Customer Reviews

Advanced Mathematics: Precalculus With Discrete Mathematics and Data Analysis

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Advanced Mathematics: Precalculus with Discrete Mathematics and Data Analysis. This book consists of: a refresher of Algebraic Expressions and Application in the form of the function (linear, quadratic, and other polynomial), Logarithms and exponents, a review of Analytic Geometry and Trigonometry, Discrete mathematics as it applies to Sequences and Series, Matrices, Combinatorics, Probability, Statistics, Modeling, and Limits and an introduction of Calculus in the form of the derivative.

The book states that an emphasis on application is an intrinsic part of it, this, however is not really the case. The book, while showing an appropriate number of application problems in certain sections, lacks that application horribly in others. However, these lacking sections are few enough that it deserves a fair amount of credit in the attempt.

This book fails to give adequate examples at the beginning of each section and provide enough information about the given topic. Further, the examples that are provided are either 1) easy in relation to the actual problems in the "written exercises" section or 2) not relevant to the actual problems in the "written exercises" section. Also, the examples that are given sometimes miss key steps and are therefore confusing. This leads to much frustration. The actual problems though can be quite challenging and appropriate if the reader actual understands the basic underlying principles of the problems. However, the book on occasion supplies inaccurate or incorrect solutions to these problems (the odd number problems in the "written exercises," the "class exercises," and "chapter test" solutions are located in the back of the book).

I happen to have on hand another trignometery book. Although old and coming from a pre-calculator age (never mind a pre-computer age as well), this book at least supplies accuarte examples at the beginning of each section. I recommend (although out of print): New Plane And Spherical Trigonometry, Surveying, And Navigation by G.A. Wentworth. Ginn And Company, 1903; or just about any other trigonometry math textbook or precalculus textbook ever published.

This is an EXCELLENT advanced mathematics book. I am currently a high school student using this book on my own. Never mind the criticism of the "unclear explanations" in each section by the other reviewers. The book briefly states what is needed to do the exercises, and the majority of the "major" theorems in advanced mathematics are proved in the exercises themselves (in fact, that is why so many of the exercises are so challenging). In this way (other books just prove the theorems for you and allow people just to memorize the proof), the author allows you to figure things out for yourself. This book also has a wide scope. However, one tiny fault of this book is that it does not convince you of some of the important facts (and these theorems are definitely not beyond the level of the book), for example the "Rule of 72." Also, this book is not for the average person. It requires a lot of critical thinking. Therefore, if you are not a real math person, I would suggest you get this book along with another advanced mathematics book with more detailed explanations so that you can compare and contrast the two.

I'm a high school student who's adv. pre-calc class uses this book. I'm writing to say that without the notes and lectures from my teachers, I would have no idea how to do anything. This book fails to give any clear explanations of topics. The examples provided are rarely the type of problems given in the work that follows. The only good part about the book are the questions, which aren't as repetative as other texts and give good challenges. However, the "information" at the start of each section is minimal and irrelevant at best.

i would not recommend this book to anyone. the explanations are not at all friendly to high school students and if anything i always feel more confused and frustrated by a resource that should be helping me when i'm lost in class/ with homework. it was the textbook my teacher assigned us but i was eventually so frustrated i went out and bought my own supplement textbook.

This book has good homework problems, but doesn't explain them very well. The only problems that are explained are the very easiest ones. I wouldn't recommend this book to any teachers if they want their students to learn things with out getting extremely fustrated. I hate this book and I'm pretty decent at math!

Great text for advanced students. Very detailed and easy to understand. I use it to tutor students long distance via iPad.

not worth the money. Complete with worthless explanations and crappy examples, this book is a written failure. In the introduction, the author states the book will be helpful and challenging. Ha! A lie if i ever heard one. Please someone write a math book with substance!

This book is pretty good. It will challenge you as a math student.
However the explanations are often too poor/inadequate.
Some problems will require you to think hard (which could be good).
But Most of the times I relied on my teacher to explain the materials because the book did not really help.

There are little to no explanations, the problems you want assistance, are never in the back.

Never enough examples.

Very very bad.