No comments about Precalculus with Limits.

5 comments about Schaum's Outline of Trigonometry.

1. This book is great for people with thick glasses with tape on them who are presidents of their computer programming clubs but for the rest of us this is not too great. This book is heavy on the theory but lacks application which MOST people need in their classes. No teacher is gonna ask you what a Apollo Axil Centripital Angle(no such thing) is. Too confusing but very organized. These people did a great job in explaining theory. I would not sugest this anyone to use this independently.



2. This book as mentioned in the title is horrible. It is incomplete in many areas, case and point, curve graphing. In many cases the book does little more than introduce the topic and give somewhat bland math questions. This book will not help you through a normal course because it is somewhat babified.
   Now back to the incompleteness. Half-way through the book trigonometric function graphs are introduced (y=sinx and so on). The book very briefly describes aspects of each periodic function in a somewhat scattered manner. All of the information that is given fits on about one 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper, somewhat terse isn't it?
   This book is not for beginners and is most likely not even for people that would like to brush up on trigonometry. For a more comprehensive edition of a trigonometry tutorial you must turn elsewhere because this book will leave you asking what? huh? how? Perhaps one of the better trigonometry titles out there, and believe me I say this reluctantly because it is also deplorable, is Trigonometry the Easy Way. In conclusion if you have this book return it or if you can't use it only as a way to reinforce trigonometry ideas.



3. I am observing that my test scores on tests on tests involving trigonometery are increasing, thanks to this thin aid. It is thin, yet it is good. That is almost impossible. This book is one of the best created. Trigonometry is hard, and is mentioned and applied almost everywhere. This book is comphrehensive and is both easy and advanced. Everyone should have this. You can have knowledge of math, science, and computers with it.



4. I needed to brush up on my Trig for a calculus class that I'm currently in. While reading the text I found it hard to follow what the author was getting at.
   
   At certain times magic equations would pop out of thin air and you would have to stew over them for hours at a time trying to figure out what the heck they meant.
   
   This book is definately not for a beginner or someone who's looking for an easy quick overview after being away from the subject for abotu 6 years.



5. I used Schaum's for a Summer School Trigonometry course. It doesn't replace a textbook but it covered all the necessary topics effectively and provided a good alternative to derivations and problems found in the text. I relied on it as a backup and a good check on the work being covered in class.

5 comments about Precalculus: With Unit Circle Trigonometry (with CD-ROM and iLrn Tutorial).

1. While I have not taught from this book and have not gone through the entire text, from what I've seen this is an excellent text.
   From the preface: "[E]xamples are consistently used to introduce, to explain and to motivate concepts...all of the initial exercise for each section are carefully correlated with the worked examples in that section." Based on my observations, this is true. Exercises following most sections are grouped into three categories: the first consist of these relatively routine problems closely correlated with the examples in the text of the section, and two more categories, each successively more difficult. There are many nice exercises that guide the student through a discovery process. The text is quite thorough and contains many topics not included in the bare-bones precalc text. For example, iteration of (the composition of) functions is presented in the section on composition. But the topic follows, with clear demarcation, that of basics of composition and hence can be omitted cleanly. Elegant results, some of which I had not been familiar with, such as Brahmagupta's theorem, are developed in some exercises. In the section on exponential growth and decay, the logistic growth model is developed in the exercises. But the text works fine even when omitting such challenge problems or those problems developing such optional topics.
   While the book does have calculator applications exercises, I agree with the author's philosophy, that while "The graphing utility is and invaluable tool for learning mathematics... the mathematics curriculum should drive the technology, not the other way around."
   I also use this book as a reference text.
   Apparently the author, Prof. Cohen, was the director of the precalculus courses at UCLA. His experience shows in this book.
   Update 5/4/2005: One reservation I have about the text is that the graphs are not always accurate. I feel strongly that graphs should always be presented as accurately as possible to reflect the true nature of the curves.



2. I learned pre-calculus from this textbook, and now I've been with a youth math program that uses the book for 3 years. This pre-calc book is excellent and is the first book that was of actual use to myself when learning new material.
   
   The examples in the text are clear and helpful, which makes a world of difference with the material. The problems are also well-designed and there are several different types of problems in this book.
   
   Although the price is high and the book is fairly heavy, it is worth it. If you are taking a pre-calc class and this is the required book, rejoice. If you are taking a pre-calc class and it is not and you have problems with pre-calc material, consider getting a 3rd edition of this book (3rd, not 4th, edition -- save on money).



3. After reading other reviews on this book here on Amazon, I chose it for my independent study of precalc. I don't regret the choice.
   
   I find it particularly well-suited for my learning preferences. Accordingly, this will be a text you will love if:
   
   -you like learning systematically; that is, starting from simple concepts and rapidly building upon them
   -you take the time to work many of the problems; the problems are expertly written and do wonders at isolating specific concepts and allowing your mind to be aware of them and master them.
   -you enjoy solving problems of a mathematical and logical nature
   -you have an interest in the subject that may be slightly broader than simply gaining mastery.
   
   On the last item, the author does an excellent job of weaving tidbits of the miscellaneous and sundry of mathematics and using them to keep the mind interested while also teaching a lesson. Often these concepts are treated within an exercise. There is a good balance between including this extra information and sticking to the core subject. The extra information is never off-topic and keeps the material from becoming too dry while not being annoyingly inserted for the primary purpose of filling space. I am not a great fan of lengthy and marginally useful vignettes in textbooks.
   
   If this is what you're looking for in a precalc textbook, this is the book for you.



4. If this is a textbook... you don't have much of a choice: get it, or drop the class.
   
   Other than that, the textbook is OK. Not great, since it does not explain to well. Basically, it gives you a forumla, spends about 1/4th of a page using that forumla once, and then moves on. At the end of each section, there are about 100 questions, at the end of the chapter there are another 100 questions. The concepts in here are not too easy, so you probably need to actually learn it using the book (or teachers lecture). However, the book itself does not help much. Basically, it's just a section with 5 concepts (more or less), and each one has one example. That is the only thing which teaches you. The rest is for you to figure out by doing examples.
   
   If you're a very fast and comprehensive learner, it may be good for you, as it expects you to learn on the first try, and do examples to complete your learning. Otherwise, you will need to spend more time to understand the concepts, or pay good attention to the teacher/professor.



5. the book was in great condition and it came with the CD-ROM which is always impossible to find when buying a used book. I am very pleased with the item though the price was a bit high.

2 comments about Schaum's Outline of Review of Elementary Mathematics.

1. I found this book to be a great supplement for my review of Math. Just the way it is presented makes it a joy to review. Straight and to the point. I plan on using the others in this line of books to hopefully get up to pre-calc for college.
   
   However, I gave it four stars because of the unbelievably amount of errors found within. Where was the proof reader before publishing? Im at chapter 6 and have found approx 30+ errors. Ive lost count, something like one every other page or so.
   
   I said above that I value these books, the errors have got to stop... if and when one reaches a level that he/she is not sure what it is they're doing, how will they know the right answer? They won't and will be misled, unfortunately.
   
   To sum up, I definately approve of Schaums methods of supplementing mathematics but there needs to be some higher level of accuracy. Luckily, they are cheap and one would be wise to purchase additional material as well.



2. My son needs some real education in math (he is 7.5 years old in second grade). I use this book to set the curriculum and scope of teaching him math. This book serves as the basis to learn pre-calculus. So far he loves it and understands math is not all about just addition/subtraction/multiplication and division.

No comments about Contemporary's GED Mathematics: Preparation for the High School Equivalency Examination.

1 comments about College Algebra: Graphs and Models Graphing Calculator Manual Package (3rd Edition).

1. I only wish in 1960's the textbooks where put together like this. Clear concise and with great examples

4 comments about PreCalculus the Easy Way (Barron's Easy Way Series).

1. The title of this book gives the impression that it would be easy to learn from. If the author would have paid more attention to editing his book, the product may deliver adequate results. Due to a great number of mathematical errors, poor editing, and a lack of thoroughness, I spent countless hours trying to figure out why my answers often conflicted with the author's. After being frustrated too many times, I disposed of the book and purchased a different book. This book has been edited on a Friday afternoon.



2. I agree with Benoit Launier; this book simply has too many errors and mistakes it makes it more difficult to learn Precalculus. It even makes you very frustrated. If you want to study Precalculus I recommend that you buy the The Complete Idiot's Guide to Precalculus or Precalculus with Limits (by Lial, Hornsby, and Schneider).



3. The explanations are nice and straightforward, but this turns out to be quite overdone in the sense that everything is oversimplified too much so that when it comes time to do more complex problems, the explanations do little to assist you. However, this isn't the crippling factor that sends this book tumbling and flying face first into pile of crap. Simply put, I have made it to ***only chapter 3*** so far and have already found enough errors in the answer key at the back of the book to give the author of this book an F in writing Precalculus guidebooks. If you don't believe me, go to your local Borders (that's where i got mine) and go to chapter 3. Check out problems 3 and 21. In short, ***avoid this book like the plague***



4. I seldom give a book such a low rating, but 1 star for this atrocious product is quite generous. While it is possible to learn pre-calculus from this book as it technically covers everything in pre-calculus, the book was so poorly edited that you spend more time trying to decipher the correct solutions to the practice exercises. Because so many of the solutions to the problems are incorrect, this is one of the few books that actually do more harm than help. I would've given this book three stars if they published it without the exercises since at least the reader wouldn't have to learn pre-calculus bemused.
   
   The only group of people that I can think of would be of any benefit from reading this book are those who have the gift to simply glance at rules of math and learn. Even then, this book is a waste of money as there are many free resources online.
   
   Take my advice, and DO NOT PURCHASE THIS BOOK. It makes learning pre-calculus much more confusing and arduous than it needs to be.
   
   A much better and similarly priced alternative would be The Complete Idiot's Guide To Pre-Calculus - a book that actually explains the concepts clearly.

1 comments about Elementary Algebra.

1. This is one book a math student should buy

5 comments about Math Magic: How to Master Everyday Math Problems, Revised Edition.

1. A reading of this book quickly reveals our public education system as stodgy and nonprogressive. If you or anyone you know is having problems with math of any kind, please spend a little money on this book before spending a ton of money on tutors and such! If I'd had this book, or been exposed to the information therein, when I was in k-12, my math scores would have been much higher!



2. I wanted to read this book ever since seeing the infomercial of Scott doing his thing on tv. I couldn't afford or justify the expense to buy the big commerical package so this book had to do. The methods are easy to follow and Mr. Flansburg does a good job expressing his mind set in how he mentally did the problems. The basic addition and multiplications methods are good but the examples were insufficient when dealing with mixed numbers of different lengths. There were also exceptions to many of the rules that weren't expressed. Finally, the last part of the book with special rules were so numerious it would take a year to effectively learn and apply them all from memory. This leads me to believe that Mr. Flansburg didn't tell everything he knows, like the quick way to determine change -- by changing say ten bucks to 9.99 and subtracting that from the amount owed; then add one cent to get the correct change. It's easier to subtract 9 since its the highest value you can have in each column. This was presented by him on a night time radio show he was a guest on. I do give him prasie for getting people young and old to stop depending on calculators and learn mental speed math.



3. This book is inadequate to explore the concepts that it puts forward, and the reader will not be able to use it effectively until they go through and fill in the wide gaps left by the author. The techniques within it are not universal to all numbers, and the author fails to mention this on numerous occasions. All in all, this book was designed to make money, while offering the illusion of "cheating" your way through math. Some methods within it are useful, while others only overcomplicate, and ultimately undermine, standard education techniques for mathematics, the standard way oftentimes being the more accurate, and quicker, way to do the examples within. Math is hard, sure, and that does make a lot of people hate it, but this book will make you hate it more, at least until you figure out what a scam it is.



4. This book promises a lot but delivers very little. The guy who originally sold them was a great salesman, He even got on Opera once. But after buying the book I don't see why. Very little of it was interesting or of value. The books are poorly laid out, poorly explained and even worse are the illustrations. I bought them with high hopes to help my child with math. We tossed them aside after one quick read. If you need to learn or teach math get a Spectrum Book. These were nothing more then a waste of money. I always look and find something good about everyone and everything. I found a great use for these books. Not only do the pages line the bottom of a bird cage nicely, they also make great fire starters. To sum it up, don't waste your money.



5. This book is a wonder help if you stink at math in general, and will help you perform some hard stuff in your head and have you stunning people with your quick answers, Scott does a good job keeping the language simple and the concepts easy too follow.

No comments about Precalculus: Graphs and Models.