5 comments about Trigonometry (Lial/Hornsby/Schneider Series).

1. This book really lacks proper theory and instruction. The book focuses more on giving you problems than it does trying to explain the principle and aspect covered in Trigonometry. If you are are looking for a book that can help you out by giving you work(math problems), this is it. Otherwise, stay clear of this book, find a book that has more instructions, more theories, simply more.



2. I used this book in a semester trigonometry course (covering Chapters 1 through 8), and the book was not the best. First of all, some lessons contained too much information and some too little. In addition, although the exercises are worthwhile, their difficulty levels differ from question to question, so there is no gradual increase in skill and difficulty. The book only provided good explanations on a couple of topics (for example, inverse trig. functions). All in all, the book is "okay"; if you have a good instructor, you'll still learn trigonometry.



3. This trig book I used in college in Spring 2005 was GREAT. When I'm stuck with difficult math problems, I looked at the examples in the book and then i got it figured it out and got right answers. This book made homework easier for me. The examples are very clear. This book was so much better than other book (I dont remember the title of the book and name of publisher and author's name) I used in high school trigonometry. The high school trig book was terrible and confusing and caused me to fail the class. Great job, Lial because this book made me to aced the trig final and pass the class with a B in college!



4. I first learned trigonometry 26 years ago, and am currently a tutor in a Tutoring Center where math and English are the primary calls for our assistance. We started using this book on Trigonometry by Lial, Hornsby and Schneider last year, and it has been a real aid to all of us.
   
   The chapters are designed with brief overviews, 'Chapter Openers', at the beginning of each. There are sample exercises in the explanations, as well as exercises in the problem sets keyed to specific application of examples. There are summary exercises that give review of mixed concepts, pull-quote boxes (here called 'Function Boxes') to highlight the reference aspect of the text, and useful chapter reviews to the same.
   
   One thing that stands out about this text from the one I used so many years ago is the colour aspect. There are pictures, multi-coloured graphs and illustrations, and a general feel to the book that makes it visually worthwhile to look at. This book also takes advantage of the increasing sophistication of calculators - again, back when I took trigonometry, there were tables of data in the back for looking things up, since calculators (such as they were) had only add/subtract/multiply/divide functions.
   
   The chapters go in a fairly standard pattern for trigonometry. Chaptes progress from basic Trigonometric Functions, defining triangular and angular ideas. This continues more in depth with Acute Angles and Right Angles, then proceeds to Circular Functions, introducing Radian Measures in for good measure. The fourth chapter introduces graphing ideas for the circular functions (sine, cosine, etc.), while the sixth chapter introduces the idea of the inverse circular and trigonometric functions. Other chapters include trigonometric identities (this always seemed to me to be like geometry or logic using trig functions), vectors, complex numbers, polar equations, exponential and logarithmic functions. Many of these concepts have direct application in engineering and other sciences.
   
   This book is also geared for students who will be advancing on to calculus, and gives marginal notes on how trigonometry is used in calculus (so as to pre-empt the question, 'when am I ever going to use this?').
   
   Actually, I found trigonometry to be among the more enjoyable math courses I ever took; together with geometry, it confirmed an early love of the discovery of patterns and symmetry in the very fabric of existence. This book reminds me of those early days of exploring ideas, and it is a pleasure to share these same ideas with new students via this text.



5. This text was required for my university Trig class. Other reviewers have argued that math text books are only supplemental to the material covered in class - that it's the teacher that makes the difference. If that's the case, without a good teacher, this book is nearly useless. Whether the authors are covering fundamentals or advanced concepts/calculations, most everything gets a very cursory, succinct treatment. Should you not understand something covered in class, this text likely will not help to clarify. If you are at all unfamiliar with Trigonometry (as I was going in to this class), this text is not intended to enhance your understanding.

No comments about Precalculus With Limits: A Graphing Approach.

No comments about Precalculus With Limits A Graphing Approach Advanced Placement Version Fourth Edition.

1 comments about Pre-Calculus For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science)).

1. The aim of this book is to introduce the subjects of pre-calculus in an easy, yet complete way. For the most part it accomplish it's objective, nevertheless, it has some typos and errors that will cause the student to get confused (i.e. the first time the student is shown the formula for the difference of cubes the book says something like this (a-b)(a^2+ab+b^3) which is wrong and in latter examples the formula takes the correct form of (a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2) which causes some confusion). Overall, this is a very good book specially for a review of the subjects.
   
   UPDATE
   P.105 Changing a Log's Base
   log5/log3 does not equal ln3/ln5... it should read log5/log3 = ln5/ln3.

5 comments about Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea.

1. This book was splendid. Seife was one of those rare (but, thankfully, increasingly less rare as time progresses) writer-scientists who write about conventionally dry and largely unaccessible topics in a lucid, beautiful, elegant, and often entertaining way. Reading this book not only made me laugh out loud (a curious enough phenomenon for a book that has math as its premise) but increased my appreciation not only for the concepts but for literature. Seife belongs to the welcome order of writers of Alan Lightman (of Einstein's Dreams). This book is a lovely little gem.



2. Who new zero could be so feared by Western Civilization? We musn't let new ideas scare us away from exploration. No one...not government...not church...not education has that right. With zero forbidden by these three bastions of civilization, we lost 1000 years of knowledge.
   "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife is a wonderful trip through the development and evolution of zero and infinity; sometimes quirky, sometimes humorous, but always a little sad that knowledge was forbidden.
   You don't have to be a math genius to read it...only curious.



3. This is an interesting book that has some flaws. The most fascinating were the earlier parts of the book that addressed the various cultures around the globe and how their practical needs and philosophical points of view affected their mathematical development, and how the number zero fit into that big picture. As the book progresses the author tries to address cosmology on larger and larger scales, and he stretches things quite a bit. There also seemed to be a good bit of filler. I think if the author had stuck to the more mathematical side of the story this could have made for a really great extended magazine article, such as you might read in The Atlantic.



4. I am a math teacher and read this book on recommendation from a fellow math teacher. The book is well-suited for high schoolers (as far as concepts go), but can also be used in middle school. I start by saying that I find history, even the history of math, fascinating; my emphasis in teaching is on the "why" and often times, that answer is found in history or in the field of ethnomathematics. Not only is the book educational, it is extremely well written. Often times it is even funny. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history or math.



5. This book looks at the idea of zero, and its opposite, infinity, in the history of human thought from multiple civilizations, such as the Mayans, Indians, Arabs, ancient Greeks, Renaissance Europe, and China. The book is fast-paced and the author adds in some humor here and there. For a book about math, the subject material was made quite accessible, and the author added in the occasional drawings, proofs and derivations to explain concepts better. Quite an enjoyable read.

5 comments about Precalculus : Mathematics for Calculus: 5th Edition (with CD-ROM).

1. There are tons of textbooks on Precalculus like this one out there. Larson's is just another equally good textbook on the subject of calculus and Precalculus. However, I see no much uniqueness and innovations in any of the calculus books like this type. Richard Feynman, one of America's greatest physicists, once said most of the popular textbooks (on physics) were somewhat mediocre. I would recommend those who are aspired for an austere treatment of elementary mathematics, ie, pre-calculus and beginning calculus, to go for the book High-school mathematics by some Russian mathematicians. ISBN: 5030010114 This series is just so comprehensive with lucid explanations that every high school math teacher should take a look at it. It's both fun and benefitial to read books on math translated from another language.



2. This product was everything that it promised to be. I will continue to order from amazon.



3. I have never used the CD, but the book is okay. If you are going to take calculus in the future than you should get a cheaper precalculus book and save some money. This is essentially the same as the 4th edition, except the price tag. Only get if you absolutely must for a class.



4. This and the student guide have enough errors in the solutions that it'll have you questioning your work. Thank goodness for a patient professor (and I'm an A student). The sections don't cover very well the material in the questions at the end of the chapter. It is written a little better than the Algebra book by the same authors but if this can be avoided, avoid it. My own professor doesnt teach out of it, just assigns work from the end of the chapters...thats how bad it is.



5. One of the best online shopping experiences I've ever had. I placed an order and the book was at my home in 1 week in the condition listed. I will definitely look to buy from this person again!

5 comments about Precalculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic (7th Edition).

1. I was trying to get the textbook, ended up with the "Solution Manual". If it was indicated somewhere in the description, it was very well hidden!How about including this crucial information in the title?!!



2. ONLY ONE WORD CAN DISCRIDE THIS BOOK - DISGUSTING. I HAD TO WIPE IT DOWN WITH ALCOHOL, BEFORE MY DAUGHTER TOUCH IT.



3. This textbook is flat-out bad. It is supposed to serve as a transition between algebra to calculus, but it fails badly due to its inadequate explanations. Many of the problems are redundant, too hard, or too easy. Each section of each chapter offers VERY few examples, and these examples rarely correspond with the types of problems presented as practice. It is littered with typos, errors, answer mistakes, and a general feel of unprofessional publishing. The formulas and important "boxed concepts" or equations are often written in an excessively complicated manner. Where it needs to be concise, it drones on excessively. Where it needs an in-depth explanation, it skips over the issue. I used this WHOLE book through junior year and found it very unhelpful. Do not buy it.



4. I bought this new here because the used listings mention that it may or may not included the CD. Well, guess what - the new version doesn't include the CD either - despite the misleading name of the series (MathXL Tutorials on CD Series).
   
   Just a heads up. The one star review is to draw your attention to this fact. Otherwise, I have no knowledge of it's quality (I needed to buy it for my kid's independent study).



5. This book is poor. Try Michael Sullivan's books instead. This book doesn't show you how to do the majority of the problems. I'm mostly flipping through the pages, trying to find the techniques, formulas, etc... but they are not there. I need this book for class (homework), but I'm using Sullivan's books to actually learn the material. If you have to use this book (like me), don't get discouraged. The material isn't difficult (and it's actually enjoyable) if you learn it step by step. This book, unfortunately, is another representation of mathematicians trying to explain easy material in a needlessly complicated way. Get another book before thinking you're not a math person.

3 comments about Basic Math & Pre-Algebra For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science)).

1. I've been out of high school for almost 14 years and really need a refresher. These "dummies" books are great. The book explains math very well. A great help!



2. I love the Algebra for Dummies book. It is just what I needed at a price I could afford.



3. I ordered this book on March 17th and I still have not received my order. It is now April 24th so it's a little disappointing.

5 comments about Pre-Calculus Demystified.

1. A great help in my Precalculus I class. The information is presented in a better manner than the textbook for the course.



2. I applaud Rhonda Huettenmueller and whole heartedly agree with the R. Orchanian review (the New York teacher). The very best available that absolutely takes the mystery out of this area of mathematics. The sequence of the chapters is superb, clear, concise and very, very accurate. It includes process steps that are left out of many *so called* self-teaching guides which leaves many students scratching their head. Just quite simply the very best book written on the subjct, hands down. I hope Ms. Huettenmueller doesn't stop here.



3. I am one of those pathetic cases who should have been a math major, but could not stay awake during the freshman pre-calc lectures conducted by bored and boring grad students. Now, nearly 40 years later I am determined to self-educate my way through calculus.
   
   At first I took a crack at the Wiley "Precalculus A Self Teaching Guide". Holy cripes, what a disaster! Unnerving to find such an improbable number of errors, especially for student picking up after decades of non-study.
   
   Then, I grabbed Rhonda Huettenmeuller's fine work, and am doing the practice at the end of chapter four. I actually remembered some of my advanced algebra and managed to work my way through the problems.
   
   Well written and clear, she provides enough dimensions on problems to give you insight, then gives you room enough to have to think a bit. The answers are all provided, and are *correct*. Well, at least we agree, so that is certainly a good sign.
   
   I especially appreciate how she teaches this from the perspective of tackling calculus as the next step, pointing out issues that particularly apply, and how, to more advanced mathematics.
   
   Now, if we can just get her to write more books...



4. I received this book 2 weeks before my college entrance exam to smooth over what I momentarily learned in high school--I Do not want to end up in a lower than Calculus math class, paying for a class that does not give me any college credit.
   
   So far I have been getting through a chapter each day, in about hour and a half of on and off study.
   
   It is continuing to get me more comfortable with my math skills in a very short time. I Recommend it to anyone who fears there college entrance exam, or interested in learning Precalc on their own.



5. It was a great book, gave me what I needed at the pace I found acceptable. I also jumped into the middle of the book once to give a friend a hand and it was on polynomial functions. In ten minutes flat I was already calculating them! Amazing! If I continue at this rate, I can slack off in my Pre-Calculus college class and still pass! No, but seriously though, it's an awesome book and have recommended it to all my friends.

No comments about One to Nine: The Inner Life of Numbers.