Calculus: Single-Variable

by Brian E. Blank and Steven G. Krantz

The writing of this text is cogent, clear, and compelling-Insight, A Look Back, A Look Forward, Quick Quiz, Preview, Basics, Key/Basic Steps, Summary of Key Topics, Genesis and Development Builds on what students saw in High School. Refines mathematical skills and expands conceptual horizons. Differential equations are introduced early, given a natural treatment and used often-to explain exponentials, bacterial growth and in various modeling applications...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470412771
• ISBN13: 9780470412770
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 771 Pages
• Weight: 3.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 8.5" x 10.1"

Customer Reviews

not bad...

i bought this book as a used book in a "good" condition. i was expecting something bad...but it came promptly and in a very good condition!

A Solid Calculus Text

Aside from a large number of errors in this first edition, Blank & Krantz have produced a solid text with just the right amount of "frills". I found it relatively easy to work through the first half on my own as a review of first semester calculus. I worked through the second half as part of a class, and I especially enjoyed the historical notes at the end of each chapter as a supplement to the lectures. The book comes with a one-time registration for supplementary material on the publisher's web site; I found that material mildly useful, but missing out on it is not a deal-breaker if you prefer to buy used. Also note that the study guide can be purchased separately; I did find the worked-out solutions in the study guide useful for some of the problems. I'm not sure I'll keep this text as a reference, but it's a good way to learn or review the material for first year calculus.

A fairly lean calculus book, little use of technology

I am not scheduled to teach calculus next year, but if I were, this is most likely the text that I would select. As I scanned through the pages, I found myself moving faster than I usually do through the subject matter. After a moments thought, I realized that it was because there were no asides devoted to using technology. It is calculus, nothing but calculus and I believe that is the way it should be. Technology is valuable, but the purpose of a calculus class is to learn the principles behind differentiable and integral calculus. The coverage is standard and all topics are illustrated with examples. The number of examples is more than adequate and proofs of the main results are given. The number of exercises at the end of the sections does not reach the overkill stage and solutions to the odd numbered exercises are included in an appendix. At less than 800 pages, this is one of the smallest texts for the math major course in calculus. If you are looking for a text and don't need the tangents that take you to demonstrations using technology, then this is a book that you should consider. If technology is a fundamental component of your course, then there is little to be gained by opening the book.