Alg & Trig Refresher/Calc

by Loren C. Larson

Book Overview

Contains diagnostic tests to show areas of weakness, worked examples with explanations of concepts, exercises with pre-tests and post-tests, and includes the answers to all exercises and test... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0716711109
• ISBN13: 9780716711100
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: W.H. Freeman & Company
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.1" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Perfect refresher to prepare for Calculus

I had taken Calculus in high school, but ten years later found myself having to take it again. I showed up for the first class as a confident 28 year-old, secure in the knowledge that my 'A' in high school would ensure another 'A' as an adult. What I failed to consider is the amount of intermediate Algebra and Trig that had escaped me over the years, so I left the first class feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and immediately dropped the course. Rather than signing up for Pre-Calculus instead, I spent the next two months working through every lesson and practice problem in this book. There aren't any lame cartoons to illustrate concepts, and the lessons aren't drawn out. Rather, each chapter quickly summarizes its lesson, provides a few clear examples, then gives the reader about 20 problems to work through at the end of each lesson. It's a welcome, bare-bones approach right down to the font (Courier). By the time Calculus was offered the next quarter, I was completely prepared. In fact, I got an 'A+' in the course, and this book *definitely* helped put me over the edge.

Excellent aid to the first-course calculus student!

I never learned certain mathematical prerequisites of calculus in high school. Going to college I found my self struggling in calculus I... until I studied this book. It contains all of the basics for the beginning calculus student (as far as the trigonometry and algebra one needs). I quickly read the text and worked out the problems because I was in desperate need of an understanding of those basic concepts. I was able to do relatively well in calculus I, thanks to studying this book. I highly recommend it to anyone in a similar situation as the one I was in.

Outstanding aide for serious student needing help!

This is an excellent text for any calculus student who has gaps in her/his algebraic preparation. The outstanding [and unusual] table of contents is a self-contained test and easily directs the user to parts of the book that will provide needed help. Another particularly strong area of this little book are the sections on logarithmic and exponential functions. These pages contain a sound mix of graphs, explanations, and sample problems that can clarify gaps for any even semi-serious student. This book will not spoon-feed the unprepared student, the student who never learned the necessary algebra and/or trigonometry that one needs for the calculus. However, it is an excellent resource for the student who has forgotten or never learned some topics. I have used the book as a reference since 1982 and very much appreciate it.