Precalculus: A Self-Teaching Guide (Wiley Self-Teaching Guides) [Paperback]

Steve Slavin (Author), Ginny Crisonino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0471378232 | ISBN-13: 978-0471378235 | Edition: 1

The fastest, easiest way to master precalculus . . . by doing it!

Do logarithmic functions throw you for a loop? Does the challenge of finding an inverse function leave you overwhelmed? Does the Law of Cosines make you feel clueless? With this helpful, easy-to-follow guide, you will gain total command of these precalc concepts-and many more-in no time at all.

Precalculus: A Self-Teaching Guide includes an algebra review and complete coverage of exponential functions, log functions, and trigonometry. Whether you are studying precalculus for the first time, want to refresh your memory, or need a little help for a course, this clear, interactive primer will provide you with the skills you need. Precalculus offers a proven self-teaching approach that lets you work at your own pace-and the frequent self-tests and exercises reinforce what you've learned. Turn to this one-of-a-kind teaching tool and, before you know it, you'll be solving problems like a mathematician!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The fastest, easiest way to master precalculus . . . by doing it!

Do logarithmic functions throw you for a loop? Does the challenge of finding an inverse function leave you overwhelmed? Does the Law of Cosines make you feel clueless? With this helpful, easy-to-follow guide, you will gain total command of these precalc concepts–and many more–in no time at all.

Precalculus: A Self-Teaching Guide includes an algebra review and complete coverage of exponential functions, log functions, and trigonometry. Whether you are studying precalculus for the first time, want to refresh your memory, or need a little help for a course, this clear, interactive primer will provide you with the skills you need. Precalculus offers a proven self-teaching approach that lets you work at your own pace–and the frequent self-tests and exercises reinforce what you’ve learned. Turn to this one-of-a-kind teaching tool and, before you know it, you’ll be solving problems like a mathematician!

About the Author

STEVE SLAVIN, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of economics at Union County College in Cranford, New Jersey. He is the author of several textbooks and self-teaching guides, including Quick Business Math, Math for Your First- and Second- Grader, All the Math You'll Ever Need, and Economics.
GINNY CRISONINO has taught math, including the precalculus course, at Union County College in New Jersey for sixteen years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471378232
• ISBN-13: 978-0471378235
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Math Games

More About the Author

Steve Slavin, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Economics at Union County College, Cranford, New Jersey. He has written over 300 newspaper and magazine articles, and is the author of four other books, including All the Math You'll Ever Need: A Self-Teaching Guide and Economics: A Self-Teaching Guide, both published by Wiley.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars publisher not responsive to error information, August 10, 2002

By 

Sherree Tatum (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Precalculus: A Self-Teaching Guide (Wiley Self-Teaching Guides) (Paperback)

Like the other reviewers for this book, I found many errors. Fortunately for me, I am reviewing the material rather than learning for the first time.

I can't imagine how frustrated and inadequate new learners must feel as they try to identify and apply the rules of math with incorrect answers to both examples and self-test problems. I would recommend new learners look to another book to learn Precalculus.

While I have found other Wiley Self Teaching Guides to be accurate and very helpful, Wiley Publishing didn't respond to my suggestion to add a correction paper to every copy of this edition (the minimum ethical response).

I would also that any one considering a Wiley Publishing purchase to check with online reviews before purchasing.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too many errors to be useful, too few sample problems, July 20, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Precalculus: A Self-Teaching Guide (Wiley Self-Teaching Guides) (Paperback)

The presentation of the subject matter is very adroit, but the problem with the book is two fold:

1) there are numerous errors. For instance, on page 150 problem 1 can only be solved using one measure of the triangle, yet the other measure of the triangle is incorrect for the degree measure provided. In the same set of sample problems, the 7th problem is entirely inconsistent with errors in both the problem statement, the solution statement, and the diagram of the solution statement. This is only a single example, but I marked each problem I found wrong in the book and found that there is a high (~10%) error rate . As another reviewer pointed out, there are even errors in the discussion of identities and axioms, which is horrendous for the students. Errors in problems sets only confuse people, but errors in the lesson is catastrophic, especially in a section you're supposed to memorize.

2) There simply are not enough problem sets to do in order to gain a mastery of the subject matter. There are usually 6 or 7 problems per section, and no additional problems which conclude a chapter. The standard textbook provides this sort of exhaustive problem sets, and this is quite useful for a mastery of the subject. You may be intimately familiar with the assertions of the text, but you will have a hard time applying them without practice.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Full of mistakes, November 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Precalculus: A Self-Teaching Guide (Wiley Self-Teaching Guides) (Paperback)

I am only into Chapter 3 and have found numerous mistakes. Including mistakes in important formulas such as the Quadratic Formula. I do not recommend this book to anyone who already has problems with math!