Recommend a few good books?

[supernova1203]

I am finishing my 11th grade mathematics course at the moment and am getting 80s, and i want to prepare for advanced functions/calculus before i take the courses, i read the reviews on this particular book (Mathematics, from the birth of numbers) and it looked great but when i bought it, it turned out to be more an encyclopedia on every mathematical subject(from basics to the stuff you would need in engineering, differential equations etc...) but as far as doing A LOT of problems and practice it offers very little...

can you guys recommend a few good practice books on precalculus practice as well as calculus and even possibly beyond? What i am looking for is something that i can work on and study, shut the door, put my study hat on and get to crunching,

a lot of problems, their solutions somewhere in the book and even demonstrations on how to solve problems?

Personally i like to take things apart and put them back together to understand things, and prefer to study without any answers or help or hints(but just incase i get stuck completely those things are good to have to get past a hurdle)

I will take engineering in university so keep in mind the more challenging the problems and the greater the number of problems the better :) I dont really want another encyclopedia

here is the link to the book i bought: http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Birth-Numbers-Jan-Gullberg/dp/039304002X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299341653&sr=8-1
something not like this @_@

Course books are nice but id like to study the subjects before i enroll in a course :)

[Petek]

The Schaum series (both Outlines and Solved Problems) may be just what you're looking for. Here's a link to an Outline of Precalculus (http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-PreCalculus-2nd-Ed/dp/0071508643/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299345628&sr=1-1). You may be able to find books from this series in a bookstore near you and look at them before buying. Amazon also shows previews of some of the books.

[fourier jr]

here's 3000 solved problems also
http://www.amazon.com/3000-Solved-Problems-Precalculus-Schaums/dp/0070553653

those schaum's books almost always cover more than what's covered in a regular course, so if you work though one of those books you'll do fine. & they're dirt cheap too, usually ~$25 brand-new. the only issue I have with the solved problem series is that the answers are given right after the problem statement rather than at the end of the book. (or at least section or chapter)

[Galgenstrick]

here's 3000 solved problems also
http://www.amazon.com/3000-Solved-Problems-Precalculus-Schaums/dp/0070553653

those schaum's books almost always cover more than what's covered in a regular course, so if you work though one of those books you'll do fine. & they're dirt cheap too, usually ~$25 brand-new. the only issue I have with the solved problem series is that the answers are given right after the problem statement rather than at the end of the book. (or at least section or chapter)


I use these for almost every subject, they are the best, and the questions reasonable and similar to exam questions.

[mathwonk]

precalculus books as a whole are a pretty mediocre lot. I recommend as the b est possible preparation for calculus, a good book like "principles of mathematics" by allendoerfer and oakley. Its the one I had in high school. it has logic, which most books do not, as well as a little set theory and boolean algebra and regular algebra and analytic geometry.


Principles of Mathematics
Allendoerfer, C.B. And C.O. Oakley
Bookseller: L Paxton
(Surrey, BC, Canada)

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Book Description: McGraw-Hill, 1955. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Fairly Good. No Jacket. cloth cover has some edge wear. Bookseller Inventory # 003270

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or you can find one in MA for $10 that charges probably $4 for shipping:

Principles of Mathematics
Allendoerfer & Oakley
Bookseller: TNL BOOKS
(Hatfield, MA, U.S.A.)

Bookseller Rating:
Quantity Available: 1
Book Description: McGraw-Hill, 1955. Cloth. Book Condition: Good. Bookseller Inventory # 034259

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[mathwonk]

but if you just want a solved problems book, this is not that. rather it explains what you should really know, it is not drill.

[kuahji]

For both calculus and pre-calculus there are quite a few good practice books, as well as online help.

Calculus Problem Solver
http://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Problem-Solver-REA-Solvers/dp/0878915052/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299424846&sr=1-1
These problem solver books have so many worked problems, its ridiculous.

Pre-Calculus version
http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Calculus-Problem-Solver-REA-Solvers/dp/0878915567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299425096&sr=1-1

A lot of times if you just get the student solution manual to the textbook you're using it's a big help.

Another book that helped me get through calculus
The Humongous Book of Calculus Problems
http://www.amazon.com/Humongous-Book-Calculus-Problems-People/dp/1592575129/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299425122&sr=1-1

Other than that, like others have said, the Schaum's Outline series is great as well. All the books listed are geared to solving problems but don't contain much theory, just so you know.

[kuahji]

Also one of the best free online sites I've found is

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/CalcI.aspx

It has some algebra as well... but it takes you all the way up to differential equations. Many worked examples.

[supernova1203]

For both calculus and pre-calculus there are quite a few good practice books, as well as online help.

Calculus Problem Solver
http://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Problem-Solver-REA-Solvers/dp/0878915052/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299424846&sr=1-1
These problem solver books have so many worked problems, its ridiculous.

Pre-Calculus version
http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Calculus-Problem-Solver-REA-Solvers/dp/0878915567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299425096&sr=1-1

A lot of times if you just get the student solution manual to the textbook you're using it's a big help.

Another book that helped me get through calculus
The Humongous Book of Calculus Problems
http://www.amazon.com/Humongous-Book-Calculus-Problems-People/dp/1592575129/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299425122&sr=1-1

Other than that, like others have said, the Schaum's Outline series is great as well. All the books listed are geared to solving problems but don't contain much theory, just so you know.

I have a good book on theory, http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Birth-Numbers-Jan-Gullberg/dp/039304002X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299427847&sr=8-1

Besides, i have a tendency to create my own theories as i go along anyway :) I call it mathematical improvisation ( kinda like music :P)