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Title: Precalculus : Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-ROM)
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Manufacturer: Brooks Cole
List Price: $152.95
Our Price: $90.00
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| Customer Reviews: |
| Precalculus : Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-ROM) by Brooks Cole How many errors is too many? |
| This and the student guide have enough errors in the solutions that it'll have you questioning your work. Thank goodness for a patient professor (and I'm an A student). The sections don't cover very well the material in the questions at the end of the chapter. It is written a little better than the Algebra book by the same authors but if this can be avoided, avoid it. My own professor doesnt teach out of it, just assigns work from the end of the chapters...thats how bad it is. |
| Precalculus : Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-ROM) by Brooks Cole Precalculus: Matheatics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-rom) |
| I have never used the CD, but the book is okay. If you are going to take calculus in the future than you should get a cheaper precalculus book and save some money. This is essentially the same as the 4th edition, except the price tag. Only get if you absolutely must for a class. |
| Precalculus : Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-ROM) by Brooks Cole Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Ed (w/CD-Rom) |
| This product was everything that it promised to be. I will continue to order from amazon. |
| Precalculus : Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-ROM) by Brooks Cole Alright but not great |
| There are tons of textbooks on Precalculus like this one out there. Larson's is just another equally good textbook on the subject of calculus and Precalculus. However, I see no much uniqueness and innovations in any of the calculus books like this type. Richard Feynman, one of America's greatest physicists, once said most of the popular textbooks (on physics) were somewhat mediocre. I would recommend those who are aspired for an austere treatment of elementary mathematics, ie, pre-calculus and beginning calculus, to go for the book High-school mathematics by some Russian mathematicians. ISBN: 5030010114 This series is just so comprehensive with lucid explanations that every high school math teacher should take a look at it. It's both fun and benefitial to read books on math translated from another language. |
| Precalculus : Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-ROM) by Brooks Cole One of the top two precalculus texts available |
There is a mind-numbing sameness to precalculus and calculus textbooks, and this book is more of the same. The coverage starts with real numbers, exponents, expressions and solving equations. The basic principles of functions, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, solving systems of equations, sequences, series, counting and probability, analytic geometry and limits follow this. I personally can do without the chapter on limits, when I teach precalculus, I am hard pressed to cover the other material. There is plenty of time to cover limits in calculus and it provides a better context. There are a large number of exercises at the end of each section and solutions to the odd-numbered ones are included in an appendix. As appears to be the case with many books, some of the exercises could have been left out with no decline in quality. At times I suspect there is the mathematical equivalent of an "arms race" to see how many exercises can be included at the end of a chapter.
The previous paragraph could be used to describe nearly every precalculus text on the planet, so it fits into the category of obvious, but necessary. Therefore, the key point is what makes this book different from the competition. The answer is not much. The approach is the standard statement of the new material followed by a series of worked examples, which is also the fundamental strategy used in all lower level math books. Short biographical asides of some of the major historical figures in mathematics are interjected on a regular basis. I like that, but wonder how often the students read them. What is different about this book is that the quality of the writing is somewhat better than most. In a field where there is very little to differentiate the texts, that is enough to make me rank this book in the top two precalculus books that are available.
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| Precalculus : Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-ROM) by Brooks Cole Product Description |
| This best selling author team explains concepts simply and clearly, without glossing over difficult points. Problem solving and mathematical modeling are introduced early and reinforced throughout, so that when students finish the course, they have a solid foundation in the principles of mathematical thinking. This comprehensive, evenly paced book provides complete coverage of the function concept and integrates substantial graphing calculator materials that help students develop insight into mathematical ideas. The authors' attention to detail and clarity, as in James Stewart's market-leading Calculus text, is what makes this text the market leader. |
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