Quick Calculus: A Self-Teaching Guide, 2nd Edition

I picked up this book as a supplement for getting a better understanding of the math for a computer algorithms analysis course. The course relys heavily on an understanding of calculus to analyze growth rates of functions and function derivitives but it didn't go into a lot of depth of why the math works giving derivations, etc. It mostly assumed that the reader had already been exposed to calculus and was only offering a refresher. I've already read through half of the book and while there are some errors in the text, there isn't anything that can't be reconciled.

The book uses programmed learning so you can systematically skip in depth explainations of practice problems if you don't need them. The two main branches of calculus are covered: differential and integral. The material is initially introduced informally and uses graphical explanations (when possible) that really help the material sink in faster. After the main themes are explained, the material is formally defined and offers derivations in the appendices for those who are interested in them. I've found this method helps to distill the purpose of the calculus from the complexity of the equations and terminology.

There is a refresher for graphing linear equations, essential trigonometry, and exponentials/logarithms. The material is given adequate explaination in order "make the jump" to the key concepts of calculus. I've found the text easy to read both in terms of the author's teaching style as well as having crisp text with a large font. A full chapter, designed as an in depth review of both branches of calculus, is included to solidify your understanding of the material as well as offer a context of applying calculus to real world problems. The appendix also has an introduction on some advanced topics of calculus (that I havn't gotten to yet). A caveat is that when you start to work out the practice problems, if you are rusty with algebra you'll probably need a reference for reviewing the basics of factoring, racicals, and manipulating negative/fractional exponents, etc. The algebra is a little light in this respect when equations are solved step by step. The book assumes you have a good working knowledge of algebra and solving/manipulating equations. I found myself having to quickly review how to manipulate radicals and review the eponentation rules.

All in all I am extremely pleased with the text. It's very concise, well thought-out, with an incremental learning slope that is not too steep, offers meaningful exercises that reinforce an understanding of the material, and uncovers the mystique of calculus with intuitive explainations and repetition of key concepts (in key places) to help you retain the material faster.


Quick Calculus   January 9, 2004
Kalyan C Korimerla (Pittsburgh, PA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

This book is great for reviewing fundamentals before you get to the hard stuff. IT explains this in an easy maner in several different ways. I recommend it.


excellent overview of the basics   January 23, 2007
David LeBauer (Irvine, Ca)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I used this book to prepare for some graduate work in geosciences. I found that it was an excellent text for getting up to speed and comfortable with single variable calculus. However, the coverage of multivariable calculus is very basic. There is no vector calculus, grad, curl, etc. So this will get you started, but for most applications you will still have a long way to go.


An excellent tool for Calculus Study   April 1, 1998
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

The book is ideal for student or professional preparation or as a refresher course. It uses a smart system of quick explanations and do-as-you-need exercise panels that the reader defines according to his/her needs. If used in conjuction with a good textbook as a preparation/fixation tool, it provides invaluable benefit insight and understanding of Calculus.