Which calculus textbook is more rigorous: Finney or Apostol?

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The discussion centers around the calculus textbook "Calculus and Analytic Geometry" by George B. Thomas and Ross L. Finney, highlighting its historical significance and evolution over the years. Participants reminisce about their experiences with the book, noting its use in various college courses since the 1980s and the perceived decline in quality of later editions after the authors' deaths. There is speculation about the original poster's intent in mentioning the book, with some suggesting it might be an attempt to sell it. The conversation also touches on the existence of multiple editions and variations of the Thomas and Finney text, including those adapted for high school AP courses. Additionally, there is a discussion about the rigor of the Finney book compared to other calculus texts, like Apostol, with a request for recommendations on which book to use for epsilon-delta proofs.
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I have calculus book by Finny.
 
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finney?
 


Hairlosstreat said:
I have calculus book by Finny.

Well, good for you!

MathWonk, he is referring to "Calculus and Analytic Geometry" by Thomas and Finney which is really the classic text by George B. Thomas as revised by Ross L. Finney.
When I took Calculus I, Thomas was my instructor. I remember that I had to pay $24 for the text- and it hurt!

Though I can't help but wonder why hairlosstreat wants to tell us he has that book.
 


Wow! Good ole Thomas and Finney, that's the text we used when I was a freshman back in the 80's. I still have it ... somewhere.
 


well after googling them both, it seems finney died in 2000 and thomas died in 2006, which explains to me the significant decline in quality of the "thomas calculus" books over the last 15 years. i still prefer the one I had in 1970, written just by thomas. it must have been a privilege to be taught by him Halls, but you apparently paid dearly for it!

That was apparently much later than my freshman year, when i bought courant for my college calculus course, taught by john tate, for $6.50. tate is apparently still alive and only recently retired from ut austin after a teaching career spanning over 50 years at harvard and ut.
 
I've got Abstract Algebra by Dummit and Foote. It's pretty bad.
 
I am still wondering why this thread was opened. I rather suspect that "hairlosstreat" was trying to sell the book. Oh, well, that still is better than being offered a treatment for hair loss!
 


HallsofIvy said:
MathWonk, he is referring to "Calculus and Analytic Geometry" by Thomas and Finney which is really the classic text by George B. Thomas as revised by Ross L. Finney.

There are at least two editions of Calculus by "Finney - Thomas," (authors' names are reversed) which I don't think counts among the 12 editions of Thomas' Calculus. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0201549778/?tag=pfamazon01-20 is Amazon's link to the 2nd edition, from 1994.

There is also an edition by Finney-Demana-Waits-Kennedy, which I believe is based on the Finney-Thomas text above. There's a regular version (some titled Calculus: A Complete Course), and there's a single-variable version (Calculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic), which is what a number of high schools use for their AP Calculus courses.
 
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my engineering college prefers this Finney book. I don't think it is rigorous like Apostol. My instructor says that we have to do epsilon-delta proofs from this book. Even Apostol has some problems pertaining to it. I think I can use Apostol itself. Please suggest me which book to use..
 

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