's step by step explanation.This book is good not only for readers who learn calculus for the first time but also for poeple who have some experiences.Depneding on your level and purpose, you can read this book like a novel or do all exercises.Only problem I can think of is that this book may not be suitable for people who need to learn pure mathmatics because definitions are not so strict.

good
I received my item wihtin a week of my purchase. I recommed to buy books from this seller ... Read more

Book Description

Includes solutions to all odd-numbered text exercises in Chapters 1-11.

Customer Reviews (6)

Great!
This book saved me on the extreme amount of problems we had to do. w00t

Solved my problems
This is well worth the $$ if you know your trig and algebra.It doesn't have all the steps but helps me see the solution and ultimately my mistake!If you don't know your trig and algebra get the book and review your stuff that you know you should know!

The Solution for Calculus review
Amazon did a good job on getting the solutions quide to me before class started and it was in great condition.I strongly recomend the Solution Guide for any one using the Calculus book by Ron Larson, even though the answers are in the back of the book knowing how you get the answer is more important.You do not get every question but you at least get every odd number in the book.The solutions show the step by step procces and even give you some of proofing why they chose that way to solve the problem.

Not a good study guide
The Text book is great and the problems are fun. Unfortunately with the volume of problems that need to be solved and practice the study guide is needed.This study guide is essentially a glorifyed answer key that is found int he back of the book. I found the study guide to be a major disappointment, very thin, eliminated key steps and did not agree with the form of the answers some of the final solutions.

This is volume 2.
Larson and company does a great job in their books, which is why so many schools have begun to use his text books.I find it very easy to understand once I do more problems, however, you need the solutions and study guide for the problems worked out to all the questions.This page is really for volume 2 of the study and solutions guide.I figured that out after ordering several of the volume 2 books.That was frusterating.The picture you see clearly states volume 1. ... Read more

Book Description
Polynomials, functions, and trig, oh my!

From the author of two bestselling Complete Idiot’s Guides‚ comes a book aimed at high school and college students who need course help or a brush-up. It follows a standard precalculus curriculum, includes sample problems, and will help students make sense of their textbooks. Difficult topics, such as quadratic equations, logarithms, graphing trig functions, and matrix operations are presented with W. Michael Kelley’s signature wit and wisdom.
• College enrollment is projected to increase 23% between 2000 and 2013
• According to figures released by ACT Inc., nearly 75% of all college-bound students take precalculus or calculus in high school
• Author is an award-winning math teacher recognized for his ability to make intimidating math topics approachable for even the most terrified students
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

nice supplement
Very helpful in giving additional examples to students in pre-calculus.Examples are easy to understand.

Absolutely essential
Don't even think of starting calculus unless you have read this book.Even in the best of educations there is always something that remains uncertain and this book will clear those things up.Don't leave home without it!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Precalculus
This book is worth its weight in gold. However, it is not a substitute for a complete textbook. Mr. Kelley has a gift. He makes algebra and trigonometry easy to understand. My students rave about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Precalculus. Regardless of your ability level this book will significantly increase your insight and understanding. Many teachers can do precalculus. There are not a lot of teachers who are good at explaining precalculus. W Michael Kelley is great. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Precalculus is so good I felt compelled to write this review. You will cherish the book.

easilyunderstood
The author accomplishes what he sets out to do,to make precalculus easily understandable. The humerous tone of the book makes for a relaxed atmosphere in which to learn. Whether approaching the subject matter for the first time,or just becoming reacquainted , this is a worthy addition to your library

A review, not a teaching
This book is a good review of precalculus math, but I don't recommend it for someone who needs to re-learn the subjects. It has few problems, and no examples of practical uses for the techniques. ... Read more

Book Description
Quick Calculus 2nd Edition A Self-Teaching Guide Calculus is essential for understanding subjects ranging from physics and chemistry to economics and ecology. Nevertheless, countless students and others who need quantitative skills limit their futures by avoiding this subject like the plague. Maybe that's why the first edition of this self-teaching guide sold over 250,000 copies. Quick Calculus, Second Edition continues to teach the elementary techniques of differential and integral calculus quickly and painlessly. Your "calculus anxiety" will rapidly disappear as you work at your own pace on a series of carefully selected work problems. Each correct answer to a work problem leads to new material, while an incorrect response is followed by additional explanations and reviews. This updated edition incorporates the use of calculators and features more applications and examples. "…makes it possible for a person to delve into the mystery of calculus without being mystified." —Physics Teacher ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A classic still in print for good reasons
Like many of the other reviewers, this book was invaluable for me at an earlier time. It teaches in small, digestable bites, and provides reinforcement of what it teaches. A person MIGHT do as well with a conventional problem book, but only with a great deal of discipline.

Great refresher book
This is a great book for refreshing your knowledge of basic calc.It is very fast to go over. It teaches by using problem examples with increasing difficulty.There is very little repetition, and each concept or type of problem is only in the book once and possibly twice at most.That said, I would not recomend this for someone that has never taken any calculus in their life.

Otherwise, I covered log functions, and derivatives in only a couple hours with great comprehension!

Quick read, easy to follow
This book has helped me review my calculus that has long been forgotten.It starts with review of algebra, trigonometry, and pre-calc material.Then dives into single variable derivatives and integrals. I don't think there is any multi-variable calculus.

excellent overview of the basics
I used this book to prepare for some graduate work in geosciences. I found that it was an excellent text for getting up to speed and comfortable with single variable calculus. However, the coverage of multivariable calculus is very basic. There is no vector calculus, grad, curl, etc. So this will get you started, but for most applications you will still have a long way to go.

A quick fix for mathphobes
I used the 1st edition of this book to prepare myself to take courses in chemical thermodynamics, kinetics and electrochemistry in 1979 after I began my Ph.D. program in Geology at Michigan State University.I had taken one college course in calculus eight years prior and did not perform well.The book is well named, I was "quickly" up to a level where I had no problem with the math in physical chemistry, and I did quite well in these courses. I found myself wondering why calculus had been so "hard" as an undergraduate as it certainly was not presented in a difficult manner in "Quick Calculus".Now, many years later with 6 years in industry and more than 17 years experience teaching at the university level, I am of the opinion that most math faculty in universities simply are very poor teachers of mathematics.It is significant that the authors of this fine book are both physicists (one a Noble Prize winner).This is as it should be because the calculus was invented, more than 300 years ago, specifically to solve very applied problems in the physical sciences.I would not expect such a book as "Quick Calculus" from a pure mathematician.I have recommended the book to numerous students who needed a review of calculus, or who, like me, failed to learn it the first time in their university courses.In fact I just recommended it to a student today and was checking to see if the book was available at Amazon, and decided to write this review. ... Read more

Book Description

Perfect for those afraid of calculus, this book offers an innovative, three-step process for solving almost any kind of basic calculus problem. By unifying coverage and emphasizing similarities across a spectrum of calculus problems, it succeeds in simplifying the subject by providing a conceptual framework. Learning takes place in a comprehensive way, not in unrelated fragments. Numerous illustrations and examples further simplify and illuminate the concepts.

Customer Reviews (3)

Boring
This book won't make you want to learn calculus because it's more boring than most textbooks. Extra explanations of concepts are always helpful, but you get explanations with every calculus book, so don't think that this book is something special.

Quickly guide to understand Calculus
Understanding Calculus is a esay and quick way to review and learn the hard topics in that course.The author uses a simply manner to explain the exercises and the theorems discuss.

Clear, simple theory
This book explains the theory of differential and some integral calculus.There are worked problems, but I mostly ignored them in favor of the raw concept discussion.

I read the book in the summer before my university Calc I class, and it seemed to make everything fit together much more quickly for me than most other students in the class.The book may not be as valuable as others for review, however.

Highly recommended reading before you start a calculus adventure.One of the clearest explanations of calculus theory that I've ever seen.A few hours a week with this book in the summer will save you months of frustration during a hectic semester. ... Read more

Book Description
Written by acclaimed author and mathematician George Simmons, this revision is designed for the calculus course offered in two and four year colleges and universities.It takes an intuitive approach to calculus and focuses on the application of methods to real-world problems.Throughout the text, calculus is treated as a problem solving science of immense capability. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

piece of art
This book virtually made me love mathemathics. It's a book with an unique set of features in it's appendix, and the writing style of the author is almost like you are actually reading a great novel about calculus.

The Oasis
I have a big, dirty secret:I needed three tries to get through calculus.Needless to say, I went through (or at least started) three calculus books.The third of these was Simmons' first edition of the current volume.Dr. Simmons takes a historical approach to the material, following discovery after discovery.While today we define the derivative in terms of the limit, this definition (and the delta-epsilon proof machinery beneath the limit concept) came after the geometric notion of the tangent of a curve.I found it enormously helpful to know where I was going before I started.And why not?The great mathematicians that built the rigorous foundations beneath the calculus all knew where they had to end up.

One other topic that Dr. Simmons enjoys is arithmetic series.This topic unfolded like a flower during its presentation.As I moved into computer science, this provided valuable background to some of the iterative methods of calculation I was exposed to.

I might have a different perspective, though; George Simmons was my Calc 2 prof :-)

solid calc book
This book is perfect if you are looking for a book that has a nice balance between theory and application.Theory is presented on an as-needed basis and there is more in the appendix if the reader is so inclined.This was an excellent book for me my freshman year and it has been a good reference for me throughout my math career.It is a nice stepping stone on the way to spivak.

Not Helpful in the Least
Another MIT student here... unfortunately not all calc. classes at MIT has stopped using this book. As a result the majority of our class is hopelessly lost... and this is at MIT!!!... now that's a testament to how bad the book is... Things aren't explained well, the examples have nothing to do with the actual problems, and without the "space wasting" graphics that so many other books have it's difficult to visualize what Simmons is talking about, and despite popular opinion visualizing what you are doing is very important to calculus. I'm relying on my HS calc book to get me through the course.

Best! ~ Best! ~ Best!
It definitly helps one who want to master Calculus or join the Calculus competiton of any kinds.

It better than "Calculus With Analytic Geometry, Seventh Edition" for it give you some useful appendixs and very simplify than it. It does not includ differential equation for as the author said that it is not useful when there is a full course on differential equation!!! ... Read more

Book Description
Designed for the freshman/sophomore Calculus I-II-III sequence, the eighth edition continues to evolve to fulfill the needs of a changing market by providing flexible solutions to teaching and learning needs of all kinds. The new edition retains the strengths of earlier editions such as Anton's trademark clarity of exposition, sound mathematics, excellent exercises and examples, and appropriate level. Anton also incorporates new ideas that have withstood the objective scrutiny of many skilled and thoughtful instructors and their students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very difficult book to understand and made me dislike Calculus.
The primary problem with this book is it does not explain the concept using more then a cryptic 1/2 page of text.It then proceeds to bombard you with examples that make virtually no sense because you will most likely not fully understand the concept.This method is repeated over and over again.

I also had the impression that the example problems were overly complex and instead of demonstrating the concept being taught, they added unnecessary complexity for complexity sake.

I am a fan of the building block method of learning where you keep a subject simple until it is mastered and then you build upon it.This book does not follow that process.

Lastly, if you are purchasing this book I would recommend you try to find other sources from your local library to reinforce your learning.

Textbook and Solution Manual Suck
I think the text is hard to understand and the solution manual's answers are not worked out and are identical to the answers in the back of the textbook.Don't buy the solution manual!Not worth it!

I read the text from page to page because I have a bad professor who can't teach and can't speak English.He knows his stuff, but he can't teach so if you happen to be in my shoes with bad teacher and bad book,
I say 'screw' the class and take it another time!The text is difficult to understand.

Buy the solutions manual
Every concept is presented first in very obtuse symbology and proofs. You have to wade past that to the examples to see what is actually being said. This book was written first to impress other calculus professors. The proofs come in handy as examples when you have to write proofs, but they should not come first when explaining a new concept. I want to learn how to do something first, and then, having mastered the how, I have some frame of reference to help me understand the "why". I had to supplement the book material by foraging around the web for more examples and explanations.

There are also too few practical suggestions on strategy. Every once in awhile there is a little blue box with some tips in it, but they are terse. There are no strategy examples showing a problem and then explaining how one integration technique is much better/easier for that problem type than another.

If I had it to do over again I would have bought the solutions manual. If you get one wrong, it is often difficult to tell from the book answer what the process for arriving at the solution was. There are too few examples in the text.

Not the worst, but aggravating at times
I used this book for a three semester Calculus regimen.At times, during Calc I, I wanted to throw it out the window; the material was sometimes presented in poor order (related rates introduced before implicit differentiation -- talk about confusing?!) and important concepts were even introduced in the homework sections.I survived the class, though, and found the rest of the book much more helpful for Calc II and III.On the whole, it was a pretty good book.

The book does contain a few errors and misprints which is something I find almost unforgivable for an 8th edition textbook.Furthermore, the solutions manual often skipped far too many steps.

Finally, I continue to find the book a helpful reference when I need a refresher, and have grown to like it more as time passes.I'd still recommend a Larson text over this one, though. ... Read more

Book Description
Written by James Stewart, this manual contains detailed solutions to the odd-numbered exercises in each chapter section, review section, and True-False Quiz. Also includes solutions to all Concept Check questions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must Buy !!!!
If you want to pass your Calculus class, then buy the solution manual to the textbook. That seems like common sense but some students question whether or not they need it, or would rather pocket the extra $30. Big mistake, even if you are a math genius, which I'm not and never will be. This book not only shows you the answers to the odd problems but it goes through each step by step. ... Read more

Book Description
This ingenious, user-friendly introduction to calculus recounts adventures that take place in the mythical land of Carmorra. As the story's narrator meets Carmorra's citizens, they confront a series of practical problems, and their method of working out solutions employs calculus. As readers follow their adventures, they are introduced to calculating derivatives; finding maximum and minimum points with derivatives; determining derivatives of trigonometric functions; discovering and using integrals; working with logarithms, exponential functions, vectors, and Taylor series; using differential equations; and much more. This introduction to calculus presents exercises at the end of each chapter and gives their answers at the back of the book. Step-by-step worksheets with answers are included in the chapters. Computers are used for numerical integration andother tasks. The book also includes graphs, charts, and whimsical line illustrations. Barron's Easy Way books introduce a variety of academic and practical subjects to students and general readers in clear, understandable language. Ideal as self-teaching manuals for readers interested in learning a new career-related skill, these books have also found widespread classroom use as supplementary texts and brush-up test-preparation guides. Subject heads and key phrases that need to be learned are set in a second color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Is this a math book or a novel??
Boy do I hate this book.I hardly know where to begin in explaining why I think this book is terrible despite the high ratings people seem to give it.

I assume that most people buy help books for the same reasons that I do.Either you want a book that will compliment your class or school text, or you want a book that you can use as a reference so that you can look up information pretty easily whenever you run into something not adequately covered by your notes or textbook.Unfortunately, this book fails miserably at both.

First of all, this book is written in the format of a novel.That's right, a calculus help book that is written in story book format.Well, okay, that part, though weird, isn't necessarily the problem.The problem occurs when you try to look up information.For example, say you're having trouble understanding definite integrals and you want to use this book to help clear up some of the confusion.Well, normally with most books of this type, you could just flip to that section and take a look at some solved examples to figure out how to do that problem.But not in this book.Instead, you'll be reading about some fantasy land characters who live in some fictional land who are trying to figure out how to do definite integrals themselves in order to dispell some evil threat that is haunting them at the current moment.It becomes really frustrating when you're reading about some fantasy-land characters and their daily lives when you're pressed for time and all you want to do is get some calculus concept down before your next big test.

Another problem I have with this book is the few example problems it has (and I mean the FEW) are ridiculously easy.It seems to me that the author was more worried about writing a novel and developing the on going story than he was about actually putting in practice problems and worked example problems into the book... I guess that just would have made too much sense.

If this weren't all bad enough, it's just that the fact that most "Easy Way" books aren't like this at all.Most of them cut straight to the chase and don't make you read through some stupid fictional story just because you wanted to look something up.Half the time when I want to look up some calculus concept, I'm not sure if I can just skip to that concept, or if I will be missing some key information because I didn't feel like reading the story from the beginning.

Usually no matter how crappy a book I have, I can usually find something that the book came in handy for.However, I can honestly say that I didn't find anything useful in this book.I am currently finishing up calculus 3, and not once out of my entire time in calculus did I ever rely on this book for anything, (it only took me about 3 days to figure out that this book was junk), instead, I have used REA's Calculus Problem Solver, and Schaum's Outline of Calculus, which are both FAR superior books to this overpriced piece of junk.I almost just want to ask the author what he was even thinking when he decided to make a help book like this.It might have turned out to be a pretty decent book if it was an actual help book that could be used as a reference.Instead, it is a novel with that happens to have characters who use calculus to ward off some evils that plague their land.What was the author thinking?Worse yet, how in the world was anyone allowed to cut down a tree to print this book?What a waste.

If you want a calculus help book, I suggest checking out the Schaum's or REA books.If you want some fantasy land novel... well... still don't get this book... it sucks even at that, get Harry Potter or the Narnia books.

Best Book to Learn or Review Calculus Period
If you want to learn what really matters, enjoy learning it, and remember what you learn buy this book.I am a doctoral engineering student.I first learned calculus from this book many years ago (I used it to teach myself before I entered college).The strong and intuitive grasp of the subject gained from this book has enabled me to succeed at all levels of math.Sure, later you will want more advanced books -- but those are common.This book is unique and exceptional.

By the way, the other books by this author are also excellent.

Refreshing and helpful method
A cute story line to keep the student's interest and give them problems with application. Knowing the reason something is important is half the battle of the desire to learn. It is an interesting approach that makes learning part of an interesting puzzle to be solved.Combines the learn-by-discovery and learn-by-adventure method in an original and fun format.

Review by former scientist
My early formal education was in biology and later I attended graduate school for biochemistry.Along the way, I took classical physics, quantum physics and many other classes that required calculus.I was also a teaching fellow at a university and taught high school math, so I feel I can recognize a good text when I see one.

This particular book is unique in that it presents calculus within the context of a story and uses problems that come up in the storyline as teaching devices for important concepts.This makes the book very engaging and shows how calculus can be applied to different types of problems.

I also liked the balance betweeen theory and problem solving.In the past, I have found that some books focus on the theory and tell me more than I wanted to know.Others just threw problems at me without adequately explaining important theoretical concepts.I feel this book balances the two very nicely.

While it is true that this book does not contain a lot of advanced topics or develop theories as much as others, it does teach you the "must know" concepts quickly and gets you to understand how to apply what you learn.I'm glad I knew about it in graduate school, especially when I was studying physical chemistry.If I didn't, I'm sure it would have been a much more painful process.

Lastly, higher mathematics DOES NOT come very naturally to me.This was a helpful tool for someone like me and is likely to be for you if you are at all intimidated by difficult mathematical concepts.

A great teacher
I had a teacher in high school AP calculus who came into class, wrote the assignments on the board, and sat down and punched holes in paper while we had to read the textbook ourselves and figure out Calculus.Needless to say, it wasn't the best way to learn, except that it forced us to try to learn it ourselves.At some point I felt really lost, so I went to the bookstore and bought this book, and worked through it on my own, more out of interest in the fairy tale than the formulas.Toward the end of the school year, we had an academic competition, and with pretty much the knowledge from this book, I qualified with a superior rating on my exam for the state level competition.I highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling with calculus and needs something more concrete to make sense of all the weird symbols and abstract formulas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great company for the calculus book
1-. This book only shows the odd numbered exercise. The answers shows every step, and some answer have explanations of how the writer got it.

2-. The Solution manual have around 597 pages, and covers the whole book chapters 1-16.

I hope is a good company for my calculus class, since I have to take it until I reach calculus III.

DON'T BUY IF YOU THINK THIS IS THE BOOK
As the amazon description has it, it would be assumed this is the paperback text book but actually this is the solution's manual.At least it was for me. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Incredibly Suprised.
This book was required for a course I took in real-number (non-trig) Calculus.Now, my philosophy about math, is that no teacher can teach you math.It's the only subject that you really MUST learn on your own.This book makes this work simple.The problems and examples are usually of similar difficulty and anyone with a good background in basic college algebra should be able to fly through this thing.It made me become unafraid of calculus enough that I bought more advanced texts and began to teach myself out of those too.For awakening a love for math I never knew I had, I have to give this book 5 stars.

As for complaints, I have none.The book is organized incredibly well, and if you're rusty in college algebra, the 7 section review pulls you online with everything you'll need to know for the rest of the book.

The applied examples are varied and don't go out into left field from the pure problems;they don't expect you to put together something in a way you haven't seen before.

Calculus with Applications (8th Edition)
Having taught this material at the community college level for over 15 years, I find this to be one of the best texts we have used. As always, materials from a Lial book are easily understood. Futhermore, the authors have not lost contact with all rigor as in somemath books intended for liberal arts usage. For example, the fact that a critical number can occur at an undefined value of the derivative, butonly if the function itself is defined at that value, is fully explained.

My friend and teacher.
Man, I have no idea where to begin. So let me start of by stating my mathematical background before I picked up this book. Before I picked up this book, I was fairly good with algebra but not very good at pre-calculus because all I knew about pre-calculus was that there are parabolas, but I knew very small trigonometry, statistics, series, and some other parts of pre-calculus. Anyway, so here I am in my last year of high school, a very terrible high school, with very small knowledge of mathematics, and I really want to see what the big fuss was with Calculus. So I decided to find some books on Calculus. My first three books on Calculus were very hard to follow along with. They were all textbooks, and one of them I bought. So I decided to sacrifice my $150.00 and buy this book from www.aw.com. When I first picked up this book, I had a hard time following along with the pre-calculus material, so I skipped them. I went into Limits and beyond. I understood every thing to my surprise, but when I got to the parts with Logs and Calculus, I went back to the pre-calculus section, and to my surprise, I understood it this time. Therefore, this book opened my mind. It allowed me to understand things I could not before by explaining the complicated subjects in a very easy to follow matter. I am in my first year of college taking Calculus I and I passed every test with a 50/50 except for one that I missed because of a negative sign, finding the equation of the tangent line to a given function. Anyway, I would recommend this book very much to anyone who wants to learn Calculus. I am very proud of what I got out of this book. This book in fact, made me a calculus teacher in a small way because I now tutor kids who are struggling with Calculus.

P.S. This book is teaches material equivalent to Calculus III.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Explanations too brief, no good solutions manual
The explanations are far to dense with too few explanations. I am a pretty good studier but every section quiz left me scrambling bac to the text part to figure out how we were to work out the problem. The bood would do well with more examples, discussions of tricks used to solve problems, etc.
Desperately needs a good solutions manual. The one that is on the market is only a smattering of problems, little discussion of the problems, and not updated to current edition. ... Read more

Book Description

Designed for the two-semester Applied Calculus course, this graphing calculator-dependent text uses an innovative approach that includes real-life applications and technology such as graphing utilities and Excel spreadsheets to help students learn mathematical skills that they will draw on in their lives and careers. The text also caters to different learning styles by presenting concepts in a variety of forms, including algebraic, graphical, numeric, and verbal.

Targeted toward students majoring in business economics, liberal arts, management and the life & social sciences, Calculus Concepts, 4/e uses real data and situations to help student