Calculus (College Review Series)

By Elliot Gootman

This general review covers equations, functions, and graphs; limits, derivatives; integrals and antiderivatives; word problems; applications of integrals to geometry; and much more. Additional... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812098196
• ISBN13: 9780812098198
• Release Date: September 1997
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.9" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

I Wish Gootman Had Been My Teacher

Having once suffered through a boring and utterly ineffective proof-centered university introductory calculus course, I waited 40 years to tackle calculus again. This book has proven immensely helpful. Professor Gootman has a knack for getting right to the point and carefully unfolding his explanation of what you really need to know, with unusually clear illustrative worked problems. He understands that painstaking exposition of theoretical proofs teaches less effectively than working on practical examples. Once the student learns to USE calculus in applied situations, then grasping the theory and proofs becomes much easier. I was able to comprehend everything he had to teach, although I must confess that I only completed the end-of-chapter problems for the first few chapters. I came away thinking that calculus need not be as difficult as it is made out to be, or actually is in the hands of a less able teacher. Its level of difficulty approximates that of a somewhat difficult language--perhaps Russian for an English speaker. But no more. And, as with Russian, simply practicing it over time can bring gratifying results. Once you master about twenty basic procedures, the rest becomes far more approachable. I recommend this book highly to those frustrated with standard textbooks or simply wishing to understand the basics of how calculus works.

An useful review which is well balanced: theory vs. work

Why do I like this book? It assumes you can wing it on some of the algebra and glosses the trig and logarithmic stuff to get to the brass tacks... derivatives and anti-derivatives (integrals).In simple notation and examples it explains and emphasizes the use of limits to derive the calculus, gives examples and a good dose of exercises WITH ALL ANSWERS in the back!!!It is not the ultimate calculus tome, it is a great review, it is short enough to handle after hours (since I work for a living) and is a relaxing text with which to work, each section is of good size. Keep in mind, you will still need that tome on hand for deeper study and more exercises but this book cuts through the piles of pages most calc books bury you with before getting to the work at hand. Which is how one really learns the art of applying the process of calculus.

All the calculus one could need.

My friend and I have gone through more than a dozen calculus books looking to understand the subject. This was the first one to really explain itself well. It starts with the algebraic basics and works up to the calculus at whatever rate one sees fit. Now, a few weeks later, we're both fluent in differential calculus and working our way through integral calculus -- all from a basic algebra background.

A very simple introduction to calculus.

All the calculus I took in college I forgot because I used to just remember the formulas without actually understanding the concepts behind them. Needless to say, I forgot everything about calculus as years went by. I find this book to be very approachable. The author does a great job in explaining clearly the concepts behind all the math instead of hitting you with all these formulas. I never thought calculus would be this simple...Great book!

A wonderful resource for math reading

Dr. Gootman has put together an excellent and concise introduction to Calculus. I would recommend this book to high school/college students or anyone interested in math. It is to-the-point, but thorough. It is an affordable text that works for supplemental reading as well as a stand-alone curriculum. If you are taking Calculus, read this book. Whatever your understanding, this book will improve your math skills.