What is Textbook: Definition and 998 Discussions

A textbook is a book containing a comprehensive compilation of content in a branch of study with the intention of explaining it. Textbook are produced to meet the needs of educators, usually at educational institutions. Schoolbooks are textbooks and other books used in schools. Today, many textbooks are published in both print and digital formats.

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  1. M

    Looking For bubble physics university textbook

    Hi I'm doing a project on bubbles, and I'm trying to find resources on bubble physics. My professor said that there is a classic on by clive, but couldn't remember the details, and I can't find it anywhere. Could anybody help? Recommendations for any other good textbooks on basic bubble...
  2. dkotschessaa

    Error-riffic textbook written by a University Professor

    I will not mention the book by name unless I have to. However... I have a textbook for a class, which is quite bad. Amazon reviews of the book show 1 star ratings and terrible reviews. The book is error ridden, and there are quite a few typos and mistakes. The author teaches at my...
  3. E

    A good textbook in Differential Equations for pure mathematicians

    Hi I am a physics major and I am trying to double major in math,I will be taking a differential equations course for pure math students this semester. I need advice on a good textbook in Differential Equations for pure mathematicians that will build up a great intuition for proofs and will have...
  4. H

    Introductory Time Series Analysis Textbook

    I'll be taking an introductory course on time series analysis in the spring, and we will be using the instructor's online notes as the "textbook". My previous experiences with such instructor's notes have been that they contain only the essentials of the course and aren't really useful as...
  5. P

    What Is the Ideal Particle Physics Textbook for Theoretical Beginners?

    What is the best particle physics textbook (for a first course in particle physics) for someone with a background of quantum field theory? P.S. I am interested in theoretical particle physics
  6. P

    No idea what the textbook is doing

    I mean, I used a similar method as they're using, but I didn't get their answer at all. Where did the x-4 come from? (I used x-6), also, I got d = (6-x)tan50 and d = xtan(3) solving this to get x = 4.04
  7. T

    Continuum Mechanics textbook with solutions at back / available

    Hi all, I'm currently trying to teach myself continuum mechanics (as I am enrolled in a course for which continuum mechanics is a pre requisite and have never taken such course) I have been reading a book by mase and mase "introduction to continuum mechanics for engineers" 2nd edition. I...
  8. D

    Group theory textbook suggestions?

    I'm looking for a text that covers group theory and its applications for QM and QFT, targeted towards an audience that knows their QM but is ignorant of everything quantum fieldy. Any recommendations?
  9. V

    Calorimetry & Thermodynamics textbook

    I am studying for the IPhO and I am using University Physics by HD Young. I think that the book's problems in Calorimetry and Thermodynamics are not very good and also there are not detailed solutions to the problems. Can anybody propose to me any good textbook with more problems and detailed...
  10. B

    Vector Calculus Problem - Griffith Textbook

    I have a problem in the Griffith textbook (Introduction to Electrodynamics), Question 1.21, where it asks what is the meaning of the vector (A.∇)B, my simplistic approach would be to calculate the divergence of A which should be a scalar and multiply it out by Bx,By,Bz) to compute the x...
  11. D

    Finding the Best Textbook for Differential Equations

    Hi, I searched the forums but was unable to find any thread about DE textbooks so I'll start one. I'm looking for a good DE textbook, mostly focusing on ODEs, something comprehensive and complete and not too old fashioned. Does anybody have any recommendations? Thanks.
  12. G

    Don't understand critical part of derivation in textbook.

    I've been working my way through Intro to Electrodynamics (Griffiths), and in Chapter 3, one of the derivations comes out to ∫sin(n\piy/a) sin(n'\piy/a) dy ={ 0 if n'\neqn a/2 if n'=n where the function is...
  13. F

    Thermodynamics textbook recommendations

    Right now I have been finally thinking on buying a thermodynamics book, however I don't know which, preferably beginning then progress to the meat and potatoes etc. like a normal schedule. Any titles you guys/gals would suggest me to invest in?
  14. S

    : Analysis 2 Textbook recommendations please?

    Hello, My father will be visiting the UK soon. I live in a developing country where not many books are available, so he'll be bringing them here. Now, I have already compiled a list of quite a few books. I am particularly looking forward to Munkres' Topology and Sutherland's Metric Spaces and...
  15. L

    Moment of Inertia textbook workings don't make sense.

    Homework Statement Question is about buckling, so i know i need to work out I (moment of Inertia), which is for a hollow tube. Homework Equations So the paper states..I = (0.08^4 - 0.06^4)∏/64 = 1.37 x 10^-6 m4 When i do that on my calculator, i don't get this answer. Puzzled...
  16. T

    Statistical Mechanics Textbook

    I'm looking for a first-year graduate level stat mech textbook. What are the best ones out there?
  17. J

    Algebraic Geometry Textbook Recommendations

    So I have been meaning to learn a little algebraic geometry for some time now, but have never gotten around to it. Since classes are just now winding down for the year, I figured that it was an ideal time to self-study a bit. Now for a bit about my background: I know that commutative algebra...
  18. D

    Any Legal Issues with Posting Solutions to Textbook Problems?

    Hi, all. My friend is teaching a physics class. She personally has worked out and LaTeXed solutions to many of the problems from the class text with the intention of posting them online so students can use them to study. I'm mildly concerned that this might violate some sort of copyright...
  19. U

    Looking for a Better Mechanics Textbook? Any Suggestions?

    I'm currently in a mechanics course (second year) that uses the David Morin book (Introduction to Classical Mechanics) which I find to be very unhelpful. It's mostly just problems with very little explanation of the concepts. I'm looking for a textbook to replace Morin's which covers the same...
  20. J

    What is the recommended textbook for upper division EM at community college?

    My community college physics instructor thought a certain textbook would be a good supplement to Lorrain and Corson's Fundamentals of Electromagnetic Phenomena. I was looking at something at the time and didn't pay enough attention, so now I don't remember exactly any of the authors, although I...
  21. W

    Looking for Textbook Suggestions

    Funny story, or maybe I'm just dumb and don't understand why my professor is being all petulant about this. ∫∫h(x,y)dA If z = h(x,y) and h(x,y) = f(x)g(y) ∫∫f(x)g(y)dxdy = ∫f(x)dx∫g(y)dy I did this on my own while working through some double integral hw. Seems obvious, and the...
  22. U

    Is Motion Mountain textbook good?

    Hi, Have anyone of you used Motion Mountain physics textbook?. Many people on the web said that it is a very bad textbook. But I don't understand why it is bad? Do anyone of you have a different opinion about that textbook? or if you too find it bad I want to know why it is bad. Thanks is...
  23. idir93

    Solving SHM Problem: Stuck Between Textbook & My Attempt

    Hello guys i was trying to solve some problem of simple harmonic motion. as it is well explaind in the title I'm not getting the same result as my textbook manual solution. Problem: A block of unknown mass is attached to a spring with a spring constant of 6:50 N/m and undergoes simple...
  24. N

    Need a Good Textbook on Probability.

    Need a Good Textbook on Probability. Please Help! Hello! I would be very grateful if someone could help me. I am at pains trying to find a book on probability which would be both rigorous and would begin from the very basics. It appears that mathematically acceptable books do not apply...
  25. C

    Studying Is it OK to ask professor to use different textbook?

    next semester I will be taking a grad level solid state course. It will be using a textbook that is literally 40 years old: Ashcroft. Is it OK for me to suggest to the professor to use a more modern textbook (with absolutely no hope that the suggestion will be listened to; just want to put...
  26. P

    Find a Physics Textbook: Get Recommendations Here

    Hi Guys, I have lost my physics textbook that I had in college, and would like to have one to reference at work. I was wondering if you guys had any good recommendations for a "general physics" textbook that I could buy. Thanks.
  27. alemsalem

    Which textbook to learn scattering theory from

    I'm trying to learn scattering theory in quantum mechanics. and I'm trying to decide between Sakurai, Merzbacher and Landau. I heard good things about Landau's books but I never looked at them. any advice?
  28. W

    Any good textbook on soft matter physics?

    any suggestions?
  29. L

    Calculus Textbook for Home Education Student

    Hello all, I'm considering Calculus 4th edition from M. Spivak for my Senior year Calculus book along with George Simmons Calculus with Analytic Geometry for a joint 18.01 MIT OCW and self-study curriculum. I understand that his book involves quite some rigor and ruthless problems, but...
  30. K

    A problem in Griffith's textbook of electrodynamics, P189.

    Homework Statement Exercise 1: Suppose a infinite plane z=0 divides the 3-dimensional space into two parts. The region below z=0 is filled with linear dielectric material of susceptibility \chi. The bound charge density at z=0 is \sigma. Find the electric field of the two regions...
  31. P

    Advanced physics probelm involving conservation, from six ideas Unit C textbook

    Homework Statement A neutrino must pass within about 10^-18m of a quark to have any chance of interacting with it. Thus, the maximum target area that a quark presents to a neutrino is about 10^-36m^2. However, a neutrino moves so quickly and the weak interaction is so weak that...
  32. T

    Choosing the Best Introductory Calculus Textbook: Non-Biased Reviews

    Hello, I need help with deciding which textbook to buy. All I want is your non-biased opinions on which is the better introduction Calculus book. Calculus by Ron Larson Calculus, Vol. 1: One-Variable Calculus, with an Introduction to Linear Algebra by Tom M. Apostol Calculus...
  33. O

    Geometry + Trigonometry Textbook

    Basically, I want a trigonometry textbook, but a lot of the texts on trigonometry use theorems in geometry as though you are already familiar with them and simply skip proofs for these theorems (such as Pythagoras theorem, some properties of triangles, properties of quadrilaterals and triangles...
  34. E

    Most Rigorous General Chemistry Textbook

    I am seeking the most challenging and rigorous gen. chem. textbook to learn from. I have it pretty well narrowed to Oxtoby vs. Atkins. Caltech appears to use Oxtoby. Furthermore, the description for the Oxtoby book touts itself as "the most modern, rigorous, and chemically and mathematically...
  35. B

    Textbook for junior level electricity and magnetism

    Since the instructor of my course doesn't use a textbook and just teaches based off his notes, what would be a good text to supplement my learning (when asked what he recomends, he just said find something in the library). Does electrodynamics = electricty and magnetism? I've heard this one is...
  36. M

    Should I use recommended textbook for Calc 1?

    I will be starting calculus 1 in a few weeks and I was wondering if i should use "Essential Calculus - Early Transcendentals" our reccomended textbook. I was going to buy it on amazon but noticed it got a lot of negative reviews. I am the sort of student that needs to learn a lot from the book...
  37. L

    How long does it take a textbook to become obsolete?

    Recently, I bought a number of cheap Dover textbooks on (mathematical) topics I am going to study coming semester, including Abstract Algebra, Differential Geometry and Functional Analysis. I found some of the books remarkably clear and well-written, but as I was reading through them and looked...
  38. J

    Complex Arithmetic - Mathematica agrees with me, textbook says I'm wrong.

    Mathematica agrees with my second solution (not the first one though). The back of my textbook says: "\sqrt[4]{8}[\cos(\frac{5\pi}{8}) + i\sin(\frac{5\pi}{8})] and \sqrt[4]{8}[\cos(\frac{13\pi}{8}) + i\sin(\frac{13\pi}{8})]" Edit: The second z in my picture should be |z|, the modulus...
  39. I

    Which vector analysis textbook covers spherical and cylindrical coordinates?

    Can you suggest me a book in vector analysis which covers spherical and cylindrical coordinates. My professor discusses the calculation of volume, surface area and curve length, by integrating differential surface and volume elements in terms of cartesian, spherical and cylindrical coordinates...
  40. W

    Where Can I Find Recommended References for Learning Particle Physics?

    I want to study the standard model of particle physics and i want to use some event generator software (Pythia, CompHep, ... ), I have Introduction to Particle Physics by Griffth Is this enough to learn the Standard Model, I have some basics in Quantum Mechanics Any Recommendations ?
  41. P

    Early Abstract Algebra Problem - Pinter's Textbook

    Homework Statement This problem is from Charles C. Pinter's A Book of Abstract Algebra, Second Edition. The problem is B7 of Chapter 2.Show that the operation * is either associative or not. x*y=\frac{xy}{x+y+1} This problem seems simple to me: I keep arriving at YES for an answer...
  42. C

    OpenStax Free College Physics Textbook

    This free online physics book seems really great for a newbie like me. It's free and covers what my school calls general physics I and II, plus more I think. Enjoy! http://cnx.org/content/m42955/latest/?collection=col11406/1.7
  43. O

    E&M textbook for a physical chemist

    Hi all, I am a graduate student in physical chemistry and I have discovered a fairly large hole in my knowledge. I am designing some experiments that will study the behavior of ions in magnetic fields. I don't have much background in E&M fields past a general physics course. Do you have any...
  44. E

    Projectile Motion problem (is my textbook wrong?)

    Homework Statement "A slingshot fires a stone horizontally from a tower 32 metres high, and it lands 135 metres from the foot of the tower. What was the speed at which it left the slingshot?" Verticle Height = 32m Horizontal Distance = 135m The Attempt at a Solution I first calculated...
  45. D

    Unproved statement from my textbook

    I've included a pic of a section of Arnold's Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics. The relevant passage is: "Since h_*^s preserves L, the translation of the solution, h^s\circ \mathbf{\varphi}:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow M also satisfies Lagrange's equation for any s." Maybe Arnold thought...
  46. 1

    Physics textbook, replace sine with its definition (?)

    physics textbook, replace sine with its definition (?) What on Earth do they mean? "That will introduce either sin(theta) or cos(theta). Reduce the resulting two variables, x and theta, to one, x, by replacing the trigonometric function with an expression (its definition) involving x and y."...
  47. T

    Textbook to help me understand eigenvectors and diagonalization

    Hi, I'm currently self-teaching myself some mathematics needed to study physics. I'm working through the book Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences by Mary L Boas. The book is a well known one, and it's used in many physics programs to teach their math courses. However, I've read the...
  48. J

    A Textbook that combines biology, chemistry, and physics?

    Is there any textbook or any book (introductory, mostly) out there that combines the teaching of physics, biology, and chemistry phenomenon while appropriately teaching the details for each of the fields as it goes on. Or anything similar?
  49. R

    Can anyone suggest a linear algebra textbook?

    I've seen loads of "what is the best Linear Algebra" threads but none quite match what I'm looking for. I'm currently using David Lay's Linear Algebra and its Applications, and I find the book readable, but strange. He changes notations quite often and sometimes I have to try to figure out what...
  50. D

    Cryptic statement from my textbook

    This paragraph comes right after the authors derived the Hamiltonian of a rotating system, H=H_{\omega=0}-\omega l_z: "The noninertial effects of rotation would lead to a considerably more complicated form using Lagrangian instead of Hamiltonian dynamics. The simplicity of the Hamiltonian is...
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