Subjects:  1. Calculus    2. Mathematics    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Calculus & mathematical analysis    5. Mathematics / Calculus   

Reviews (16)

Notfor Dummies
Now if I were a dummy, and in many ways I am, I would be furious with this book.It doesn't mention until page 4 that the author assumes you've already had a year of algebra.What if I hadn't?What if I was picking up this book because I wanted to learn algebra from scratch?Most anyone would naturally assume that's what this book is for.But right away you'd be lost.Even the "fun facts" would make me heave this thing out the window.Info about "three-term quadratic equations" is a fun fact?Not if you're a compleat dummy and you haven't the foggiest what this woman is talking about.The 2 stars are generous.It's not too bad for an overview of something you already know and merely want to to remember.Thank my stars I do know algebra, but damn...dummies beware.

What????
This book is not for beginners. It assumes you've had at least a year of algebra education.

Good for me
This book was good for me in my Masters program. Now if I can only get my son to use it to pass high school ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - General    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (27)

Comprehensive book for General Topology
This is the text that my first graduate level topology class is using.Over all I find it very well written.The author uses good examples for motivation and explaination of the topics he covers.The exercises are also well thought out and instructive.They're challenging enough to make you really learn the material, but not so hard as to sway the only average mathematician from the subject.I highly recommend this book, even if it's not for your class.It'll be a welcome reference book to add to your math text collection!

Good standard introduction to topology, useful book for textbook, self-study, or reference
This book is pretty much a standard.It has a number of strong points.It is self-contained relative to students even at a fairly elementary level.There are a lot of exercises, and they are appropriate.And, the book is very comprehensive and thorough, covering a lot of material and covering it in good depth.Most of the material is exceptionally easy to read.
very clear introduction
This book is well organised, and the proofs are easy to follow.If you are looking for a solid introduction to topology, then this is the place to start! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Mathematics    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Topology    5. Topology - General    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (4)

Examples and problems constructed by inexperienced students
I have a master's degree in Electrical Engineering.I tutor students who are using this book in a community college course.In layout and in format, the book is very good.The concepts are presented in logical order, and the principles are usually explained well.
Precalculus Only
You are looking for a college algebra book for self-study, review or as a supplement to an assigned book, I presume, and not to buy 50 for a college classroom.
Great, but Packaging needs improvement!
I am very pleased with the process.The book that I ordered was correct and sent promptly.The only problem I had was with the packaging.It came wrapped in plastic ONLY!That caused the book to get damaged corners and dents. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (9)

Art of math?
If you read the other reviews of this book, you might end up thinking, "Are they talking about a math book, or a piece of art?"It might well be both.This book ended up in my hands as the result of a book drive at the office where I work (staff donate books, I sell them, proceeds go to a charitable fund).I ended up buying it.I'm 45, and I'm a psychologist; algebra is not something I use on a regular basis.This book is just so well-made (illustrated, organized, well-explained, comprehensive, rational, realistic), that I could not just let it go by.It made me want to take a math class.

The very best.
This book is perfect. It explains every problem, and unlike most Algebra courese, it prepares you for whats coming. Books like the MaGraw Hill Algebra books just give you a problem and expect you to know how to solve it. Margret L Lial works you up to it, so when you get to the big equations you will actually know how to do them.
Beginning Algebra, Ninth Edition by Margaret L. Lial
This Beginning Algebra book by Lial is, without a doubt, the best elementary Algebra book I have had the pleasure to use.As a tutor of middle school through college level, I have used several Algebra texts from the bigger textbook companies to several homeschool favorites.This text builds logically and has clear and accurate explanations.Concepts that should be learned by heart and rote are highlighted.There is also a plethora of practical application problems which, afterall, is what math is all about - one needs to be able to apply and use the concepts in everyday and career situations. In short, it is easily understood by the self-taught, as well as a delight to use in a teaching situation.There is ample drill and practice to solidify concepts and routines.I'm sticking with this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (18)

Was very useful for algebra review
I needed to brush up on my algebra after some years away doing other things, and had three evenings for that. I found this text very helpful (but I had to spend five evenings in the end). First, it emphasizes the operator view of linear algebra, as opposed to the matrix view; second, the solved problems start with several concrete numeric examples and then move on to proving theorems, so you get practice in both; and third, it is reasonably abstract and succint which saves time if you know the subject but need a quick review.
Better than my texbooks
I have learned more about Linear Algebra from this single book than all my other assorted (and fairly expensive!) texbooks combined; and, for that matter, more than my college class on the subject too. I'm now studying Differential Geometry and I always have this book nearby (in addition to two other Shaum's Outlines: that of Vector Analysis and Differential Geometry). Every textbook has something to offer - at least I usually give them the benefit of the doubt ;-). But for gaining a "working knowledge" of abstract mathematical concepts, there's nothing so enlightening than studying the details of problem solving performed with delightful clarity by an expert in the field. In this book you can become the apprentice to Seymour Lipschutz as he reveals the mysteries that often form clouds in the minds of students of Linear Algebra.Frequently, when working in this text, I would suddenly understand something that seemed so complex or obscure in my other LA texts. Actually, I could then see what those other texts were attempting to convey but because of their particular styles, they were just a bit "pedagogically challenged" :-)
Decided not to use it because of too many typos
Regrettably I can only give a partial review of this book.From some of the other reviews, it looks like this may in fact be a decent text, but the number of errors I encountered in the answers to the first set of problems was so annoying that I decided not to continue using this book.By the third addition I would expect most errors to have been corrected, but that is not the case here. The errors I ran across appear to be mostly typos, and I can understand a book having some typos, but to have so many in the first set of problems was enough to make me look for another text.Another reviewer mentioned that the errors were obvious.True, they were, but it was still annoying and a waste of time to have to deal with.Also, the errors were obvious in the first chapter because it was all review material, but what about later chapters when the material would not be a review?It just wasn't something I was willing to risk.I've given the book a neutral three star rating since I can't thoroughly review it, but I'll let you decide if it's worth it to give the book a chance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Algebra - Linear    3. Algebras, Linear    4. Linear Algebra    5. Mathematics    6. Outlines, syllabi, etc    7. Study Guides    8. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (4)

Perfect book to reintroduce algebra
I used this book in my first back-to-college algebra class, and it is a great book. Easy to understand explanations and step-by-step instructions made algebra way easier than I remembered! Please note: the companion solutions manual has many wrong answers. The book itself, however, is great. If your class is using this book, you will do well.

best math text I have ever used
I wish he had written all of my text books.Everything is clearly laid out with examples that are broken down into small steps to make understanding even clearer.

Not afraid of Algebra now !
I would really like to thank Mr. Angel for putting together a great book. I have to admit that I was afraid of Algebra until I started studying from this book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (1)

Couldn't have asked for it any better!
When I got my book I was shocked.I expected the book was going to be ragged but I couldn't even tell it was used! I thought it was new! I am definitely ordering my books from ya'll for now on!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Graphic Methods    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Textbooks    6. Trigonometry    7. Elementary geometry & trigonometry    8. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (6)

A well defended postion, but perhaps a bit too defensive
I was at one time a research scientist, but not a physicist. I took a year of Quantum Mechanics, but certainly don't regard myself as very knowledgeable in this area or mathematics. Therefore, this review is coming from a space of being an educated layperson with a broad background and open mind. I think this is important to know before you read more of my review.
not trivial, not definitive
First some background.I am not a physicist or involved in this field in any way so my review is aimed at the amateur who wants to know about the state of affairs in physics and specifically string theory.
A timely and honest critique
I've been following the arguments made by Peter Woit against String Theory for quite some time, and it's a pleasure to be able to have them all in a single volume. His arguments are very persuasive, and his writing clear and to the point. This, however, is not a book that the general audience will find easy to follow. The earlier chapters recount the canonical story of the success of the particlephysics in the 20th century, and if you are familiar with that story you can safely skip these chapters. The later chapters are the really interesting ones, but unless you have at least some familiarity with theoretical particle physics and the modern mathematics, you might find yourself lost. Even with that caveat it is still possible to appreciate the central theme of this book: theoretical particle physics took a wrong turn somewhere in the late 70s and the early 80s, and has never been able to recover from this. Woit is appealing in this book to the practitioners in the field to be more honest with their assessments of the direction in which the theoretical particle physics is headed, and the lack of any meaningful progress.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Mathematics    3. Number Theory    4. Physics    5. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Quantum Theory    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. String models    11. Supersymmetry    12. Symmetry (Physics)    13. Particle & high-energy physics    14. Popular science   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Algebra - Intermediate    5. Mathematics    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Mathematics / General   

Reviews (1)

Excellent work!
Thank you, Mr. M. Skura for a quick devivery of this book. I do appreciate it! And the book is in a good condition, nothing to say.Thanx again. I didn't expect it so soon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (1)

Very detailed and helpful
This book was very helpful and detailed. I did my algebra class online so I didn't have a teacher right infront of me when I had a question. Luckily, because of this books' specifity and detailed explinations, I was able to answer my own question and not have to go through the lengthy process of e-mailing back and forth with my teacher to get an answer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. General    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Algebra   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - General    3. Geometry, Analytic    4. Mathematics    5. Pre-Calculus    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Textbooks    8. Trigonometry    9. Elementary geometry & trigonometry    10. Mathematics / General   

Reviews (16)

A Great Book to Study Multivariable Calculus!
I'm a math major and it was my first course that I took to meet the math requirements. I had assignments almost daily but we didn't go over the assignments deeply in the class. Therefore, I had to self-studied a lot and I actually got more help from the Student Solution Manual of the book. This book is very concise to read as well. I always think that if I paid more attention in this text seriously, I would do better in the class. I suggest to buy the solution manual book together.

Superlative
This book covers all the standard vector calculus material. What sets it apart is the pedagogic skill of the author. It is very carefully written and motivated, with clear worked examples for each new concept. A student could work through this book independently.
INCOMPREHENSIBLE!!!
Hope and pray that your professor is awesome, because the explanations in this book are absolutely incomprehensible. Also, some of the hints in the exercises are ridiculous, such as "Be careful when you do this" and "Think carefully"!!! Is the author implicitly saying that the rest of the problems can be done while being careless, or what?
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Subjects:  1. Calculus    2. Mathematics    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Vector Analysis    5. Mathematics / Calculus    6. Vector & tensor analysis   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. General    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Mathematics / General   

Reviews (7)

Used to be a good book...
I used the 6th edition for a lot of the begining studying on many calculus subjects. While this book is easy, it still teaches you the stuff. You understand the material, not just get these mechanical processes to apply to the freakishly hard problems that you get. I would suggest looking for the 6th edition though...
superb
This is big, heavy, hardbound freshman text that will take you very slowly but completely into single-variable calculus.It also contains an exhaustive section on analytic geometry.
Not Happy with 7th.
I loved 6th. ed.But I'm not happy with the 7th.Bivens and Davis have clearly taken over and ruined a great textbook.I'm looking for another textbook the next time around.The other teachers at my college seem to agree.Read more

Subjects:  1. Calculus    2. Mathematics    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Calculus & mathematical analysis    5. Mathematics / Calculus   

Reviews (9)

Better for tutoring than the AP Test
i go through calculus books the way some people go through Kleenex so i'll just say this:if you are needing review or find your calculus text book verbose or maybe just some extra help in a lower level calc class purchse this one.
Dissapointed
I bought princeton U.S. history ap and calculus Ap this year.
This book's not so awesome. . .
Well, I used this book in preparation for my Calculus AB exam.Some of this text's features bothered me when I was studying.For one, the book wasn't well organized, as there was no clear distinction between what was AB material and what was solely BC material.You can sort of figure that out for yourself, however, if you know what's tested pretty well.Also, I disliked the problems that were like, "Try it on your own.".There are too many problems that get redundant pretty quickly.If you can do one, you can do several of them.Also, for the few problems that you cannot work out, there is no guide in the back that tells you step-by-step how to do them.There is only an answer key in the back.Also, the practice tests are a bit too easy.
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Subjects:  1. Advanced Placement    2. Advanced placement programs (Education)    3. Calculus    4. Examinations    5. Study Aids    6. Study Guides    7. Test Prep    8. Study Aids / Advanced Placement   

Reviews (42)

Shameful Plugs for Study Guide
Perhaps the most important questions at the end of each section are the true/false questions dealing with the concepts developed in the section. The computational problems are good for learning the algorithms but the true/false questions represent what you need to know.
Excellent Text and Reference
This is an ideal text, which serves as both a clear guide for the beginner and a valuable reference for the practicing professional. All points are very clearly and efficiently explained. Anyone should be able to understand this text.

Babble
I like Math, Not circler illogic.Took this course in 1997; while my professor was initially excited since he had known Lay, he soon simply shook his head in disgust, and said he needs to talk to his old friend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Algebra - Linear    3. Algebras, Linear    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Linear algebra    7. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Biomathematics    2. Calculus    3. Life Sciences - Biology - General    4. Mathematics    5. Medicine    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Biology, Life Sciences    8. Calculus & mathematical analysis    9. Mathematics / Calculus    10. Medicine: General Issues   

Editorial Review

Cryptographic techniques have applications far beyond the obvious uses of encoding and decoding information. For Internet developers who need to know about capabilities, such as digital signatures, that depend on cryptographic techniques, there's no better overview than Read more

Reviews (96)

A must-have book for understanding Cryptography.
This book has really shed a lot of light on cryptography for me. I honestly can't put it down--I wish I had paid more attention in my statistics classes so I could be able to apply some of the stuff the author talks about better. I am about half way through the book, and I haven't gotten to the point where it's more of a chore than a pleasure to read it (something I can't about my other technical books).
Prepare to drink from the firehose
This book is really incredible.When it was first published in the mid-90's, there was almost no material available on the subject of cryptography.Now, ten years later, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of books riding on Schneier's coattails - but almost none have anything new or useful to say.Impeccably researched (with 1,653 references!) and unarguably complete, Schneier's expertise in theoretical mathematics, experience as a practitioner, and razor-sharp lucidity combine to make this the only book you'll ever need on the subject of cryptography.

Text Book for School
The book was in excellent condition.The book came within the alloted time period.No complaints! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer security    3. Computers - Computer Security    4. Computers - Languages / Programming    5. Cryptography    6. Discrete Mathematics    7. Programming Languages - General    8. Security - General    9. Security measures    10. Telecommunication    11. Computers / Security    12. Data security & data encryption