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Calculus: Concepts and Contexts (with Tools for Enriching Calculus, Interactive Video Skillbuilder, vMentor, and iLrn Homework)
James Stewart
Edition: 3
Retail Price (not our price): $173.95
ISBN: 0534409865
ISBN-13: 9780534409869
Publication Date: 2004-11-04
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 1152


Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Product Description
Stewart's CALCULUS: CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS, Third Edition offers a streamlined approach to teaching calculus, focusing on major concepts and supporting those with precise definitions, patient explanations, and carefully graded problems. CALCULUS: CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS is highly regarded because it has successfully brought peace to departments that were split between reform and traditional approaches to teaching calculus. Not only does the text help reconcile the two schools of thought by skillfully merging the best of traditional calculus with the best of the reform movement, it does so with innovation and meticulous accuracy.

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5

1) Unhelpful Calculus Book   [Rating: 1 out of 5]
This book is terrible. Mr. Stewart makes the example problems increasingly confusing. Examples should start simple, and intend to help the student grasp the concept before moving on to more difficult forms. Mr. Stewart chooses real "whoppers" for examples, and points to other chapters or appendices for you to learn "basic" fundamentals before you continue on with his examples. Often, example problems are not followed through. In section G2 example problem 4, the problem is presented and Mr. Stewart shows a computer generated answer without showing the work in between, even though the related problems are to be done by hand. Concepts are not fully explained, and terms are not fully defined. Chapter 8 puts "harmonic series" in bold, but provides no definition of harmonic. Look it up somewhere else. Chapter 8, example 6 throws in a partial fraction, and sends us to appendix f to follow the steps, which is related to the example problem only because Mr. Stewart chose this as an example. Why make the examples so difficult? Students need a foundation on which to build. This book is not an easy read, and is far more frustrating than helpful. Be prepared to use it minimally, and ask a lot more questions of your professor.

2) Only buy it if you are taking the class.   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Its a great math book but I quickly sold the book as I can't pass calculus.

3) Poor   [Rating: 1 out of 5]
I taught this class with this book several times, and it makes the material more difficult. It is one of the poorest textbooks available for this class.

4) It's actually worth the huge price tag   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I was turned on to Stewart through his excellent multivariable calculus text. Having been so impressed by that book I decided to fork out the bucks for the this text. Yea - I know - the material in this text is a pre-requisite to the other but I own a kazillion mathematics books and at this point in my life, I've been through various levels of Calc so many times that order is irrelevent. Anyway, for me, this book is really worth the huge price tag. I frequently open it up and read it for pleasure. Sick, huh? But it's that good! Stewart is great at chosing examples to work out fully for your eddification. He also is great at selecting interesting and illustrative problems that aren't presumptuous of the student's abilities at clairvoyance (unlike some other textbook authors I could mention). Lastly, the everything about this book reeks of quality: from the mathematical content (btw - it has excellent graphics!) and Stewart's obvious underlying teaching abilities to the physical characteristics of the binding and page materials. The book is a jewell.Well, I could go on but you probably get the idea. I wish J. Stewart would do a textbook of similar quality on Linear Algebra or better yet, Differential Geometry! That would really destroy the myth that money can't buy happiness.

5) Good Calculus Book   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
I've learned calculus long time ago, but recently I need it to read a financial book. This book worked for me. I am surprised to know that calculus is easy due to the book's step by step explanation. This book is good not only for readers who learn calculus for the first time but also for poeple who have some experiences. Depneding on your level and purpose, you can read this book like a novel or do all exercises. Only problem I can think of is that this book may not be suitable for people who need to learn pure mathmatics because definitions are not so strict.