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Summary: I rocked the calculus sequence...
Review: ... thanks in part to this book. There is a TON of information in your calculus textbook, but this book distills and simplifies the very most important highlights. It is very important to start out in calculus *really* understanding what's going on, rather than just trying to figure out how to crank out the problems, and this book helped me with that up front. They even give awesome and accurate hints about which problems are usually given on final exams.I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to put in the time and energy to do well in the calculus sequence. Great conversational tone and humor break up those monotonous study hours too. Amy in Oregon
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Summary: Brilliant
Review: After a 20 year "break", I decided to complete my EE degree. I am stationed overseas in the US Navy, and do not have access to any traditional classroom courses beyond basic college algebra. Consequently, I am forced to take all of my classes via distance learning.
Calculus can be difficult enough, but knocking 20 years of cobwebs loose with no professor, was nearly impossible.... That is, until I found this book, and How To Ace The Rest of Calculus.
I believe that I am far enough along in my studies to say that I think like an Engineer, and frankly, many mathematicians annoy me to no end. It seems as though most textbooks are written more to impress the reader with the author's vast knowledge, than to clearly and concisely explain the fundamental concepts of Calculus.
This book does just that. It removes all mystery from the verbose ramblings of traditional textbooks, and plainly explains difficult ideas.
I am certain that mathematicians the world over are using all available means to remove this book from shelves. It lets out a secret that has been more closely guarded than any nuclear weapons technology.... CALCULUS IS EASY!!!!
By the way, I got an A in Calc I and Calc II.
Buy this book, or struggle with the masses.
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Summary: You WILL ace calc with this book!
Review: Calculus doesn't need to be approached with reverence and intimidation: this book presents calculus concepts with humor and common sense. The first part gives valuable advice in choosing a calc professor (sorry to you high school students who can't pick and choose your teacher), and rules for how to ask questions and study efficiently. The concepts are explained in a very understandable way, and the authors poke fun at the traditional textbook presentation of word problems, but the examples are not trivial. These are real calculus problems; the only difference between these and the ones in your textbook is that this book explains them better. Some "calculus help" books contain serious errors, but this one is as accurate as it is entertaining. I loaned this book to one of the calculus students I tutor, and after reading through a few chapters she bought my copy!
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Summary: awesome!
Review: For my AP Calculus AB class I had bought Cliff's AP Calculus, Barron's Calculus, and this book, How to Ace Calculus. Barron had to be the most dry and boring book of all. Cliff is nice because it presents the concepts in a neat layout. Yet the obvious winner is How to Ace Calculus. Using this book, I was able to understand all the concepts very clearly and Calculus was believe it or not, EASY! I won't lie to you, I am a very good math student, and math is my favorite subject, but I think this book would be able to help anyone reach their 'maximum' grade. Of course it won't teach you everything there is to know about Calculus...just what you need to know to Ace the class. It takes only about 10 minutes to read a section, and by the time you have finished reading it, the concept becomes clear to you and you can apply it on your own. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a (stupid) tutor, or wasting hours and hours smacking your head against the desk, why not shell out some lunch money and invest in this book? Trust me, it's worth it. I'm planning on buying their sequel for my Calculus BC class I am taking next year.
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Summary: A threat to Calculus as it is currently taught
Review: I am a math professor at a large state university. Like math departments everywhere, we depend on calculus students for our very existence. Students who fail Calculus, or repeat customers as we like to call them, are of course the most highly appreciated of all. An otherwise good student, given the right combination of obscure lectures and unreadable texts, may pay for the same Calculus course 2, 3 or even 4 times. The Streetwise Guide is too thin and too cheap. Moreover, the writing style gives ordinary students what they need to master Calculus the first time they take it. In other words, this book is a threat to mathematics departments everywhere.
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Summary: This book SAVED MY LIFE senior year
Review: I was really scared when I discovered that my high school calc class would be based on test scores alone, with no homework grades to fall back on. After getting a 70% on the first test of the year, I realized I might be in trouble. So, I went on amazon.com and bought this book. I am completely honest when I say that it saved my life. I got a 96% on the next test after that and I continued to do well for the rest of the year. I even managed a 5 on the AP exam largely because of this book's awesome explainations. The only reason I give it 4 not 5 stars was because it was missing key topics like volums of revolution (disk, washer, and shell method), and as a result those were my greatest weaknesses in the class -- I don't kid when I say this book saved me sooo many times. Now I'm off to college and ready for Calc-2 and I will DEFINITELY be buying the sequel.
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Summary: A Sweet Tooth for the Senses
Review: I've had the pleasure of finding this gem while searching for a clearer picture of the many topics contained within this quirky world we call calculus. Written in an upbeat manner that may seem sappy at times, this book is a pleasant change of pace to that offered by weightier counterparts. More importantly, the author does not try to teach by spewing out intellectual goop in rapid succession without first providing substance through the use of colloquial articulation--in written form, of course. Many of the calculus books I've bought also give tips to avoid mistakes. However, this book includes vivid examples and humorous stories not found in any of the others. I recommend using this book as a reference, especially if you're in an Asian-based education system! This book will provide you with a foundation of general understanding towards the more essential topics. To math buffs: proofs for the formal definitions are lacking--found in weightier textbooks. Use this book when others leave you in befuddlement and animosity in this quirky world of calculus.
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Summary: Funny
Review: In Calculus I, I was taught using computer programs how to solve Calculus problems but never actually learned Calculus. This put me in a tough spot when I had to start Calculus II and didn't know what I was doing. In this course we weren't allowed to use calculators and everything I learned in Calculus I became useless. Fortunately, I came across this book and I was able to teach myself Calculus in a matter of days. I also tried several other Calculus supplements and the only one I can recommend is "How To Ace Calculus" and its sequel for anyone taking Calc II & III. Whether you're dumping a fortune into an education on brushing up on some old math this book is the only supplement you need.
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Summary: Most popular option, but there are better alternatives
Review: It has been my experience that few can teach calculus and few can write a textbook that makes any sense to the student. I find after sitting in class, and leaving with more questions than answers, then tuning to my text for their crazy long approaches to problems, this book finally turns the lights on. After reading the sections from this book on what was covered in class I finally understand. It even seems easy. I can skip the humor in this book. But the material is clear and to the point. The descriptions are direct and not over done. This book can say in two pages what my text needs ten pages to over explain and never get the point across. I know I could make it without this book, but this book sure cuts the time I need to gain enlightenment. I tried to read ahead, but I find this book is best used if you re-cover the material you just were supposed to have learned in class. I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: Scared of math? This book is for you
Review: My dad bought me this book the summer before my senior year in high school (this year) - I looked at it and thought, "yeah, right." I'm a humanities person, I got a C in my last term of Pre-calculus, and I didn't think some book was going to help. However, once my AP Calc class started, I thought "hey, might as well give it a try." That was the best idea I've had in a long time. Mr. Adams and friends explain the concepts so clearly that I have to wonder what the authors of standard calculus texts were thinking when they wrote their books. Not only do I have an A- in the class, I have a much better understanding of what we're actually learning than the students who used to do better than me by just following all the formulas. In short, I am acing calculus, and (this is very hard for me to admit) enjoying it as well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who panics at the thought of calculus.
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