Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions [Hardcover]

Ron Larson (Author), Robert P. Hostetler (Author), Bruce H. Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0618606246 | ISBN-13: 978-0618606245 | Edition: 4

Designed for the three-semester engineering calculus course, Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions, 4/e, continues to offer instructors and students innovative teaching and learning resources. Two primary objectives guided the authors in the revision of this book: to develop precise, readable materials for students that clearly define and demonstrate concepts and rules of calculus; and to design comprehensive teaching resources for instructors that employ proven pedagogical techniques and save time. The Larson/Hostetler/Edwards Calculus program offers a solution to address the needs of any calculus course and any level of calculus student. Every edition from the first to the fourth of Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions, 4/e has made the mastery of traditional calculus skills a priority, while embracing the best features of new technology and, when appropriate, calculus reform ideas. Now, the Fourth Edition is part of the first calculus program to offer algorithmic homework and testing created in Maple so that answers can be evaluated with complete mathematical accuracy.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1138 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 4 edition (January 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618606246
• ISBN-13: 978-0618606245
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ron Larson received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Colorado in 1970. At that time, he accepted a position with Penn State University in Erie, Pennsylvania, and currently holds the rank of professor of mathematics at the university. Ron is the lead author for over forty mathematics textbooks from 6th grade through calculus. Many of his texts, such as the 9th edition of is calculus text, are leaders in their markets.

Ron Larson is one of the pioneers in the use of multimedia to enhance the learning of mathematics. He has authored multimedia programs that range from 1st grade through calculus. To help with the development of his textbooks and multimedia programs, Ron founded Larson Texts, Inc., which with its publishing wing, Big Ideas Learning, employs about 60 people. Ron's most recent new textbook series is called "Big Ideas Math". It is the first middle school mathematics series to adhere to the NCTM's new "Focal Points Curriculum".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely disappointing..., April 27, 2008

By 

Zeta (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions (Hardcover)

This book is no where near a book which intends to teach calculus. It is rather like when your grandma' talks about her past. "Oh good times.."

Do not expect to be shown any rigorous proofs or see any logical strength in this book what so ever. What it will do, however, is just show you a few pictures and formulas. No detailed explanations, No sense of enthusiasm for the beauty of the mathematical content, No sense of style or logical path for you to follow. I do guarantee that not only you won't enjoy this book, you will hate it for its indifference.

If you have some better book (an example would be calculus by James Stewart) you will clearly see the illness in this book's logic. Topics are introduced as though they were by a tired old man who hates calculus. This is integral, this is what it looks like. Now example and here is the formula for you to use, plug in these numbers. It is rather disgusting what they have done to mathematics.

I do not recommend this weak book on such strong subject. Please do research for yourself and find a better book with more quality. Like I said above, better book (in my personal opinion) is the fifth edition of Calculus by James Stewart. I'm sure there are even better books than that, too. So don't waste your time with this one.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, close to best choice for a two-semester calculus choice, January 2, 2007

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Calculus I: Early Transcendental Functions (Hardcover)

As an instructor at a small college, I am called on to teach nearly every course in the math and computer science departments. Therefore, my reasons for examining this book were to determine the suitability as a text for our calculus courses. In that regard, I found it suitable for a two-course sequence in beginning calculus.

Compared to nearly all other texts, it is quite short, on the order of 500 pages. Therefore, it does not contain enough material for a three-course sequence. The coverage is basic differentiation and integration with a final section that is an introduction to differential equations. Exercises with solutions to odd-numbered ones are included. The following is a list of positive features of this book:

*) Very little time is spent in the review of precalculus topics. In my opinion, using a lot of ink to review mathematical basics is a waste of ink. If the students don't have it by now, they shouldn't be in the course.

*) Very little time is spent in "using technology" sections. Some books try to do the Mathematica, Maple and Excel triad, showing how to solve problems using all three. While I recognize the value of technology, I also know that learning the concepts of calculus is challenging enough without throwing in the technology. If you know the calculus concepts, learning the technology is easy, but if you don't know the calculus, then the technology is of little value.

*) Proofs of selected theorems are included in an appendix. This allows instructors to pick and choose which proofs to cover and which to leave out. One criticism I have leveled against other calculus books is that proofs of the major concepts are not included. My approach is that while not all proofs should be examined, there are times when a proof should be presented and thoroughly dissected. Even though many of the calculus students will not go on in math, calculus is still a math course and math is based on proofs.

*) Several worked examples are included when every new concept is introduced.

At this point, I consider this the best calculus text available if all you are interested in is a book for a two-course sequence. However, if you would prefer one text for the standard three-course sequence, then you will have to look elsewhere.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, August 12, 2011

By 

haleighjh - See all my reviews

This review is from: Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions (Hardcover)

This textbook is very useful. Colour images and detailed descriptions make concepts clear and easy to understand - especially when working on your own or to clarify something that was confusing during class. Probably the best textbook I have used in any discipline.