Customer Reviews

Just-in-Time Algebra and Trigonometry for Students of Calculus, 2/e (2nd Edition)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have previously studied and largely understood algebra and trigonometry and just need a quick review, then this book is right for you. However, if you haven't studied these topics or didn't understand them the first time, then it will be of little value. The coverage is thorough in breadth, starting with the basics of adding and subtracting all types of numbers through logarithms, exponential functions and trigonometry. Only a few pages are devoted to each topic with exercises at the end of each section. Solutions to some of the exercises are given at the end, although in my opinion there should have been more.
While the explanations are short, to the extent that it is possible in a small number of pages, they are through in depth. In a section that I found interesting, the dy/dx notation for a derivative is used. However, knowledge of calculus is not required, the reader is simply being asked to algebraically solve for dy/dx rather than use any knowledge of what it represents. Used in the manner for which it was intended this book is an effective tool in the study of precalculus material.
Note: This book is nearly identical to the companion book, "Just-In-Time: Algebra & Trigonometry for Early Transcendental Calculus." It would be a waste of money to buy both.

These guys are geniuses for presetnting complex information in a digestable, direct, witty, and accurate manner. Great for remembering forgotten trig and algebra. Awesome calc primer.

I salute a rare erudite math professor who can actually teach. Where can we find more? My school is full of passive aggressive math professors who know their stuff but cant teach.

thank you for the help

This book is totally great. I've seen very few books that explain mathematical concepts as well as this. The authors actually made math look easy by providing a lot of examples and writing in a more conversational, informal style (like the style in the Idiot's Guides series). It's a lot clearer than Barron's and Cliffs. Often there is a lot of humor added in.

As the title of this book indicates, this book is intended for calculus students in college who are struggling in their courses. However, for high school students who are using this book to teach themselves new concepts or using this as a tutorial, review, etc. I would recommend this as a supplement to another text. The book is somewhat brief and does not go through the advanced and nitty-gritry areas of algebra and trigonometry. This is intended to be a remedial "catch-up" book and is not targeted specifically towards the hig school student. But high school students, teachers, and curious readers will all find this book very helpful for making hard math look simple.

I'd taken Calculus ten years ago and needed to retake it. After working through 'Forgotten Algebra', this book was a godsend. It's B.S.-free and highly focused on what you need BEFORE Calculus. If you buy the first edition used (as I did), then it's cheap.

if you were like me and either needed a math refresher before going back to college, or just didn't solidly understand trigonometry or algebra, this book is fantastic! the chapters are in an order that slowly increases levels and is simply logical. i wish i would have read this book instead of taking those classes. it's short and sweet, but satisfying. to be honest i haven't studied it cover to cover because math bores me, but it is an excellent reference guide. the chapters are actually full of dry math-humor. i like it. it has made me feel like i'm not the only person struggling with the basics and has been invaluable to me on my journey through calculus!

This book has a very specific audience, and it was written out of the total frustration of a professor who notices students are not ready for Calculus from a basic Algebra standpoint.

So in theory the target audience is high school graduates who are starting college. High School graduates who didn't really have a solid footing in key areas of Algebra. However, the real target audience is any adult learner who is going back to school and has gaps in their memory and education.

If you read Calculus books which "help you ace it", they all seem to iterate through the various little Algebra rules you should know, but they don't explain them. This book does that, and very well, and in a very concise manner.

Is this the most comprehensive book on PreCalc? Not by a longshot, but it does cover the meat of what you should know and where most students probably make mistakes with in Calculus. The fact that it is not comprehensive works in its favor, since it is not trying to be a 500 page textbook on the subject.

The organization of the book is a little odd, and the authors state that it is to match the order in which you will face the topics in Calculus. Maybe, but it is a bit odd.

The Trig part is just as thin, but it does do a better job than most books which have a basic Trig appendix in them. This actually does better than most PreCalc textbooks for one reason: it immediately teaches you that radians are the only measure of angles.

Though I did find it odd that there was no unit circle in the book, not one that I could find.

This book does not give the various topics an indepth treatment, but it does fill a vital need for alot of students.

i received the book yesterday, and while the explanations are fairly decent, i've found some of the methods to be cumbersome - for example, the Completing the Squares section. there are simpler methods out there.

their method further complicates their outline covering the derivation of the Quadratic Formula in Appendix F. in following their steps, i found one section puzzling - going from +c to -4ac. their system seems broken. i had to look at other sources that used a much easier system of Completing the Squares to realize that the method i learned made more sense.

but so far, i can't complain about the content. they cover the examples pretty well.

Great value. Very good condition. Super fast delivery. Would buy from this vendor again. Thank you.