Customer Reviews

Calculus: Concepts and Applications

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book made a difficult subject (calculus) easy to understand through its effective use of diagrams, examples, and word problems. I would not have been able to survive Calculus BC AP without it.

This was the main textbook used for my Calculus AB class. Its explanations are clear, though sometimes difficult steps in algebraic manipulation are skipped (which may initially confuse but can be figured out after some additional work). The text progresses within each chapter, relying initially on an exploratory section where concepts are not directly stated but figured out through a little guidance with the questions. This first section introduces the readers to the concept being studied in each respective chapter. Then, the information is given in ensuing sections of the chapter. The best part of this text is the "green boxes" which sum up concepts learned, definitions, formulas, etc., which make reviewing for a final exam a much simpler task. It has a simple presentation with few colors, sticking mainly to a light olive green and gray for the pictures and other illustrations. This textbook is a very good tool for calculus students, relying on varied methods of learning and some self-discovery of the subject matter.

In looking for a copy of Foerster's dated but excellent 1998 textbook, "Calculus: Concepts and Applications", I found first the Instructor's Resource Book instead, using Amazon's search function. It was only on glancing at the cover image, where I noticed that the image was of the "Instructor's Resource Book" for the text, NOT the text, that I suspected an error. I checked the ISBN, and the ISBN was also that of the Resource Book, not the text itself. After initially posting a review warning of the confusion, I managed to find the primary text (with proper ISBN), which also had the review note I had posted as relevant to the Resource Book. The ISBN for the primary text is 1-55953-117-7; that of the Resource Book is 1-55953-120-7. Caveat emptor.

Text book was used for a full 2 year High School AP Calculus Class (Calculus AB and CD). Learned Calculus from this book.

This is a great book, I used it in my Pre-Cal and BC Cal class. It's very easy to understand, and easy to get into Calculus class!