Thomas- Calculus (11th Edition) Description:

Thomas' Calculus (11th Edition) review:
3 stars (the book not in good condition) - I expect more frpm the item, comparing with the written review by the seller. Price acceptable.
5 stars (One of the better university mathematics textbooks) - This textbook is by far one of those actually worth buying. I struggled through that awful, miserable excuse for a calculus text by Edwards and Penney, and was a little more impressed with Stewart and Anton. But I pulled out of my calculus courses and decided to get a bit more preparation in before taking them again.



I started out with Calculus Made Easy by Silvanus P. Thompson and Martin Gardner, then went back to by old high school texts and made sure I understood everything. You don't need those huge, expensive Elementary and Intermediate Algebra texts; you can get away with Introductory Mathematics by Petocz, Petocz and Wood, published by Nelson/Thomson Learning (http://www.nelson.com.au). What you need to understand calculus is a good intuitive feel for algebra and to know *why*, not just *how*. There's a big difference.



Once you've spent a couple of months sweating over your algebra, geometry and trigonometry texts, it's then time to reap the rewards and learn calculus.



Thomas and Finney's Calculus and Analytic Geometry is extremely well written, with the right balance between applied mathematics for scientists and engineers and pure mathematics (proofs and stuff like that). If you're a math major, or intending to become a math major, then you'll want to use this book along with Apostol's Calculus and Spivak's Calculus.



One thing I learned the hard way was that putting off mathematics has the effect of slamming the doors in your face. Interesting and useful university courses are out of reach, career options are out of reach, and you're left in the dark when it comes to science and technology. The good news is that with a bit of hard work it will all suddenly fall in place. Mathematics is the foundation of all science and technology, and, of course, the foundation of the exciting new mathematics which will be the basis of technology 30 years from now! Do yourself a favour and pick up Thomas and Finney's Calculus and Analytic Geometry.



If you've ever struggled with awful calculus texts, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this one. (Remember, make sure you've got your high school algebra under your thumb).
5 stars (A better book for Calculus) - I've been rather impressed with this book. Rather than just focusing on how to go about the processes of the calculus (i.e., how to differentiate, to integrate, etc...) this book takes good time to explain why and how various things work the way they do.



Every elementary Calculus book must sweep some things under the rug; the alternative is to cover very few results and sacrifice breadth. This book strikes a good balance between breadth and depth.



In particular I found the sections on multivariate calculus illuminatory.