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Precalculus: Functions and Graphs
The Seventh Edition of this respected text--part of the Swokowski/Cole series of mathematics texts--features improved explanations of more difficult concepts and includes step-by-step comments on the solutions of the examples to help student understanding while maintaining mathematical rigor. Graphing calculator exercises and examples are also included throughout the text, wherever they are appropriate for the material.
749 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2004
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January 24, 2021
I had some trouble with this book, compounded by my tendency to space off in class. Even when I succeeded in keeping my admittedly sub-par attention on the professor, the material was not particularly clear. On further examination, and with more experience dealing with math texts, the biggest problem seems to stem from it trying to be both a proof-based and example-based text at the same time, while doing neither well. Therefore, as a teaching aid it is difficult to use.
This said, the solutions manual is one of the best I've used. The shock when I started Calc I, which used a text with an average sm, was fairly comical. Only in hindsight, though.
If you buy the solutions manual, the text works adequately. I'll confess the sm taught me the material better than the text, which I used mainly as a rather large packet of homework problems. Without the manual, I doubt I'd have done well in the class. Keep in mind this is from a person who is naturally good at math and managed every text before and since this one easily. When I needed to review a theorem for Diff EQ later on the book was just as difficult, despite my greater familiarity with the subject, so even as a reference it fails.
This said, the solutions manual is one of the best I've used. The shock when I started Calc I, which used a text with an average sm, was fairly comical. Only in hindsight, though.
If you buy the solutions manual, the text works adequately. I'll confess the sm taught me the material better than the text, which I used mainly as a rather large packet of homework problems. Without the manual, I doubt I'd have done well in the class. Keep in mind this is from a person who is naturally good at math and managed every text before and since this one easily. When I needed to review a theorem for Diff EQ later on the book was just as difficult, despite my greater familiarity with the subject, so even as a reference it fails.
Displaying 1 of 1 review