<p>Quant - thanks for that tip on keeping books. I now have a freshman engineer buying books so I’ll be sure to tell him to hang onto those. It reminded me how a friend 25 year ago who went to cal poly said at her first job she had to bring in one of her textbooks to remember how to do something.</p>
<p>I have three copies of Stewart, Early Transcendentals though different versions. We probably have 15 calculus textbooks and I could probably get a few bucks for Apostol (got one free, the other for 15 bucks, they’re $140 at Amazon). I have all of my textbooks and most of my son’s and daughter’s. If I need something for reference, I can usually find what I am looking for.</p>
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When I worked as an engineer, I frequently used my design texts at work to review the steps for designing this or that. You never know when they’ll come in handy.</p>
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<p>Yes, there appear to be college-specific versions. For some reason the UC Berkeley special version of the Stewart multivariable calculus book is much less expensive than the “generic” version.</p>
<p>^ The generic version is intended to be used for an entire three semester sequence of Calculus for Math, Physical Science and Engineering majors and has 18 chapters starting with limits in Chapter 1. The Berkeley “special edition” is actually a two volume set that can be purchased seperately. The Multivariate edition just contains the last six chapters of the generic version so it is less expensive.</p>
<p>For an Engineering major the 1500 page single volume generic version is a good book to buy and keep forever since it is an excellent resource for anyone required to use Calculus in another course or while employed.</p>
<p>However, there appears to be a generic Stewart multivariable calculus book that is significantly more expensive than the Berkeley special version. Also, buying both Berkeley special versions (the single variable book for Math 1A and 1B and the multivariable book for Math 53) costs less than buying the entire generic book.</p>
<p>Are any of you familiar with Stewart’s Calculus Early Vectors book. It is on the booklist for my freshman S’s Calc 1 class but is listed as optional. The book is over $200 new! Is this one a keeper. We actually did buy it but are thinking about returning it, that window is open for a few more days. If it is a keeper I’m hoping it doesn’t grow legs and walk away before the semester is over!</p>
<p>Re: #667</p>
<p>What is the main book for the course? Perhaps that may be the keeper since the student may find that looking stuff up in a book previously read will be easier than finding it in a different book.</p>
<p>Someone needing a reference book for calculus and multivariable calculus can also look here: [Free</a> Online Course Materials | Textbook | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/resources/res-18-001-calculus-online-textbook-spring-2005/textbook/]Free”>Textbook | Calculus Online Textbook | Supplemental Resources | MIT OpenCourseWare)</p>
<p>That is the main course book but it isn’t required. The only required book is the Matlab book and that is for lab. Also suggested was the Solutions book that goes with the Early Vectors book. Apparently everything they abosolutely need is obtainable through an internet program available on the school’s network. Thank you for the link, I will pass it on to my S.</p>
<p>If it is the main course book, I would recommend keeping it, even though it is optional. You may be able to find a less expensive copy in good condition using Amazon. You might check that before your son returns the new one. </p>
<p>It is hard to tell in advance whether the book is “optional” in name only, or whether it is really not needed. If your son is going into science/math/engineering, it is worthwhile to have an introductory calc book as a reference text, and Stewart is fine for that.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies. Prior to purchasing we did look for used copies and they were available. They were also high priced although significantly less. The price wasn’t so low that it would be no big deal to keep the book and then decide a new one is needed. We were concerened that in a math book there might be writing or problems worked by the prior owner that would make it harder to use the book. There were no editions at the time that we looked that were in the category that indicated no markings. So, have you found writing in used books, particularly in math books, is</p>
<p>Sorry too late to edit, I’ll rewrite that last sentence:
Have you found writing in used books, particularly in math books is a problem?</p>
<p>^My experience is that writing tends to be highlighting and underlining, marks indicating assigned problems. Not enough room in the margins for working out calculus problems.</p>
<p>Son and dad conspired to surprise me with son’s visit home for “Fall day”…AND son’s first A! He got one of the highest grades in his statics class. Yes, study skills are improving, but he says he somehow “gets” it. </p>
<p>Back to our regular programming.</p>
<p>What an awesome surprise! Hope you thoroughly enjoyed (will enjoy) your ime together. Congrats to your son on the A. Great accomplishment and so nice this see all of the sweat equity paying off!</p>
<p>My D is a freshman engineering major and having skimmed through most of this thread on and off for the past several months, I was a little nervous about how this year was going to go for her. Glad to report so far so good. She is at a school with four 7 week terms (rather than 2 semesters). The students take 3 (intense) classes per term which seems to be suiting her well so far. She seems to like the idea of focusing on fewer classes at a time. Just finished her first set of finals yesterday. Hard to believe!</p>
<p>Statics is hard! Congrats to your son! Sounds like he is figuring it out!</p>
<p>Great news! Your son should be very proud of himeslf. It would have been easy to give up and move on to something easier. I’ll bet you’re relieved!</p>
<p>Thanks all. And best wishes to Granite State Daughter!</p>
<p>Very Good news about your son and you should feel great about it.</p>
<p>Lake Jr. is also an engineering freshman and at times I feel weak in the knees knowing what’s required for success at Engineering School (I’m strictly a liberal arts kind of fellow).</p>
<p>That’s great! Too bad we can’t all join in to do a stadium “wave” for the accomplishment.</p>