Which Calculus books are recommended for beginners and more advanced learners?

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To build a solid math foundation for pursuing physics, several calculus books are recommended for beginners and advanced learners. For beginners, popular choices include "Calculus" by Larson and Edwards, "Calculus: Early Transcendentals" by Stewart, and "Calculus" by Thomas et al. These texts are noted for their clarity and comprehensive exercises. For a more reader-friendly introduction, "Essential Calculus" by Stewart is also suggested. In addition to calculus, it's advised to explore linear algebra, probability, and statistics as they are crucial for applications in physics. While some participants mention Michael Spivak's "Calculus" as a clear resource, it is considered less suitable for absolute beginners due to its advanced approach. Overall, focusing on these recommended texts and topics will provide a strong mathematical background for further studies in physics.
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Hello, I'm wanting to get a solid maths background so i can pursue physics but I've pretty much forgotten everything i learned at GCSE level.

Can you please recommend a beginners calculus book and a more advanced Calculus for when I've done. Any other Maths topics i should be looking into?

Please post your recommended books, thanks alot, Luke :)
 
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basic books for calculus :

* Larson, Ron, Bruce H. Edwards (2010). "Calculus", 9th ed., Brooks Cole Cengage Learning. ISBN 9780547167022
* McQuarrie, Donald A. (2003). Mathematical Methods for Scientists and Engineers, University Science Books. ISBN 9781891389245
* Stewart, James (2008). Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 6th ed., Brooks Cole Cengage Learning. ISBN 9780495011668
* Thomas, George B., Maurice D. Weir, Joel Hass, Frank R. Giordano (2008), "Calculus", 11th ed., Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-321-48987-X

* thomas calculus is also a good book for calculus...you should also have to concentrate on linear algebra for applications, probability and statistics also
 
Thanks a lot for the reply! ill look into getting them :))
 
I've found Michael Spivak's Calculus refreshingly clear and reader-friendly.
 
I prefer Stewart's Essential Calculus to his longer text. It's a wonderful book for introductory calculus. Very easy to read, has good exercises, and some of his explanations (especially on continuity) are genius.

I have no suggestions for advanced calculus, however.
 
I like Spivak's calculus, but I would not consider it a beginner book at all. A great deal in the first few chapters goes undefined, and it's almost like he expects the reader to have some formal knowledge of mathematical wording. I would stick to something like the Stewart book.
 
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