Comparing Strang & Stewart: Is it Worth Printing the Book?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the comparison of two calculus textbooks, "Calculus" by Strang and "Calculus" by Stewart. Participants are exploring whether it is worthwhile to print Strang's book, especially in relation to the content and depth of Stewart's book. The scope includes personal experiences with the texts and considerations of their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express interest in whether Strang's book offers additional insights or depth compared to Stewart's, which they are already using.
  • One participant notes that Strang's book is good for basics but finds Stewart to be a more comprehensive supplement, albeit at a higher cost.
  • Another participant suggests that having multiple perspectives from different textbooks can be beneficial for understanding calculus.
  • A participant mentions a preference for a "plug-and-chug" approach and questions which book is better for problem-solving and computational challenges.
  • There are repeated inquiries about the value of Strang's book, particularly since it is available online for free.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether Strang's book is definitively better or worse than Stewart's. Multiple competing views remain regarding the depth and utility of each text.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference their personal experiences with the texts, which may not reflect broader academic consensus. There is also mention of varying preferences for textbook styles, which could influence opinions on their effectiveness.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering additional calculus resources, educators evaluating textbook options, and individuals interested in different pedagogical approaches to calculus.

rocomath
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Is it worth printing the book by Strang? I already have Stewart, but it's always nice to have more than one text if possible. How would you compare Strang with Stewart?
 
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I'd like to know this too. Is it worth going through the Strang book (which is online for free) to pick up on anything I haven't learned from my class?
 
awvvu said:
I'd like to know this too. Is it worth going through the Strang book (which is online for free) to pick up on anything I haven't learned from my class?
I'm currently doing all of Stewart's problems ... but Strang's book seems a little more in-depth and old-school which I like.
 
I started with Strang and then got Stewart. Strang is good for the basics but Stewart is like double the length, I found Stewart to be a great supplementation, but it is expensive.
 
So how would you compare the 2? You only mentioned Stewart is double the length and a good supplementation. Are you saying that Strang is more in-depth? I already have Stewart but I can print for free at work, just not sure if it's worth the time.
 
If you want a different outlook, then I say print Strang, it's always good to get multiple perspectives.
 
I already have another Calculus text, by Spivak. I want a plug-and-chug book. Which is better and harder in terms of problems and computing, Stewart or Strang?
 

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