Calculus Author: Ron Larson | Language: English | ISBN:
0547167024 | Format: PDF
Calculus Description
The Larson CALCULUS program has a long history of innovation in the calculus market. It has been widely praised by a generation of students and professors for its solid and effective pedagogy that addresses the needs of a broad range of teaching and learning styles and environments. Each title is just one component in a comprehensive calculus course program that carefully integrates and coordinates print, media, and technology products for successful teaching and learning.
- Hardcover: 1328 pages
- Publisher: Cengage Learning; 9 edition (January 16, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0547167024
- ISBN-13: 978-0547167022
- Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.6 x 2 inches
- Shipping Weight: 6.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Calculus by Larson,Hostetler, Edwards book was the series of books I used in my undergraduate Calc 1-3 classes.
Quick Summary:
Pros: Good number of exercises, *some* good examples, lots of illustrations, lots of good guidelines and formula sheets.
Cons: Some not-so-great examples, some examples *should* add more algebra steps, 3 editions in 7 years necessary, cost of book-per-class versus 3-set volume is absurd.
Full Review:
All in all I think this book was pretty good through the year and a half run I had for calculus 1-3, and the last two-three years since then when I have tutored the subjects.
If you need a book with a TON of good exercise sets, this book works well. There's A LOT of problems in each section, and most of the time the instructions clearly state what needs to be done, and what concept is being used. There are times that notation or instructions seem a bit obfuscated, however infrequent it may be.
As for examples... most examples are good if you have a firm grasp of algebraic skills. Unfortunately, if you are rusty or not on par with your algebra, many examples can seem painful to understand or navigate. They don't always mention what algebra trick is used, unless the specific section mandates heavy algebra (like the section for Partial Fraction Decomposition as a tool for Integration). This is probably most troubling in the first couple of chapters, since solving most limits involve quite the few algebra tricks. There should at least be a section devoted to an algebra review.
One great pro about the book is that there are plenty of guidelines and formula sheets found in it.
This review is done from the perspective of one who is either learning or teaching Calculus II and Calculus III. In this volume, Larson and Edwards have laid out elaborate examples in terms of how applications of the integral are carried out. Accompanied with WebAssign, the text information provides three-dimensional modeling such as the highly-enhanced computer graphics that enable one to see how space is occupied not just in the Cartesian (x-y) plane but also the surfaces that require x-y-z coordinates as well as those that entail cylindrical and spherical objects. For instance, in providing examples of the shell method or the method of disks, the instructor can give students an animated visual of the physical attributes described. Those engaged can see the apparatus from virtually all angles, including top view, bottom view, side view, etc. For one from the "old school", this is quite an advancement from the attempted chalkboard drawings of yesteryear; though often reliable, this learning tool could only be displayed on a two-dimensional surface, thus leaving too much to the imagination in regard to the remaining dimension which could not, at the time, be adequately illustrated.
Along with the advantages of the computer software, the exercises contained are numerous and well segued from one mastery level to the next. Having already taught Calculus from other references, I can argue that the changes from topic to topic or problem to problem are better transitioned in the 9th edition of Larson and Edwards than they are in other books.
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