<p>My son is doing a major cleanout of his room and has the single variable and multivariable texts, study guides and solution manuals. As a math major, will he likely find it useful to keep these – or perhaps just the multivariable material? Should he bring them to school ?-- he is already bringing quite a bit so if doesn’t really need them, they could be kept at home. Thanks!</p>
<p>This really depends on what types of courses he plans to take. They’d probably be useful for analysis. I haven’t used my calculus textbooks from high school, though I have used my linear algebra textbook. If he’s planning to take multivariable calculus, he should determine how advanced his textbook was. It may be helpful as a supplement to the course book, but it would probably be unnecessary.</p>
<p>I’d say bring the more recent books, just in case.</p>
<p>Many math classes skip material from the previous semester, so you get little practice until the next semester, when all that old material is finally used!</p>
<p>It truly depends on whether he plans on repeating these classes for a better foundation or whether he plans on jumping into the next math class in the sequence.</p>
<p>If he plans on retaking multivar, there’s virtually no need for him to bring his textbook, as he will have to get the required textbook for his class. However, I didn’t retake multivar at Brown and cannot say whether it would help to have an additional textbook.</p>
<p>If he plans on jumping into the next available math class (diff eq, most likely), he might benefit from having a familiar book for reference. I went this route, and was I happy to have my calculus book to refresh on some old concepts that came up again. Well, unless he doesn’t need the refresher because he’s so darn gifted…</p>
<p>ONE EXCEPTION: Linear algebra. The textbook sucks and is ancient, boring, and dry.</p>
<p>Anyway, if you’re having a problem with the weight of textbooks in a luggage, I recommend shipping books via USPS Media Mail. I send >22 pounds of books for about $10, which beats a lot of airlines’ fees for overweight/extra baggage. ($50 for an extra 50-lb luggage on Southwest)</p>
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The online textbook for 54 is new, but it has errors, typos, and language barrier issues. With that said, a “standard” high school linear algebra textbook would not be rigorous enough to provide much help in 54. I couldn’t follow the textbook for 52 when I tried to tutor it informally, though, and I’d imagine your own textbook would help for that.</p>
<p>Haha! Touch</p>
<p>For the intro math courses up to linear algebra, there isn’t a single prescribed set of textbooks all professors use. Since the professors for these classes change from semester to semester, the textbooks used will vary as well.</p>