Calculus Which book should be studied in my case?

[mertaktas]

Hello, I am going to be first year ungrad in physics next year. Because my native language is Turkish, I've attended PREP lectures this year to be able to write, read, listen in English. I also studied calculus from stewart, I proceeded until the integral part and decided to study from apostol. However, sometimes I am getting stucked and thinking whether I should continue with books like stewart, adam's etc.. What would you do in this case?

 

[SteamKing]

Hello, I am going to be first year ungrad in physics next year. Because my native language is Turkish, I've attended PREP lectures this year to be able to write, read, listen in English. I also studied calculus from stewart, I proceeded until the integral part and decided to study from apostol. However, sometimes I am getting stucked and thinking whether I should continue with books like stewart, adam's etc.. What would you do in this case?

You've got to learn how to walk before you can run.

IMO, stick with the Stewart text and other introductory calculus books before attempting a text like Apostol, which is for the more advanced student.

 

[MidgetDwarf]

Hmm. If you find stewart hard to understand, then I would suggest simmoms. It cost 5 dollars shipped. Thomas calculus with analytic geometry 3rd ed is also good. I prefer thomas, but simmons is easier to read.

 

[mertaktas]

I found stewart and adam's easy to understand and also stewart includes some challenging problems at the end of the sections and I can do them when I attempt. My problem is that apostol requires endurance to study every page of it and I wonder that whether someone who is studying physics should study from apostol or books like stewart, adam's, etc..

 

[MidgetDwarf]

Apostol is an introduction to analysis. It is quite terse. Proof experience is a requirement to fully understand the book. Not sure about physics.

 

[atyy]

Apostol is a terrific book if one is interested in physics. There is no need to study all from one book. You can use several books. If you get stuck at some place in one book, see if another book's explanation helps you understand it. For example, one could try (in addition to Stewart, Simmons etc) Schaum's Outline of Calculus https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071795537/?tag=pfamazon01-20 (earlier versions are just as good) or Calculus Made Easy https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33283/33283-pdf.pdf