<p>Im taking a Bio class again this semester because I got a D last time I took it. I took it for the first time in the fall of 04 and the book we used was the living world 3rd edition. Now im taking the same class again but we are using the living world 4th edition. Does it really matter if I use the 3rd edition one? I dont want to spend $100 for the book again and its a huge class with 200 people so its not like we do problems from the book or stuff like that.</p>
<p>Yeah, this is why I hate textbooks. They make new editions every year so that you have to buy the new one!
Most professors don't keep up with the new editions and just take thier old assignments from older editions. I don't think it will be such a problem. Usually what they do is switch the chapters around and change a couple of pictures or something so that when the professor says "read chapter 2" it might actually be chapter 4 in your book. If you can handle it, I don't think it would be such a problem.</p>
<p>the only time its an issue is if you get assigned problems from the book. otherwise, the information doesnt change from year to year...its not like they decided that frogs have an extra leg or something</p>
<p>Id ask the professor, they usually have a good understanding of the changes. I was able to buy a Edition 1 book for my speech class, while everybody was using edition 5. My book was $6.50 on ebay.</p>
<p>Theirs were $80.</p>
<p>the only issue will probably be with the questions in it, like huskem said. nothing else will be drastically different though.</p>
<p>Yeah, definitely ask the professor... and even if there are slight differences, I'd assume you could compare notes with a classmate or find a new copy of the book in the library or something.</p>
<p>its a money game. publishers make more money if they keep on coming out with new editions... but of course with the schools actually using the text.</p>
<p>Heres the problem(and I know from experience)... when a teacher references a page, you have no idea what they're talking about. Yes, it's minor, but a big pain. Also, I've noticed that some of the work problems have been updated and some areas of the text have been clarified. You can certainly use a older edition but it's a pain if you don't know anyone with the newer book.</p>
<p>my lit book is the 7th edition my roomie has the 6th (we're in the same class) and she's missing about half the stories we are reading this semester.</p>