<p>So for my materials science class, Im going to order the book from amazon. the paperback used is like $70 and the new hardcover is like $140. the edition is the same but the covers look very different. my uni's bookstore has the photo of the hardcover/new. is it safe to buy the paperback?</p>
<p>You’re most likely talking about an international edition.</p>
<p>9 times out of 10, they’re perfectly safe and everything is the same (except the picture on the cover).</p>
<p>However, be warned that there are occasions where it’s not identical. For example, one of the thermo classes at my school last semester was identical in text, but the problems were all jumbled up. Several people turned in an incorrect problem set for the first assignment.</p>
<p>So, see if people who’ve taken the class in the past have (successfully) used international versions.</p>
<p>Note: there are some books that have paperback versions that aren’t international versions (they’re just distributed by a different publisher).</p>
<p>It might also be an older edition. Check the year published and the edition # for both copies.</p>
<p>Yes Johnson its the intl edition. Justtotalk the edition is the same.</p>