Precalculus (2nd Edition) [Hardcover]

Judith A. Beecher (Author), Judith A. Penna (Author), Marvin L. Bittinger (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321159365 | ISBN-13: 978-0321159366 | Publication Date: April 16, 2004 | Edition: 2

The BPB team has created a book where the use of the graphing calculator is optional but visualizing the mathematics is not. By creating algebraic visual side-by-sides to solve various problems in the examples, the authors show students the relationship of the algebraic solution with the visual, often graphical, solution. In addition to helping students visualize the math with side-by-sides, the authors focus on helping students make the connection between x-intercepts, zeros, and solutions, both visually and algebraically.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Judy Beecher has an undergraduate degree in mathematics fromIndiana University and a graduate degree in mathematics fromPurdue University. She has taught at both the high school andcollege levels with many years of developmental math and precalculusteaching experience at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Inaddition to her career in textbook publishing,she spends time reading, traveling, attending the theater, and promotingcharity projects for a children's camp.

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Judy Penna received her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University in mathematics and her graduate degree from the University of Illinois in mathematics. Since then, she has taught at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and at Butler University, and continues to focus on writing quality textbooks for undergraduates students taking mathematics. In her free time she likes to travel, read, knit and spend time throughout the U.S. with her children.

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Marvin Bittinger For over thirty years Professor Marvin L. Bittinger has been teaching math at the university level. Since 1968 he has been employed as a professor of mathematics education at Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis. Professor Bittinger has authored 159 publications on topics ranging from Basic Mathematics to Algebra and Trigonometry to Brief Calculus. He received his BA in Mathematics from Manchester College in 1963 and his PhD in Mathematics Education from Purdue University in 1968. Special honors include being Distinguished Visiting Professor at the United States Air Force Academy and being elected to the Manchester College Board of Trustees from 1992 to 1999. His hobbies include hiking, baseball, golf, and bowling and he enjoys membership in the Professional Bowler's Association and the Society for the Advancement of Baseball Research.

Professor Bittinger has also had the privilege of speaking at a recent mathematics convention giving a lecture entitled, Baseball and Mathematics. In addition, he also has an interest in philosophy and theology, in particular, apologetics. Professor Bittinger currently lives in Carmel, Indiana with his wife Elaine. He has two grown and married sons, Lowell and Chris, and three grandchildren.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1008 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; 2 edition (April 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321159365
• ISBN-13: 978-0321159366
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text., August 23, 2007

By 

Preferred Marketing Inc. - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Precalculus (3rd Edition) (Hardcover)

This review applies to all books written by Marvin Bittinger. I have used
his books on elementary algebra, college algebra, precalculus, and calculus. His writing is clear, concise, and always on the level of the
maturity of his audience. The examples are excellent and the problems are
suitable for each book. He doesn't "dumb down" the material nor is the
presentation overly rigorous. I wish he would right a full blown 1,000 -
1,200 page three semester text for calculus.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice try, September 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Precalculus (Hardcover)

The author does a good job of providing appropriate graphics to aid in the student's comprehension, but the text is woefully lacking. My professor, thankfully, used the book only for the exercises, which are quite extensive. Whenever I had difficulty grasping an idea and referred to the text I became completely confused, so I began recording my class and playing it back for a clear explanation. I am the type of student who can learn on my own, but that could never happen with this book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rigorous math explanations plus excellent annotated examples, August 12, 2011

By 

Nash deVille (United States of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Precalculus: Graphs and Models plus MyMathLab Student Access Kit (4th Edition) (Misc. Supplies)

I just completed an accelerated precalculus I and II course this summer (the whole book in 8 weeks) and we used this textbook. Math was historically my weakest subject, but between this text and my instructor, I am finally "getting it" instead of just memorizing formulas for tests. The book promotes real understanding.

Our instructor followed the textbook closely in lectures, offering helpful supplemental guidance not possible from a book. He was able to do that because the book is well sequenced.

The text clearly and precisely explains each topic introduced. Precision is an acquired taste, but once you get used to it, it gets easier to follow. Following each new topic, the text provides a straightforward worked and annotated example. Each step is annotated, so the student can focus on learning the new material rather than getting hung up on recently learned material.

There is lots of helpful color coding that is nicely intuitive. When a new topic relies on previously introduced material, a cross reference is provided to make review faster.

The algebra sections seem more dense than the trig sections in C.6 - enjoy the lull but don't let that fool you into complacency. The intensity picks up again right away in the next chapter.

The exercises are good, and the solution manual and graphing calculator manual (both sold separately) is worth every penny if you want to be sure you understand the material. I bought the mathlab kit, but our class did not use it. Also, the book refers to worked examples on video but my instructor had no idea how to access them, nor did our library or student learning center - suggestion to publisher if you are reading this: make those easy for a student to access without relying on third parties. I would have loved to have used them, but they went to waste.

If you use this book, flip ahead and read the "Study Tips" in the margins throughout the book early in your class. They are helpful.

In summary, this book was excellent in my classroom experience.

I also think it would be suitable for a self-study learner - especially if you can gain access to the lecture videos that the text mentions.