Customer Reviews

Contemporary Precalculus: A Graphing Approach (with CD-ROM, BCA/iLrn(TM) Tutorial, and InfoTrac®)

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

 

 

This book is different from many others, as the graphing calculator is an integral part of the instruction. A large number of the images are nothing more than what a graphing calculator will present when asked to plot a segment of a particular function. Since the material is standard precalculus, the decision whether to adopt this text will be largely based on your opinion concerning the role of graphing calculators in mathematics education. While there is no question that graphing calculators can be of help, they can also be a hindrance. Graphs are just another tool that enable us to better understand the concepts and are not a complete solution. All mathematicians are aware that diagrams can be inadequate and at times appear to be accurate when they are not.

While their resolution is improving, the visual aspects of the graphing calculator are still somewhat crude. The diagrams in this book can at times be confusing, as the points are still tiny squares and if the student takes the figures too seriously, they can be misleading. As we all know, if there is an opportunity for students to be mislead, some will avail themselves of the opportunity. In some ways, it is a step backwards. For years, publishers have labored to create very high quality diagrams with a great deal of contrast between the different parts. This has made the diagrams much easier to read, but in the images of the calculators there is very little contrast and the figures are crude.

Of greater concern is the real problem that students will use the calculator as a psychological crutch and fail to learn the mathematical justification of the results. For example, when we are dealing with the graphs of functions of the form y = (x - h)*(x - h) + k, out interest is in their understanding concerning how the position of the graph changes as h and k changes. If they rely on the graphing calculator too much, they will never learn the fundamental reasons for the shifts.

In terms of presentation, I found the book to be soundly written, the explanations are understandable and complete. The level is appropriate and the material is the usual precalculus fare. The last chapter deals with limits and continuity, which of course is the beginning of calculus. Considering that there are over 800 pages of material without it, one can argue both positions as to whether it should have been included. A large number of exercises appear at the end of the sections and answers to the odds are included at the end. A CD-ROM with over 8 hours of video instruction is included with the book and qualified adopters of the book can receive content-specific videotapes.

I will not be adopting this book, largely due to the emphasis on graphing calculators. To me, graphing calculators create more problems than they solve in education. However, if you feel otherwise, then this book will likely be exactly what you are looking for.

The most obvious problem with this book is that there are too many errors in the answers at the back. This results in a lot of time spent reworking the problems in attempts to get the "right" answers. I know it is very difficult to edit to a point that is closer to perfection, but such careful editing is of crucial importance in a math book.

The book's layout and design are poor. For example, a bold line is used to indicate the beginning of an example instead of the beginning of a concept. This has the unfortunate effect of making it appear that the explanation of a new concept is part of the previous example. Though I did get somewhat used to this technique halfway through the book, I never learned to like it, and it continued to confuse me occasionally.

I would have appreciated more exercises for practice at the end of each section. Often, I would get the hang of a concept by the second or third problem, but then there would be no more problems on which I could reinforce my newfound understanding. I will say, though, that there were plenty of applied problems and they were frequently useful, challenging, and even fun.

I rated this book at 3 stars (instead of 2 or 1) because much of the material itself is good. I learned a lot and I did fairly well in the course (A-). However, I know a good textbook when I use one, and this one needs more work to fit that description. This book made taking the class more difficult, time-consuming, and frustrating than it needed to be.

This is the absolute worst text book I have ever had the misfortune of using, in any subject. Hungerford only provides part of the information you actually need to do the problems, and the answers in the back of the book are not reliable. I was forced to use this book for a class in college. If you have a similar misfortune, GET THE SUPPLEMENT. It is the only thing that will help to keep you sane. Make sure you check out the amazing resources availible online, like purplemath.com. This book sure won't be of any help. My professor is just like the author, so it made for a very difficult class.

I have had the misfortune of teaching from this book and I have also had to take courses from this authors other more advanced math books.

Unlike calculus, pre-calculus is not a standardized class so any book on the subject will range over many different topics. This one does so with a surprising amount of randomness.

This book takes shortcuts that are not mathematically accepted: for example to explain inverse functions he uses the "Round Trip Theorem" and later suggests students learn something he calls the "difference quotient."

[The "Round Trip Theorem" states that an f composed with its inverse is the identity.]

[The "Difference Quotient" is the definition of the derivative without including the limit at the beginning.]

If you are a math teacher and have not taught from this book, the chances are you don't know what these phrases mean, and that is because they are not common terms. Indeed, this concepts, while critical for students to understand, are dealt with in the book as a recipe to memorize with funny names and mneumonics. With out the concept of limits which will come in calculus, most students find "difference quotients" completely pointless -- and I don't blame them. With inverse functions, students fail to see that inverse functions are defined completely by what Hungerford calls the "Round Trip Theorem" and this is largely because at this stage in their mathematical developement they do not yet have a grasp at reading theorems and satisfying hypotheses. In other texts this concept is (appropriately) used as the definition of invertiblity not a consequence.

While some of these problems can be fixed by teaching, it is unfair to insist students suplement their class lectures with a text that subverts the arguments carefully crafted by the teacher.

Finally the trigonometry in the book is heavily unmotivated, although this is a problem in every trig book.

Other suggestions? Search on-line for web lecture notes on specific topics, such as "What are inverse functions?" or "How to factor a polynomial?". Web notes are generally shorter and more direct about the problems being asked and the fewer exercises get at the practice needed with the theory. At this stage, lengthy textbooks wander off the topic too much.

A horrible book, full of problems that the explanations do little to emphasize on. Quality of the presentation is awful. Most certainly never doing this again.

It's a good supplementary to classes to learn more about the topics. Its well organized and includes good examples. The software is helpful but the best way to learn math is with pencil and paper. I'm satisfied.

to be blunt, this book is not good. hungerford does not explain how to do precalculus very well in this book. it is difficult to read and to understand. a good example is if you were programming a VCR when the instructions are japanese (no offense). this is probably the reason why it is so difficult. if hungerford made this book more student friendly, then maybe he would've gotten a better review. until then, look for another book, this one is definately not one of the best.

Came within 3 days, just in time for the start of class. It does a good job of teaching you the material because I have to use it a lot and I am passing with an A.