Complete Idiot's Guide to Calculus

by W. Michael Kelley

Book Overview

The only tutor that struggling calculus students will need Aimed at those who actually need to learn calculus in order to pass the class they are in or are about to take, rather than an advanced audience.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028643658
• ISBN13: 9780028643656
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Alpha Books
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Saved me in Calculus I

This simple and easy to read guide literally saved me from failing Calc I and helped me pass proudly. Calc I is what consists mostly of the first half of the book. The book progresses up to the end of Calc II with Series and Sequences, and with Taylor and Maclaurin Series. Being out of school for nearly ten years and deciding to make a comeback I had to begin at the precalculus level. I was at that time, one year ago and before this Calc course, completely terrified of Calculus. I never expected to pass this course... let alone pass it the first time through! I sincerely owe it to this book as the required text was just a mouthful and too deep. This guide is as succinct and concise in one book as you can get on this subject. If you're struggling with the course and the course's required tough text as I did, do yourself a favor and pick up this small book. I must reinforce that while the course text may be a difficult read, as it was for me, this Idiot's book is simply a supplement. In my opinion, you cannot read this book by itself and expect to pass Calc. What it will do for you is make the required text and homeworks(and therefore exams) much easier having read this first through and referencing it as you go throughout the course.

Excellent resource

Excellent resource for review of calculus. Written in language everyone can understand.

Excellent Book

First of all, I and my high school students love the book; we all find it funny yet helpful. It needs to be read while taking a rigorous Calculus course-such as an AP course or a college course. This book is not for those who want to learn Calculus on their own, after not having had math for years. This book is a supplement, not a substitute for a textbook. It gives the topics taught a more global perspective, filling in the nooks and crannies, making the students go "aaah, now I get it", tying together concepts that possibly seem separate from one another. The book succeeds in putting Calculus in layman's terms - it does not claim to be a textbook so don't look for rigor, details or practice examples. It simply gives an accurate overlook of what Calculus is comprised of - but you will only appreciate it if you are concurrently taking a Calculus course!

A must for any student feeling intimidated by the subject.

Kelley makes good use of a method I wish the calculus textbooks used: He actually explains the subject. Too often, a calculus textbook will offer a few simple examples of a subject--say, related rates or linear approximation-and follow this up by throwing homework problems at the student which are an order of magnitude beyond the examples. Another particularly annoying habit of textbook writers is to assume more in a single line of equations than the average student is capable of following.... and, let's face it, most of us are "average" students.I read Kelley's book thoroughly the week before starting Differential Calculus I - the first course I've taken in 15 years - and I'm pleased to say his approach has helped me tremendously. Without it, I believe I would have withdrawn from the course in the first week. Highly recommended!

Enthusiastic thumbs up!

From the title you can guess that I highly recommend this book. "CIG to Calculus" covers all of the topics from the first year of a university calculus course. The vast majority of the topics are explained in plain, clear and concise english, which is the strength of the book. This book is not meant to be a replacement to a textbook, but as a supplement. The shame is that there is a need for books such as these because the "so called experts" cannot clearly communicate the subject matter in lecture or written form. If you are planning to take calculus for the first time, use this book to help your understanding of your textbook and lecture notes. If this is for self-study, read this book and use a book with a lot of solved problems to cement your understanding.Again, this, in my opinion, is the best book to date on beginning calculus.