Customer Reviews:
 Last of A Dying Breed September 12, 2000
Craig L. Frutiger (Missouri, USA)
37 out of 38 found this review helpful
This is a classic textbook which introduces students to the fundamentals of analytic geometry. In order to understand calculus, one must have a thorough background in analytic geometry. Unfortunately, the current trend in math publishing is to forgo this great subject and present students with an motley mix of topics in a course called PreCalculus. Trigonometry and analytic geometry end up getting the short shrift, with greater emphasis being placed on algebraic manipulation. This is a tragic loss for students on a number of levels. They need analytic geometry in order to succeed in even first semester calculus, and yet for many analytic geometry is relegated to the second or third semester of a calculus class in college, or in one chapter (or less) in a precalculus book! Also, the analytic geometry allows the high school student a glimpse of mathematical beauty, of how things in mathematics work together: that mathematics holds up as a subject and is not just an assortment of tricks for various situations. Hopefully, the trend will turn around and this will not be the last of a dying breed: that others will continue to offer and write expository works on this subject for the benefit of students who wish to continue on to higher mathematics.
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