Customer Reviews

Calculus: Concepts and Contexts

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've learned calculus long time ago, but recently I need it to read a financial book. This book worked for me. I am surprised to know that calculus is easy due to the book's step by step explanation. This book is good not only for readers who learn calculus for the first time but also for poeple who have some experiences. Depneding on your level and purpose, you can read this book like a novel or do all exercises. Only problem I can think of is that this book may not be suitable for people who need to learn pure mathmatics because definitions are not so strict.

I was turned on to Stewart through his excellent multivariable calculus text. Having been so impressed by that book I decided to fork out the bucks for the this text. Yea - I know - the material in this text is a pre-requisite to the other but I own a kazillion mathematics books and at this point in my life, I've been through various levels of Calc so many times that order is irrelevent. Anyway, for me, this book is really worth the huge price tag. I frequently open it up and read it for pleasure. Sick, huh? But it's that good! Stewart is great at chosing examples to work out fully for your eddification. He also is great at selecting interesting and illustrative problems that aren't presumptuous of the student's abilities at clairvoyance (unlike some other textbook authors I could mention). Lastly, the everything about this book reeks of quality: from the mathematical content (btw - it has excellent graphics!) and Stewart's obvious underlying teaching abilities to the physical characteristics of the binding and page materials. The book is a jewell.

Well, I could go on but you probably get the idea. I wish J. Stewart would do a textbook of similar quality on Linear Algebra or better yet, Differential Geometry! That would really destroy the myth that money can't buy happiness.

This is a calculus textbook for college classes Math 151, 152 and 153. The most current edition is the 4th, but the material is the same. Unfortunately, the homework problems are often different. The 4th edition is far more pricey, but helpful if you need to complete homework assignments.

it's a traditional calculus text so no one's going to get too excited about it. but it's as good as the others out there and probably a little more accessible since there are fewer proofs and more examples of how to do the problems. the problems are for the most part straight forward. i would highly recommend the solutions manuals that are ordered separately. they show you how to do the odd numbered problems in gory detail. and, finally, don't pay retail. buy used. you should also know there are few differences between the 2nd and 3rd editions so buy the 2nd edition if you are really tight on money and get the correct problem sets from the instructor or someone that bought the 3rd edition.

This book is terrible. Mr. Stewart makes the example problems increasingly confusing. Examples should start simple, and intend to help the student grasp the concept before moving on to more difficult forms. Mr. Stewart chooses real "whoppers" for examples, and points to other chapters or appendices for you to learn "basic" fundamentals before you continue on with his examples. Often, example problems are not followed through. In section G2 example problem 4, the problem is presented and Mr. Stewart shows a computer generated answer without showing the work in between, even though the related problems are to be done by hand. Concepts are not fully explained, and terms are not fully defined. Chapter 8 puts "harmonic series" in bold, but provides no definition of harmonic. Look it up somewhere else. Chapter 8, example 6 throws in a partial fraction, and sends us to appendix f to follow the steps, which is related to the example problem only because Mr. Stewart chose this as an example. Why make the examples so difficult? Students need a foundation on which to build. This book is not an easy read, and is far more frustrating than helpful. Be prepared to use it minimally, and ask a lot more questions of your professor.

It is a great book, looks like new. and the price is a steal!
the only thing though is that it took 2 weeks to get to me! Other wise very
happy with the purchase.

i got this book prob at least 2 years ago. this is a super late review. actually it's the time to sell it even. haha

I ordered a Calculus textbook from this seller and it came quickly, within a couple of days. No writing in the book, pages fresh, good cover, and a bonus --- the CD's originally included with book were still there, unopened. Good experience. Satisfied. Thank you.

I am an engineering student, and I used this book for 2 classes. I think it is as good as textbooks get. Make sure to take your time when reading it because every sentence contains a lot of information.

This is not anything you would want to write home about. Examples do not seem to fully get the concepts across to the reader and it lacks in defining some critical terminology. I would add that the student solutions manual that provides the full worked out problems to all odd numbers, chapter reviews, etc. is a must have if your instructor is not all that great, which is something you really need if your school uses this text!