Finite Mathematics and Its Applications [Hardcover]

Larry J. Goldstein (Author), David I. Schneider (Author), Martha J. Siegel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130466204 | ISBN-13: 978-0130466204 | Publication Date: April 4, 2003 | Edition: 8

This self-teaching volume provides extremely readable coverage of the principles of finite mathematics and their applications in business, social science, and the life sciences. Topics are presented in a straight-forward, interesting manner (with topics from elementary mathematics reviewed as the need for them arises), and an abundance of worked examples with computational details, practice problems, exercises, chapter self-assessment tests, and reviews of fundamental concepts allow readers to work through the material confidently at their own pace. Contains many examples similar to those found on CPA, GMAT, and GRE Economics exams. Features optional, explicitly detailed use of graphing calculators, electronic spreadsheets, and mathematical software, wherever relevant. Linear Equations and Straight Lines. Matrices. Linear Programming, A Geometric Approach. The Simplex Method. Sets and Counting. Probability. Probability and Statistics. Markov Processes. The Theory of Games. The Mathematics of Finance. Difference Equations and Mathematical Models. Logic. Graphs. For anyone who needs to get up to speed with the applications of mathematics in business, social sciences, or life sciences.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 768 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 8 edition (April 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130466204
• ISBN-13: 978-0130466204
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad I'm the teacher and not the student!!!, February 9, 2005

By 

MagicSkip "magicskip" (Marriottsville, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Finite Mathematics and Its Applications (Hardcover)

Wow. This book is bad. I have to use this book -- chosen by the department -- for a class I'm teaching. The fact that the book is a bad choice for this class is not the fault of the book -- I was given the text with instructions to teach chapters 1 - 4, 10, and 11, and then to use extra material for topics not covered in the book -- clearly, this text does not fit the class, and either the course should be redesigned, or a different text should be chosen.

Anyway, a first glance was enough to see how miserably this book is organized. The first chapter covers:
1.1 Coordinate Systems and Graphs
1.2 Linear Inequalities
1.3 The Intersection Point of a Pair of Lines
1.4 The Slope of a Straight Line
1.5 The Method of Least Squares

So, section 1.2 is dependent on 1.3 which is dependent on 1.4 -- isn't the order a bit backwards? And then in 1.5, you're on to a topic which is a huge leap in difficulty from learning how to plot a point on Cartesian coordinates from 1.1. Unbelievable.

This type of interdependence carries on through all of the sections of the book that I've looked at (admittedly not all). It seems that one must already know the material from further ahead in the book in order to use the book to learn the material in the given chapter.

I believe that by this Eighth Edition of the book, the authors should be removed from it -- it should be given to students using this text without already knowing it all, and let those students revise and edit the continuity of the material.

Matrix notation is introduced, virtually without explanation of either how to use it or why. Examples are given that attempt to show how to perform some operations on a TI-83 (or similar) calculator, but these efforts fail miserably.

Frankly, I'm having a hard time even figuring out what it is that this book is trying to teach -- and I already understand the material! If, however, the goal of the book is to confuse students such that they should hate and fear all math courses, then the authors have achieved their goals.

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than the one I use, but not by enough to change, October 19, 2005

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Finite Mathematics and Its Applications (Hardcover)

I recently evaluated this book as a possible textbook for the finite mathematics class that I teach. A great deal of space is devoted to the use of technology using a TI-83 graphing calculator and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Images of the calculator and computer screens are used to demonstrate the solutions. While I don't use either technology in my class, the presence of the technology solutions had no affect on my opinion of the book.
I would have little difficulty using the book and my students would have no difficulty reading it. The explanations are easy to follow and at a level suitable for the background we require of our students. There are a large number of exercises and the coverage is ordinary. By ordinary, I mean that the covered topics are the standard ones in a college level course in finite mathematics and the order of presentation is a natural one.
In the end, I chose to stick with the book that I have been using. As a general rule, I change books only when I find one that is significantly better and in this case I did not. This book is a good one and even slightly better than the one I am currently using. I just don't believe that the difference is enough to justify the change.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Choice, September 19, 2005

By 

Donna R. Henriksen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finite Mathematics and Its Applications (Hardcover)

I was very satisfied with my results and the sender got my book sent to me extremely quick.