Finite Mathematics and Applied Calculus

by Geoffrey C. Berresford and Andrew Mansfield Rockett

Book Overview

The Second Edition of this engaging text for the two-semester applied calculus and finite mathematics course uses intriguing, real-world applications to capture the interest of business, economics,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 061837213X
• ISBN13: 9780618372133
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Brooks Cole
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 4.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Pretty good

I used this book for two semesters and it was great! The book gives examples and explanations. The best thing is that I can sell it after the year ended! The professors rarely change the books for math, so i was able to sell if for almost what i purchased it for.

Two good books, less than the sum of the parts

While I teach a course in finite mathematics and received this book for consideration as a textbook, I will not be adopting it. The course is finite mathematics only and the calculus portions of the books are unsuitable for the class. My personal opinion is that it is a mistake to combine finite mathematics and calculus into a single class. The two topics are so distinct that melding them in a single class is inappropriate. The finite mathematics portion of the book takes up the first 523 pages and calculus the remaining 540 pages. The coverage in the finite mathematics section is standard fare and the chapter headings are as follows: *) Functions *) Mathematics of finance *) Systems of equations and matrices *) Linear programming *) Statistics *) Markov chains The coverage in the applied calculus section is also standard and the chapter headings are as follows: *) Derivatives and their uses *) Further applications of derivatives *) Exponential and logarithmic functions *) Integration and its applications *) Integration techniques and differential equations *) Calculus of several variables Two additional chapters that are available on the web are: *) Game theory *) Logic I cover logic in my course in finite mathematics, so I strongly disagree with the decision to shunt it off to the web. The explanations are within the bounds of most students, although it is clear that this is a text for more advanced students as calculus is not a part of finite mathematics. There are plenty of exercises and solutions to the odd numbered exercises are in the back of the book. In my opinion, it is two books, suitable only for situations where there is a sequence of finite mathematics followed by applied calculus. If only one of the courses is being taught, then the other half of the book is rendered superfluous at best and an expensive hindrance at worst. The cost of textbooks is soaring and there is no reason to force students to purchase more than they really have to.