Precalculus (8th Edition) (Hardcover)

~ Michael Sullivan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Eighth Edition of this highly dependable book retains its best features–accuracy, precision, depth, and abundant exercise sets–while substantially updating its content and pedagogy. Striving to teach mathematics as a way of life, Sullivan provides understandable, realistic applications that are consistent with the abilities of most readers. Chapter topics include Graphs; Polynomial and Rational Functions; Trigonometric Functions; Analytic Trigonometry; Analytic Geometry; Counting and Probability; A Preview of Calculus; and more. For individuals with an interest in learning Precalculus as it applies to their everyday lives.

From the Publisher

A proven motivator for students of diverse mathematical backgrounds, this text is organized and written with all students in mind. Striving to teach mathematics as a way of life, Sullivan provides understandable, realistic applications that are consistent with the abilities of any student. This text contains one review chapter before covering traditional precalculus topics. The trigonometric funtions are introduced using a unit- circle approach and showing how it leads to the right triangle approach. Graphing techniques are emphasized, including a thorough discussion of polar coordinates, parametric equations, and conics using polar coordinates. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1152 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 8 edition (March 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0132256886
• ISBN-13: 978-0132256889
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,259 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #15 in	Books > Science > Mathematics > Popular & Elementary > Pre-Calculus
  #15 in	Books > Science > Mathematics > Geometry & Topology > General Geometry
  #52 in	Books > Science > Mathematics > Pure Mathematics > Calculus

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars well designed for self study, November 5, 2005

By	Charles R. Williams (Akron, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Precalculus (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

I taught 2 sections of precalculus with this book last spring. This book is well designed for self study. Examples are keyed to specific exercises so the student is directed to use a concept immediately after seeing it employed in a suitable exercise.

My one quibble with the book is the way trigonometry is introduced. It seems to be needlessly convoluted so if you are thinking of adopting it you should read the first two or three sections covering trig. I chose to supplement it with my own notes.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to supplement a high school precalculus course with a book that is stronger on theory vs. graphing calculator techniques. There are some very inadequate precalculus texts out there. If you are serious about mathematics and your school is using an approach that employs graphing calculators in a heavy way, you may want to use this book. In that case consider an older (cheaper) edition.

Update: Another reviewer comments that the 7th ed and the 6th ed may be significantly different. Well, they are not.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear and understandable., May 27, 2006

By	Jose Arroyo "LastHope106" (Marshalltown, IA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Precalculus (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

At the beginning I was a bit worried about the way the book explains the material. It seemed too simple for a book dealing with more complex subjects in math such as functions, trigonometry and analytic geometry. Then again it could be said that this quality is the one that makes the book such a joy to read.

Not a single time did I felt lost or confused by the presentation. Most of the graphics and photos do supplement the explanation, and help the reader grasp the information better. One of the highlights, one that perhaps most people will miss, is the simple review questions at the beginning of each section. These little snippets of previous material force the reader to review those concepts that will be essential for further understanding.

Every new section in the book is short and clear; thus reducing the amount of explanation, but at the same time maintaining just enough so that the reader will not feel lost in the many formulas and derivations. If this book does not get "5 starts" from my review it is only because it could be more mathematically rigorous by presenting more proofs. But by not doing so it increases the clarity and easy presentation the book possesses - great book well worth the price.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book. Especially With Solution Manual., July 26, 2005

By	Nathan T. "I'm Hard To Satisfy. That's Why My... (SOMEWHERE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Precalculus (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

Bought the teachers edition and 2 solution manual books (1500+pages each) all for 63 bucks. BRAND NEW!

Anyways, this book I find to be a lot better than many many of the other math text books out there. What is nice about this book is the simple fact that it doesn't try as hard to fool you as the others. Other text books seem to be written by people that are really advanced and think, in a way, that we are as well. They sometimes don't realize that the stuff they put down into text books might be a lot harder to someone that doesn't have a firm gasp and understanding as they have.

I mean...don't you hate text books that give you examples and solutions, but all of the examples are of easy problems and the ones that you do want to know are not shown? In highschool, I didn't know weither to use my math text books to learn or use it as heating fuel for the winter nights. Listening to the teacher wasn't very helpful because he followed the pace of his more advance nerdy students and using the book to catch up helped as much as little if nothing.

This book, however, can actually teach you pretty much everything step by step, especially if you use it with the solutions manual which shows you step by step how the answers are achieved. For once, I'm learning more from the book than from the teacher. They should hire the book, it would be cheaper. I'm sure the book will grade us by a curve as well and be nicer to us. This whole summer semester I've been learning almost everything from the book, the teacher is just extra.

The way the book is made, its an accumalative (spelled wrongly I bet) kind of thing. You can learn it all if you go through it from a to z, beginnig to end. Of course you'll still need guidance here and there, but it is made so clearly that it gives you a peace of mind. Suddenly, the secret codes are being decoded.

A pretty looking book that'll probably cost you a bundle (USED in textbook store for $109!?) however is all worth it. Spend your money on something that is really worth it and get this, solutions manual about $35 more or less.

COLLEGE MATH: 1+1=3 (Learn it well young grasshopper, cause one day, we shall see which affects the other more)