Why aren't Student Solution Manuals published for Engineering Textbooks?

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Engineering textbooks often lack student solution manuals, unlike introductory calculus, physics, and chemistry texts that provide these resources. First and second-year engineering students benefit from solution manuals as study aids, enhancing their understanding of complex material. The absence of these manuals in upper-level engineering courses raises questions about publisher decisions, with some suggesting it may be due to profit margins. While a few engineering books aimed at teaching do include solution manuals, most are designed primarily as reference materials. The discussion highlights a disconnect in educational resources that could impact student learning in advanced engineering subjects.
norman_neo
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I do not understand why engineering curriculum begins with calculus, physics, and chemistry textbooks that have published student solution manuals and then switches to engineering textbooks that do not have student solution manuals.

First and second year engineering students learn how to use a student solution manual as a supplemental reference and study-aid to enhance learning and develop a thorough understanding of the material.

But, engineering textbooks do not have student solution manuals! Why?
 
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norman_neo said:
I do not understand why engineering curriculum begins with calculus, physics, and chemistry textbooks that have published student solution manuals and then switches to engineering textbooks that do not have student solution manuals.

First and second year engineering students learn how to use a student solution manual as a supplemental reference and study-aid to enhance learning and develop a thorough understanding of the material.

But, engineering textbooks do not have student solution manuals! Why?

What's a Student Solution Manual? Hopefully it is different from an Instructor Solution Manual, which is only meant to be used by instructors.

Do you mean like having the odd numbered question solutions in the back of the book?
 
norman_neo said:
I do not understand why engineering curriculum begins with calculus, physics, and chemistry textbooks that have published student solution manuals and then switches to engineering textbooks that do not have student solution manuals.

First and second year engineering students learn how to use a student solution manual as a supplemental reference and study-aid to enhance learning and develop a thorough understanding of the material.

But, engineering textbooks do not have student solution manuals! Why?

Some do have them.

CS
 
berkeman said:
What's a Student Solution Manual? Hopefully it is different from an Instructor Solution Manual, which is only meant to be used by instructors.

Do you mean like having the odd numbered question solutions in the back of the book?

A SSM gives the full worked out, step by step solution to typically the odd numbered problems.

Similar to the answers in the back of the book except they work it out for the student.

CS
 
What just does not seem to make any sense is why publishers have authorized and allowed Student Solution Manuals for Freshman and Sophomore engineering curriculum (i.e. Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry textbooks), but they do not release these manuals for upper level (300+) engineering courses.

stewartcs said:
Some do have them.

CS

--- Some meaning in extremely rare cases.

It seems like publishers could make a lot of money buy selling Student Solution Manuals for the more advanced engineering courses!
 
Most engineering textbooks are designed as reference material for engineers, not specifically for students. Where as maths, physics and chemistry books are almost exclusively learning tools (you also get reference material for them that won't have solutions).

You will find engineering books that are aimed to teach will have a solution manual. Ones designed as reference material won't.
 
norman_neo said:
It seems like publishers could make a lot of money buy selling Student Solution Manuals for the more advanced engineering courses!

I think the publishers, in the case of most texts have determined otherwise; there is no profit margin, or you would have them.

Good golly, isn't Economic$ 301 included in an engineering curricula? ...Just kidding.
 

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