Should I use recommended textbook for Calc 1?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the suitability of the textbook "Essential Calculus - Early Transcendentals" for Calculus 1. Concerns were raised about its user-friendliness and the negative reviews it has received. Participants clarified that "recommended" textbooks are optional and serve as supplementary resources for students who may struggle with the required text. Additionally, they highlighted the availability of excellent online resources, such as the MIT Online text, as alternatives for learning calculus.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of calculus concepts, specifically Calculus 1 topics.
  • Familiarity with textbook evaluation criteria, including user-friendliness and reviews.
  • Knowledge of online educational resources, particularly those related to mathematics.
  • Ability to differentiate between required and recommended course materials.
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the MIT OpenCourseWare resources for Calculus 1.
  • Research alternative calculus textbooks that have positive reviews and user feedback.
  • Investigate online forums for student recommendations on calculus learning materials.
  • Review the syllabus for Calculus 1 to understand the required topics and align resources accordingly.
USEFUL FOR

Students preparing for Calculus 1, educators seeking effective teaching materials, and anyone evaluating calculus textbooks for their learning needs.

mrjoules
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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 and I'm a bit worried that this book is not user friendly. Has anyone got any suggestions of an alternative in case I decide to get another book?
 
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What does "recommended" mean in this case?
My courses have a single "required" text and several "recommended" ones. To me "recommended" means "optional" and is included for those students who find the required text (which is required because I teach from it) does not match up well with their learning style.

I found the book on Amazon and they say there are no reviews for it yet. Perhaps yours is a different book? This one claims to be concise at 900 pages - which would still be 3x the size of the text I learned from :/

If it is not being used directly by the course, and it has a lot of bad reviews, then don't get it.

I don't know what "Calculus 1" means... so I'll leave someone else to make a specific suggestion. The book I found seems to be for year 1 college though, with that in mind:

There are now many excellent online resources. eg. MIT Online text, and other resources on that page.
 

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