Good, close to best choice for a two-semester calculus choice

books:


	• Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions Ron Larson, Robert P. Hostetler, ... Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006 - 1138 pages average customer review:based on 4 reviews view larger image
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Good, close to best choice for a two-semester calculus choice

As an instructor at a small college, I am called on to teach nearly every course in the math and computer science departments. Therefore, my reasons for examining this book were to determine the suitability as a text for our calculus courses. In that regard, I found it suitable for a two-course sequence in beginning calculus.
Compared to nearly all other texts, it is quite short, on the order of 500 pages. Therefore, it does not contain enough material for a three-course sequence. The coverage is basic differentiation and integration with a final section that is an introduction to differential equations. Exercises with solutions to odd-numbered ones are included. The following is a list of positive features of this book:

*) Very little time is spent in the review of precalculus topics. In my opinion, using a lot of ink to review mathematical basics is a waste of ink. If the students don't have it by now, they shouldn't be in the course.
*) Very little time is spent in "using technology" sections. Some books try to do the Mathematica, Maple and Excel triad, showing how to solve problems using all three. While I recognize the value of technology, I also know that learning the concepts of calculus is challenging enough without throwing in the technology. If you know the calculus concepts, learning the technology is easy, but if you don't know the calculus, then the technology is of little value.
*) Proofs of selected theorems are included in an appendix. This allows instructors to pick and choose which proofs to cover and which to leave out. One criticism I have leveled against other calculus books is that proofs of the major concepts are not included. My approach is that while not all proofs should be examined, there are times when a proof should be presented and thoroughly dissected. Even though many of the calculus students will not go on in math, calculus is still a math course and math is based on proofs.
*) Several worked examples are included when every new concept is introduced.

At this point, I consider this the best calculus text available if all you are interested in is a book for a two-course sequence. However, if you would prefer one text for the standard three-course sequence, then you will have to look elsewhere.

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Excellent

I ordered the book a late Tuesday night and I received it Friday afternoon with expediated services. The exchange of the book and money went extremely well. Book Kube was very helpful and nice in sending me an e-mail about when the book was shipped, by what company and about when he thought it would arrive. Overall, I would work with Bookkube again and purchase items from Amazon.com!!!!!!

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Wonderful

I love this calculus book. I transfered colleges once and ended up using Larson's at one and Stewart's at the other. In addition, I had to TA a course with Stewart's. I have to say that I think Larson's is more for geared to the Engineers and Science than Stewart's. However, I still think Larson's book works so much better on all majors at introducing Calculus to students that are new to college and have little background in theory. This is not a theory book. However, if the student is in the math field he will have plenty of time in his analysis series to learn all the theory.
The one part that this book and Stewart's book lack is where theory is needed more, Vector Calculus. For this part, I always recommend (and am trying to get the department to make standard) is Vector Calculus by Marsden.

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Designed for the three-semester engineering calculus course, Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions, 4/e, continues to offer instructors and students innovative teaching and learning resources. Two primary objectives guided the authors in the revision of this book: to develop precise, readable materials for students that clearly define and demonstrate concepts and rules of calculus; and to design comprehensive teaching resources for instructors that employ proven pedagogical techniques and save time. The Larson/Hostetler/Edwards Calculus program offers a solution to address the needs of any calculus course and any level of calculus student.

Every edition from the first to the fourth of Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions, 4/e has made the mastery of traditional calculus skills a priority, while embracing the best features of new technology and, when appropriate, calculus reform ideas. Now, the Fourth Edition is part of the first calculus program to offer algorithmic homework and testing created in Maple so that answers can be evaluated with complete mathematical accuracy.

Exercise sets have been carefully examined and revised to ensure they cover all calculus topics appropriately. Many new exercises have been added.A variety of exercise types are included in each exercise set. Questions involving skills, writing, critical thinking, problem-solving, applications, and real-data applications are included throughout the text. Exercises are presented in a variety of question formats, including matching, free response, true/false, modeling, and fill-in the blank.Putnam Exam Questions?taken from the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition?offer challenging problems that often require students to look for creative solutions; Graphical Analysis exercises offer the opportunity to analyze graphs; Think About It exercises require students to use critical reasoning skills to explore the intricacies of calculus.Explanations, theorems, and definitions in the text have been thoroughly reviewed to ensure the text is mathematically precise and easily comprehensible.Clear, multi-step examples with worked-out solutions help students learn difficult mathematical concepts. Examples correspond to the exercises, serving as a supportive reference for students. This is the only text on the market where every example, proof, and explanation begins and ends on the same page.Explorations help students develop their intuitive understanding of calculus concepts. These optional activities are short enough to integrate into class, but they can also be omitted without loss of continuity.Theorem boxes clearly explain important mathematical concepts.The Integrated Learning System resources are available in print, CD-ROM, and online formats.Eduspace, powered by Blackboard, Houghton Mifflin's online learning tool, offers your students quality online homework, tutorials, multimedia, and testing that correspond to the Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions text. This content is paired with the course management tools of Blackboard. In addition, eSolutions, the complete solutions to the odd-numbered text exercises, provides students with a convenient and comprehensive way to do homework and view the course materials.SMARTHINKING online tutoring brings students real-time, online tutorial support when they need it most.

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