Book Description

The emphasis of the text is on data analysis, modeling, and spreadsheet use in statistics and management science. This text contains professional Excel software add-ins. The authors maintain the elements that have made this text a market leader in its first edition: clarity of writing, a teach-by-example approach, and complete Excel integration. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Better Title: Intro to Statistics using Excel Add-ins
On the positive side, this book has many excellent case studies and examples. It is well written and interesting. However, I was disappointed, as I was expecting use of Excel to rigorously solve decision making and data analysis problems. The focus of the book is mostly traditional statistics solved using a group of commercial add-ins for Excel. If this is what you want, then the book would get five stars. However, for data analysis and decision making, I think a more thorough treatment using Excel without relying so much on the add-ins would have been appropriate.

Serious Excel 2000 Problem
The text book is great. I have many of Winston's other books and they are all great. The Palisade stuff works just fine. However, the StatPro Addin that accompanies this text does not work with MS Excel 2000. I contacted the IT guy that the authors directed me to--he was stumped. He just gave up and suggested I return my book for a refund because he could not figure out it out. Again, the book is great but the StatPro Addin sucks!

No trouble with Excel
I find the text and software a useful set of tools. It assumes familiarity with basic statistics and Excel, and builds on them to develop a powerfull ability to analize data and make decisions from it. I experienced no trouble with the software install or operation.

MS Office 2000 compatability problems!!
Just purchased the book as a tool for MBA classes. However, after installing the accompanying CD ROM add-ons I had problems accessing MS Office programs. A critical .DLL file was modified by the program during my installation. I think the program was made to run with MS Excel 97. Another suggestion for the author is to include an answers CD ROM for the problems contained in the text so that students and professionals can check their work.

Excellent MBA - level textbook and software.
Finally MBA probability/statistics course and MS Excel have been unified in one textbook. The accompanying software is great, especially Decision Tree (probably the only Excel-based software for decision making). Students like business-oriented excersises in the book. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

* Includes new and expanded coverage of Six Sigma infrastructure building and benchmarking.
* Provides plans, checklists, metrics, and pitfalls. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A clear roadmap to successful Six Sigma implementation
Forrest Breyfogle's new text, "Implementing Six Sigma", provides clear and well-defined examples, case studies and guidelines for the justification, design and "smarter" implementation of Six Sigma methodologies in any organization. The practical examples of "Smarter Solutions Using Statistical Methods" show how organizations can enhance the bottom-line benefits of Six Sigma implementation through the innovative application of proven concepts. Breyfogle's real world experience in assisting clients like IBM, Motorola and Dell is evident on every page.

The unique value of the book is in it's multi-tiered approach to each of these issues. Concepts are introduced, discussed and documented in several levels of detail, each suitable to a different reader, from the non-technical senior executive, through the implementing functional manager, to the working quality engineer.

An excellent glossary and extensive reference tables make this book a valuable addition to any professional reference library. Pragmatic "how to" guidelines make it an easy to follow roadmap for successful Six Sigma implementation.

A "Must Have" for Six Sigma and QE Practitioners
The first edition of Implementing Six Sigma was the best book available for Six Sigma practitioners and quality engineers. The second edition increases the lead over other contenders.

First of all, Six Sigma is defined as a system that improves business performance through cost reduction and revenue growth by improving all business processes and increasing customer satisfaction. It is not just a quality improvement system.

Second, all of the statistical tools are described, explained and illustrated with real world examples. And in addition:
• The Seven Management Tools to analyze "idea data"
• Lean tools to reduce waste as defined by Taichi Ohno
• Theory of Constraints to identify and break bottlenecks
• Project Management and Change Management
• Team effectiveness
• Creativity
are all integrated into "Smarter Six Sigma Solutions" to provide a holistic approach to business improvement.

In other words, if you want to make real improvements in real life business situations, this is the book to show you how to do it. Also, if you want to pass the ASQ Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam, there is no better text.

A Very Comprehensive Source
I bought this book directly from the author out of the trunk of his car, so I can tell you that you definitely get a better price from amazon.com. Anyway, this is without a doubt, the most comprehensive book on the subject. Breyfogle has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that he has covered all aspects of Six Sigma in sufficient detail that the reader will be able to apply these methodologies successfully from the start. One of the key ingredients he spends a lot of time on is the idea of focusing and aligning efforts with corporate or organizational goals and metrics. These he refers to as the "satellite level"*. There are lower operational levels (30,000 foot and below) that need to be aligned with the satellite level in order that six sigma projects are driven for most effectiveness to the organization.

Forrest Breyfogle has been a quality leader in our community (Austin, Texas) for a number of years. I knew him since his days at IBM in the early '90s. That doesn't mean that I can't give an unbiased view of this book, however. Note I'm not giving it 5 stars as some have done. I am trying to give it a fair assessment, however. I've seen many technical books of this nature written in a more conversational way that are a little easier to read with better vocabulary, grammar, and organization. But if you want a book that covers it all, there is nothing out there I know of that can beat this one.

This book claims to focus on both product and service quality. However, as with many books that claim to cover the service sector, it is a little weak in that area. There are some books that cover services better than this one, I think, and so if that is your specialty, you may want to use one of those books to supplement the treatment of six sigma in this book. I like "Ultimate Six Sigma" by Keki Bhote. That book uses the concept of NOAC (Next Operation As Customer) to drive interdepartmental process improvement. Bhote is a big fan of Dorian Shainin, the consummate engineer of quality tools, and he is now arrogantly calling some of the Shainin tools "Shainin/Bhote" tools. But I've seen a lot of books that look like advertising brochures for consultants. His and Breyfogle's book both have that fault. But I have to like them simply because they are comprehensive, authoritative, and useful. I think the advertising brochure syndrome is really the fault of publishers that let authors get away with it. I would think a respected technical publisher like Wiley would not accept that kind of tone in any of its books. But like "Coke C2" and low carb bread, we are swamped with advertising from every direction and it only gets worse.

Another good book you might want to consider is "Lean Six Sigma for Service" by Michael L. George. This book specializes in only the service sector and is therefore, a very good book for that kind of work with some excellent case studies.

*Service Mark of Smarter Solutions

Hastily Assembled and Poorly Organized
When my wife brought this home from her Six Sigma Green Belt training, I eagerly opened it and spent a couple hours reviewing it's "treasures". I was disappointed.

As a provider of Six Sigma Training and a certifed Black Belt myself, I had expected better from one of the most recognized names in the field. Breyfogle and his team have assembled several meaningful aspects of the Six Sigma art. However, any sense of flow or logical progression were interrupted by commercials for his company's "unique" approach. His team's frequent use of poorly defined vocabulary added to the confusion. Most disturbing, however, was the characterization of the value of the "wisdom of the organization", which could mislead potential implementers of the method to minimize the critical need for empirical data collection and analysis. They seem to promote the the more typical, "Ask Larry, he knows".

Typos, confusing sentence structure, and poor publishing practices lead me to wonder if Dr. B reads his own defect reduction philosophies. The Voice of the Customer in this instance says: el Stinko.

If you buy this book, you will find use in it. It's a good collection of techniques and ideas, and many of the examples are helpful. However, I would suggest looking for something cheaper and more professionally executed. The price may lead you to believe that this is the consumate work of the field. If it is, I guess that's good news for you and me. Without much effort, we could write and publish a better Six Sigma book than this shallow collection of Clip Art, rambling prose, and poorly referenced diagrams.

Better than Ever
The second edition of Implementing Six Sigma, by Forrest Breyfogle, substantially updates and enriches the original work. In it's current form it may very well be the most comprehensive source of information about the practical application of statistical techniques in Six Sigma work.

Like the previous edition, it is a highly informative book that illustrates how to tightly integrate balanced scorecard metrics with improvement techniques, to include Lean, Six Sigma, and theory of constraints (TOC) tools. Breyfogle's expanded step-by-step project execution roadmap illustrates when Lean/Six Sigma tools can be used to significant effect throughout the define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) improvement cycle in a variety of settings.

Other reviewers in the field have found the new book to be of significant value as well.
Writing in the February 2004 ASQ "Six Sigma Forum Magazine", Roger Hoerl, Manager of the Applied Statistics Laboratory at GE's Global Research Center categorized the work as "an excellent text for a technically oriented course for Black Belts or Master Black Belts...the most complete compilation of Six Sigma tools on the market."

In the same publication, William Parr, Department of Statistics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, stated "This is the best overall reference, providing encyclopedic coverage of statistical and statistically related topics that are of use in Six Sigma work.

With this well-deserved professional recognition, Breyfogle firmly positions himself as a world-class authority in the application of successful techniques to the implementation of Six Sigma - and his latest work as the "how to" guide to success. ... Read more

Book Description

This introduction to statistics presents balanced coverage of both the theory and application of statistics and at the same time helps learners develop and enhance their critical thinking skills. It teaches readers how to analyze data that appear in situations in the world around them and features an abundance of examples and exercises—nearly all based on current, real-world applications pulled from journals, magazines, news articles, and commerce.Chapter topics cover statistics, data, and statistical thinking; methods for describing sets of data; probability; discrete random variables; continuous random variables; sampling distributions; inferences based on a single sample: estimation with confidence intervals; inferences based on a single sample: tests of hypotheses; inferences based on two samples: confidence intervals and tests of hypotheses; analysis of variance: comparing more than two means; simple linear regression; multiple regression and model building; categorical data analysis; and nonparametric statistics.For individuals who want to learn the fundamentals of statistics. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Wonderful Introductory Text
Often using real-life examples taken from the media, McClave presents materials in an orderly fashion. Sub-sections are small (usually 5-6 pages) and problem sets are very nicely divided into Mechanics, Basic, and Advanced problems. My only dislike was chapter 3 counting rules, which seemed to be added without proper foundation. As both a student and now a tutor of this text, I find McClave's level of explanation sufficent for an introductory text.

Is there a solution manual for this book????
First of all I am not a statistics major and although I find statistics to be a very interesting but challenging subject I am afraid to say that so far I have not been very successful .... I need extra help and I have not yet found the solution manual for this textbook and I am amazed at the fact that there isn't one ? Can anyone help me...

Thanx

Norma_Zuniga@yahoo.com

Probablity and counting methods sections weak as usual,
Having taken an introductory college course that used this book up through most of chapter 9 (infrences based on two-samples using confidence intervals and hyopthesis tesing), I must say as usually happens in intro stat textbooks, the probablity chapter (3) is the weakest area, it needs more worded explinations on counting rules to clarify seemingly ambiguous situations. I've also heard professors complain that some of the examples used are over simplified and ignore obvious possiblities in the interpertations of results that add new dimentions to the problem. Not to mention the whole things needs a few more passes by some competent editors, as there's quite a few painfully obvious mistakes and misprints. Other than that, it's understandable enough, the applications problems are welcome, if occasionally flawed. For a more intensive introduction to general statistics, I suggest you seek a textbook that wasn't aimed at the widest possible market. (try the texts that say something like: statistics for engineers)

Excellent text for Advanced Placement statistics course
I was a member of the text selection committee that chose this book for our school division's advanced placement statistics course. It was a wise decision. The text is filled with contemporary examples that grab a student's attention. It is particularly good at using technology both in the exercises and in the discussion. My students were very comfortable with the reading level, and DID READ the text! I especially liked the project suggestions at the end of each chapter. The text's one weakness is the discussion and placement of the linear regression material. I needed a simpler approach and to do it much earlier in the course (after chapter 2). I had to supplement with material from other sources. However, this is a rather minor complaint compared to the text's many other strengths. ... Read more

Book Description

This book takes a practical approach to multivariate data analysis, with an introduction to the most commonly encountered statistical and multivariate techniques. Using Multivariate Statistics provides practical guidelines for conducting numerous types of multivariate statistical analyses. It gives syntax and output for accomplishing many analyses through the most recent releases of SAS, SPSS, and SYSTAT, some not available in software manuals. The book maintains its practical approach, still focusing on the benefits and limitations of applications of a technique to a data set - when, why, and how to do it. Overall, it provides advanced users with a timely and comprehensive introduction to today's most commonly encountered statistical and multivariate techniques, while assuming only a limited knowledge of higher-level mathematics. For those interested in statistical analysis. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One one of the best applied stat. books ever, excellent!
Many statistical books, particularly multivariate ones,are, - let's face it- boring, heavy-going and ugly. Formulae are used as if to terrify and frighten, not to illustrate or show, and textual passages are all too often chock full of outright fibs such as 'it will be clear that', or, 'the reader will see that' or - a sure sign that something truly monstrous is to follow - 'it is obvious that'. Not so Tabachnick and Fidell's great book. Everything is clear and well set-out, with lots of real examples. Unlike many textbooks, it does not assume that you got your data out of a textbook, it shows how to analyze real data, how to check statistical assumptions and what to do about violations of those assumptions. Although some of the information on statistical packages may now be a little dated, the program inputs and outputs are supplied, as are written-up reports of the results, similar to how they would appear in a socio-behavioral journal. I've been using the various three editions of this truly wonderful book since 1985 and think it should be on the desk of every professional, aspiring or sometime data analyst or statistician!

It's a classic, the first big buy for MV stats
This book is a classic. It is the first major purchase you should make for multivariate techniques. In my opinion, it is not a theoretical book, yet it is not a cookbook either. For novices, it provides enough rigor and theory to prevent one from having too many unanswered questions. However, it does not bombard the reader with so much theory that practicality is lost. It's a great way to begin looking at multivariate stats. If your research necessitates deeper analysis, you can find it in other books, but without an adequate foundation, such as that provided for by this book, it will be difficult to tackle more advanced texts. The book costs too much, which is a drawback. It is a shame that books are getting in the ridiculous category for pricing. With that said, this is a book that you will be able to keep for quite a while. The techniques presented are durable and the conepts are timeless for the most part. New statistical methods that are currently being developed are generally available in small booklets ...for cheap prices. Reading this text will make most of those 'new' methods understandable. So, in that regard, it may be a good purchase. But, your best bet is to hit the college bookstore a week before the semester to find a used copy in excellent condition. For the reviewer from Brazil, he should put down the thesaurus and re-read the book. For the rest of us, let's be thankful for people like that for they often return these books to the bookstore in a huff of frustration, with the books barely opened and ripe for the taking at a used price. Great text, should stay on your shelf for years, just try to find a good deal on one.

Putting the 't' back into statistics ...
There's a reason why some students leave out the first and soften the second 't' in the word 'statistics'. Well, not if working with this book.
Doing a lot of multivariate analyzes in the course of my research and teaching research-methods to graduate students, I repeatedly find this book a treasure I would not want to do without. The advice is well organized, hands-on with guidelines to follow and explanations on how to run and interpret analyzes in SPSS, it's sufficiently detailed (though not overbearingly so) and quite complete, and clearly written and easy to understand (honestly, whoever tells you differently hasn't read any of the alternatives).
Yes, the price is scary - unfortunately, since that price is the only thing keeping this book from being a best-seller and a student-favourite. However, if you plan on doing any multivariate stats for a little bit longer than a few months (longer than your University Library will be happy to lend this book to you, that is), it pays off. This book is excellent, and often, after searching through my SPSS handbooks, my Stevens and Cohens (all very good books themselves), I return to this one, finally finding the information I need, and in the digestible format that I need. A definite keeper.

Tabachnik's Multivariate Statistics
This is the 'statistical bible' for graduate students or professors performing multivariate statistics in their research. It explains every concept, provides examples, and explains different statistical programs. All of this information is provided in easy to understand terminology. It is worth the steep price tag because I use it all the time. As a researcher, I perform multivariate stastics frequently and this book is a great resource.

Good How to Do Books
I have used earlier versions of this book throughout my professional life. It is a handy quick reference for the more advanced practitioner who wants to explore techniques that they have not used before. Or, to refresh one's memory on techniques that have not been used for awhile. This book is also very useful for training junior practitioners in multivariate techniques. There is enough detail to satisfy those asking more detailed questions about techniques without overwelming those less inclined to pore over mathematical formula. Steps and tests are well laid out, with enough discussion so that the reader understands the value and importance of working through the standard routines and assumption checks. It also offers important pratical steps in how to design and run specific statistical procedures in the common statistical packages.

Given the increasingly user-friendly statistical software on the market, this book offers a quick antidote for the rising number of button pushers, by showing budding statisticians the implications of using a technique ignorantly. This is done without making the technique inscrutable to the reader.

While the new edition offers some additional information - the cost conscious buyer could easily find considerable value in older editions. ... Read more

Book Description

In the market-leading CALCULUS FOR THE MANAGERIAL, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, Soo T. Tan provides an accurate, accessible presentation of mathematics combined with just the right balance of applications, pedagogy, and technology to help students succeed in the course. The new Sixth Edition includes highly interesting current applications and exercises to help stimulate student motivation. An exciting new array of supplements provides students with extensive learning support so instructors will have more time to focus on teaching the core concepts. ... Read more

Book Description

New co-authors--Irl Bivens and Stephen Davis--from Davidson College; both distinguished educators and writers.
* More emphasis on graphing calculators in exercises and examples, including CAS capabilities of graphing calculators.
* More problems using tabular data and more emphasis on mathematical modeling. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Not Happy with 7th.
I loved 6th. ed. But I'm not happy with the 7th. Bivens and Davis have clearly taken over and ruined a great textbook. I'm looking for another textbook the next time around. The other teachers at my college seem to agree.

:) Jc

Excellent Book on a Difficult Subject
When my copy of Stewart fell apart awhile back, I decided to order this to replace it, since it was one recommended by CAS/SOA for Exam 1. I am not disappointed. This has more graphs and pictures than Stewart to help explain some of the fundamentals better. While the content and the layout are pretty much the same as other Calculus books, I particularly liked the writing style of the authors, who eplained things well without being really technical. If you are looking for a Calculus text that helps you solve the problems then I think this one is for you. There is a fair amount of rigor (i.e. proofs and theory) here, but no more than other texts. If you are looking for more of the theory behind the applications, I would try Apostol's 2 volume set which is much more rigorous. If you are looking for a text to study Exam 1, then this is the one for you.

Really baddddd, joke stuff,super baaaad.
Don't buy this book, this book is the design for students who don't know math particularly calculus. This book is designed not for beginner or advanced but is designed for mickey mouse. The content is totally horrible just joke stuff that you can answer very briefly without doing any writing in paper/computation. If you want be a mathematician don't even start using this book. You'll be in trouble in the future.

Good book but poor CD
This book written in an easy language that suitable for people who use Eng as 2nd language, examination also clear but the bad thing that this book has is the very poor CD. CD contain only a link and demo version of graphing program all of this cost 2Mb only, I hope before buy this book that CD contain an interactive program, animation or pdf version of this book so I am very disappoint with this but others just fine, A good choice than Thomas's Calculus 10th

A great resource for self-studying
I like this book because it assumes no prior knowledge in Calculus. It starts from the basic topics e.g. functions and develop to advanced topics e.g. vector and tensor calculus following a logical development.

Besides, the book has a lot of computer graphics which make reading inviting. Also, there are numerous examples in each section which make the text easy to understand. There are too many other features and I can't mention each of them. ... Read more

Book Description

"Derman’s memoir of his transition from mathematical physicist to expert finance whiz at Goldman Sachs and Salomon Brothers reads like a novel, but tells a lot about brains applied to making money grow."
–Paul A. Samuelson, MIT, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, 1970

"Not only a delightful memoir, but one full of information, both about people and their enterprise. I never thought that I would be interested in quantitative financial analysis, but reading this book has been a fascinating education."
–Jeremy Bernstein, author of Oppenheimer: Portrait of an Enigma

"This wonderful autobiography takes place in that special time when scientists discovered Wall Street and Wall Street discovered them.It is elegantly written by a gifted observer who was a pioneering member of the new profession of financial engineering, with an evident affection both for finance as a science and for the scientists who practice it.Derman’s portrait of how the academics brought their new financial science to the world of business and forever changed it and, especially, his descriptions of the late and extraordinary genius Fischer Black who became his mentor, reveal a surprising humanity where it might be least expected.Who should read this book?Anyone with a serious interest in finance and everyone who simply wants to enjoy a good read."
–Stephen Ross, Franco Modigliani Professor of Finance and Economics, Sloan School, MIT

" … a deep and elegant exploration by a thinker who moved from the hardest of all sciences (physics) to the softest of the soft (finance). Derman is a different class of thinker; unlike most financial economists, he bears no physics envy and focuses on exploring the real intuitions behind the mechanisms themselves. In addition to stories and portraits, the book documents, in vivid detail, the methods of knowledge transfer. I know of no other book that bridges the two cultures. Finally, I am happy to discover that Derman has a third career: he is a writer."
–Nassim Taleb, author of Fooled by Randomness

"The quintessential quarky quant, Emanuel Derman has it all.Physicist, mathematician, philosopher, and poet blend together to produce a narrative that all financial engineers will find worth reading."
–Mark Rubinstein, Paul Stephens Professor of Applied Investment Analysis, University of California, Berkeley ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents the traditional content of the entire Precalculus series in a manner that answers the age-old question of “When will I ever use this?” Highlighting truly relevant applications, this book presents the material in an easy to learn from approach. Applications and up-to-date real-world data provide more interesting, real-world applications, bringing relevance to examples, discussions, and applications. Relevant, diverse applications peak readers' interest by showing them how important math is to their lives on a daily basis.Fundamental Concepts of Algebra; Graphs, Functions, and Models; Polynomial and Rational Functions; Exponential and Logarithmic Functions; Trigonometric Functions; Analytic Trigonometry; Additional Topics in Trigonometry; Systems of Equations and Inequalities; Matrices and Determinants; Conic Sections and Analytic Geometry; Sequences, Induction, and Probability; and Introduction to Calculus.For a variety of professionals in the business or technology fields. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent!
I used this book instead of listening to the teacher's lectures and I did really great in the class! This is a great book to use in class and study form it alone! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very good for a beginner taking calculus
Its examples and explanations are very good. It contains the essentials of Calculus and good applications in many fields, e.g. biology, economics, etc. ... Read more

Book Description

A proven motivator for readers of diverse mathematical backgrounds, this book explores mathematics within the context of real life using understandable, realistic applications consistent with the abilities of any reader. Graphing techniques are emphasized, including a thorough discussion of polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and conics.Includes Case Studies; New design that utilizes multiple colors to enhance accessibility; Multiple source applications; Numerous graduated examples and exercises; Discussion, writing, and research problems; Important formulas, theorems, definitions, and objectives; and more.For anyone interested in precalculus. ... Read more

Book Description

All the essential mathematics teachers need for teaching at the elementary and middle school levels! This best seller features rich problem-solving strategies, relevant topics, and extensive opportunities for hands-on experience. The coverage in the book moves from the concrete to the pictorial to the abstract, reflecting the way math is generally taught in elementary classrooms.

Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, Student Resource Handbook

This invaluable resource handbook is designed to improve student learning and provide models for effective classroom practices. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A VERY GOOD MATH BOOK!!!!!!
So often, math textbooks are beyond anyone's comprehension. Here is one book that has changed all that! There are plenty of examples and explains the reasons and theories as to why a certain math topic is solved the way it is. It also shows different ways one could solve problems!

This 6th edition doesn't have much difference from the 5th except for more on Statistics and Probability. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

One of the best introductory calculus texts ever
If you want to learn calculus from first-rate experts and also first-rate explainers, you will love this text. The authors have gone to great lengths to motivate and elucidate the ideas behind calculus, and they do so in a brilliant and very readable fashion. They take the reader by the hand and explain, step by step, what you need to know. Countless applications from science, engineering, and economics let you get an idea of how calculus is really used out there in the field.

If this book should be your first calculus text, you may consider yourself fortunate because you will not only get an extremely well explained introduction into calculus, but will also be exposed to a wealth of colorful background information. Many math texts go into dry theorem-proof treatments; everything's there, but the subject does not come to life. You will find this book refreshingly different.

One caveat. You need to bear in mind that this book is an introductory text, though a very complete one that tells you about Lagrange multipliers and vector calculus and triple integrals. If, however, you are an accomplished mathematician looking for post-graduate information on integration in topological vector spaces, you need to look elsewhere. But even then you would be likely, in this excellent and exciting book, to stumble upon some interesting information that you may not have known about before.

Not bad, but needs better explanations
This book was good for understanding the basics of all the concepts, but if you wanted to go more in depth, it was not a very good learning resource. The explanations were not very clear and detailed, and there were also not enough examples. Often, I felt that it would have been much more helpful to have detailed explanations of the more difficult problems.

The One and Only Calculus Text
Finney and Thomas calculus textbooks are perhaps the most popular textbooks in high school and college courses, and for good reason. Finney and Thomas write the definitive text for the subject, and this edition continues their tradition of excellent textbooks. I feel there truly is no better calculus textbook or calculus reference book than one written by this pair. This is the one I grab from the shelf when I need a refresher - and believe me, being a math teacher there are a lot of calculus texts on those shelves!

On the contrary, this textbook is excellent
I was surprised to see all the negative reviews of one of my favourite first-year textbooks. This must be one of the best textbooks I have ever used. I find it very clearly written, wonderfully illustrated, with lots of interesting asides. Although this is one of my first textbooks, I still often refer to it during the course of my engineering work.

This book is quite bad
Having taken AP calc in highschool and found it easy (5 on the ap test), I thought calc. 3 would be no problem. But either I suddenly became stupid or this book is just no help. There are far too few examples, and not enough examples of the tough problems ... Read more

Book Description

Well-suited for the non-statistician, this applications-oriented introductionto multivariate analysis focuses on the fundamental concepts that affect the use of specific techniques rather than the mathematical derivation of the technique.Provides an overview of several techniques and approaches that are available to analysts today — e.g., data warehousing and data mining, neural networks and resampling/bootstrapping. Chapters are organized to provide a practical, logical progression of the phases of analysis and to group similar types of techniques applicable to most situations. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The Magic Multivariate Book
I've used this book (various editions) since graduate school -- more years ago than I care to admit. It is written in English rather than in "statistics" and gives a terrific conceptual overview of the research techniques. I keep it as a reference and use it regularly. If you want to understand multivariate stats without having to wade through a lot of symbols, this book is great. I also find it very useful when I'm trying to come up with a layman's explanation for management.

A GREAT reference
I took multivariate in Ph.D. school. Our professor didn't have a book (just his notes), so I had no book to be loyal to when I got out. I was given this book once I graduated and consider it to be a fabulous reference. I can't speak to *learning* multivariate techniques out of it because that's not been my experience with this book.

I use it as a reference- to refresh myself on a technique, or to consult when I run into a problem- this book has yet to let me down and has been able to answer any question or solve any problem that I've had.

You see this book cited in academic behavioral research, but the book does a great job of explaining things in a managerial way as well.

Other of these reviews have criticized it for going on too long on an example or a technique- for that I PRAISE this book- I WANT that extra information. I'm reminded of that quote from "Amadeus"- "Too many notes." I WANT as many notes as I can get- that's what makes it so much more helpful.

If you are looking for a great reference book for multivariate techniques, look no further.

A very useful reference in Multivariate Statistical Analysis
The more powerful and advance research techniques becomes, the more easy it is for an average analyst to go astray. This is what the text is aimed for: it helps build a very solid conceptual foundation for researchers when using multivariate analysis. Concepts are clearly delineated and criterias to using / NOT using a certain techique are also fully outlined (Chapter 1&2). Incidentally, this is not a step-by-step or so-called quick-fix manual that guides the readers what buttons to look for in the SPSS/SAS.

An excellent book!
This book is an excellent source of information on multivariate analysis techniques. I especially like the flowcharts used for determining which analysis method to use as well as the flowcharts showing what steps to take for the analysis method chosen. If you have a good basic knowledge of statistics and a good head on your shoulders, you will have no problem understanding the methods presented.

Great book
This is the best applied book on multivariate analysis I know. It clearly explains how to do statistical analyses and how to interpret the output. Clear examples throughout. Syntax supplied for each type of multivariate analysis in both SPSS and SAS, with LISREL notation for CFA. In addition to specific techniques (factor analysis, multiple regression, multiple discriminant analysis, MANOVA, conjoint analysis, canonical correlation, cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, structural equation modeling/CFA) excellent sections on structuring data, cleaning data, and handling missing data. While mathematical sophistication always helps in stat, this book doesn't require it. No knowledge of matrix algebra needed to understand this book. Few if any formulas. Emphasis is on logic rather than math. ... Read more

Book Description

This clear, accessible treatment of mathematics features a building-block approach toward problem solving, realistic and diverse applications, and chapter organizer to help users focus their study and become effective and confident problem solvers. The Putting Your Skills to Work and new chapter-end feature, Math in the Media, present readers with opportunities to utilize critical thinking skills, analyze and interpret data, and problem solve using applied situations encountered in daily life.Earlier coverage of the Order of Arithmetic Operations—now section 1.5 so that operations is now covered together before Introduction to Algebra. The discussion of solving linear equations in Chapter 2 now includes coverage of equations with no solution and equations with infinitely many solutions. Section 4.3 now offers a more thorough introduction to polynomials, with the addition of new terminology at the beginning of the section and a new lesson on evaluating polynomials at the end. Revised Ch. 7 on Graphing and Functions includes new coverage of the rectangular coordinate system and slope. The coverage of the rectangular coordinate system in Chapter 7 has been improved for greater clarity. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

You have to start somewhere...
Tobey and Slater's 'Beginning Algebra' text is used by my college where I tutor mathematics in the first course in Algebra, often the first course in Algebra many of our students have ever taken. It is very much a beginning course, as the course itself carries no official 'credit' (it is a zero-level course, as a prerequisite to other science and mathematics courses, that many students place out of on the basis of assessment scores).

The first chapter is actually a Chapter Zero, covering review topics in the event students have not had mathematics for a while. These include topics such as fractions, decimals, percentages, estimation, and basic arithmetical functions. The chapter is a bit disorganised (however, every class seems to have a different intuitive feel for mathematics, so I have not discovered that one system of rearrangement that works for all classes).

The following chapters cover the major topics of Algebra systematically: Real Numbers and Variables; Equations and Inequalities; Applied Problems (this is the dreaded 'story problem' chapter, where most students who seek tutoring first seek it out); Exponents and Polynomial expressions; Factoring (another major area of problem for students); Rational Expressions/Equations; Graphing and Functions (the third primary area of problem for students); Solving Systems of Equations; Radicals and Roots (including some basic geometry via the Pythagorean theorem); and finally Quadratic Equations.

Each of the sections includes pretests, post-tests and reviews, and plenty of problems to be solved to reinforce the mathematical principles being presented. There are a few issues with the organisation that we address in the course (sometimes the introduction of square roots and radicals needs to be advanced to assist in the discussion of factoring, for example), but these are fairly minor and can be adjusted as the instructor and/or course planner desires.

Each of the chapters deals with things in a mathematical as well as an 'English' way - explaining in words the concepts and operations being carried out in the numbers. Each section of each chapter covers only a few key concepts, with enough problems for solving that reinforce the principles thoroughly. Each section also as word problems (story problems) to test the real-world applicability of the numerical/mathematical concepts being presented, so when students ask (as they always do and shall), 'When am I ever going to use this?' there are examples drawn from typical situations.

Tobey and Slater have also worked to make various connections with geometry, graphs and charts, tables, as well as internet resources to provide the most up-to-date and useful text. There are specific problems along the way that assume the use of calculators (as most of real-life mathematics now involves calculators).

The book's design is interesting from a graphic-design standpoint, but from the standpoint of clarity to the students, the pages are a bit 'busy'. While I appreciate the need to reduce the number of pages in an effort to keep the costs down (text-book prices are typically higher than popular-book prices, and this text is no exception), more white space on the pages would probably help the accessibility and make it a little less intimidating.

Most students who take the Beginning Algebra class using this text who then move on to the Intermediate Algebra class (which is the course level of mathematics required of most every degree programme at our college) find that, in many respects, they have already mastered the key concepts of Algebra, and find Intermediate to be new applications and more complex problems of similar principles they have already learned. In that respect, this text is a good one, and serves the students well.

You can do better than this!
This widely-acclaimed textbook by Tobey & Slater is a valiant attempt to make elementary algebra both interesting and anxiety-free. I have been using this textbook [both 4th and now 5th editions] to teach in over 30 classes so far at a
community college and have found the book, despite its good intentions, to have many flaws, some of which I would like to touch upon here. The book comes equipped with many extras, such as lecture videos on CD ROM and internet support. I think the study tip boxes scattered throughout the text are condescending to the student and don't belong in an elementary algebra textbook. [If we want to avoid the words "beginning" ,"introductory", "elementary" in the title couldn't we just say "a first course in algebra" or just " algebra I"?] Next, the many "pretests" are a distraction and make no sense in this book. I've noticed that they cause anxiety and I never use them. Chapter "0" reviews basic math and could stand a lot better organization, which I have to do myself. One glaring omission in this chapter is proportion. Proportions are used to solve for a numerator after finding a LCD but the topic is put off until chapter 6 and even then barely discussed.But proportion is the key linking concept for all of our basic math and this omission, in my opinion , could prove disastrous as the course proceeds.The "blueprint for problem solving" seems useless, and I never refer to it. I am still mystified by what they are attempting to communicate. The touted "real-life" applications also seem rather contrived, repetitive, condescending, and plain boring ,so I hardly ever assign these problems. However, the "organizers" at the end of each chapter are superb. They neatly summarize every section and give an example or two as illustrations of the method. The algebra in Chap 1 is good, but could also stand better organization. I have a quarrel with modern notation of signed numbers. They should write the signs smaller and as which would eliminate the need for parentheses ( confusing for the beginner) and also conform to our newer calculators displayal of signs and operations.Quite a few of the word problems are confusing or imprecise so I tend to avoid these. A good example is on page 50 problem #28: "In a recent tire inspection for Ford Explorers, local dealers found that 12% of the treads were defective. For each Explorer that was defective, the dealer offered immediate replacement of all five tires (including the spare ).If the local dealers inspected the tires on 450 Explorers, how many new tires did they need?" The authors insist that the correct answer is 270, but I am not so sure....
I can go on about the cluttered appearance of this book, distracting photos, drawings,etc.
but it would be pointless.However, overall the editing is excellent with very few errors. [a glaring exception is problem #29 on page A-23 ].I would like to end this review with mention of the kind of writing I strenuously object to in a first course in algebra. On p. 526 is a discussion of complex numbers, which is irrelevant to the needs of the student:
"Thus the [square roof of minus 4 ] is not a real number...You may encounter a more sophisticated number system called complex numbers in a higher-level mathematics course. In the complex number system, negative numbers have square roots."
But in Chapter 10, when solving for roots of a quadratic, the authors reject imaginary solutions , so that this topic need never be mentioned in the main body of the text.

Understandable
This text, combined with quality instruction helped me earn an "A" in my first class in 13 years! Not only that, but it's the first "A" I've ever received in a math class! Hands down, my best exposure to math ever!

An A for the Authors
This book is one of the most informative I have ever read. Prior to using this book I had failed Algerbra six times. However, using this book and having an exceptional teacher I received not only a passing grade but an A in the couse. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good stuff!
This actually is a fantastic textbook.

De Veaux and Velleman are realists; they know that you don't want to read everything. They have taken the liberty of highlighting important parts of their explanations. (They also highlighted a bit of advice recommending that students read more than just the highlighted text-they have a good sense of humor that shows up throughout the book.) The authors also provide a fantastic summary of "Key Concepts" at the end of each chapter.

Also, they have clearly gone to great lengths to find interesting topics to use in their exercises. There are very few mind numbing homework problems. You know the type: "In the following data about the most frequently purchased brand of toenail clippers..."
How about a question like this: What is the likelihood that reading a randomly selected example question will be more painful that attempting to swallow the textbook it came from? If you're selecting from Intro Stats, put down your fork and knife, because De Veaux and Velleman have gathered some topics that I think most people will genuinely find interesting. Such topics include: drug use among teenagers, stance on the death penalty, changes in average marriage age, and many others.

I've never felt compelled to review a textbook before, but this one is worth it. It's good stuff, my friends. Good stuff!

(Almost) Math-less Stats
This is a well-organized, nicely put-together textbook, with lots of step-by-step examples to give you a good base of understanding and lots of problems and section reviews to allow you to apply and extend that understanding. If you're intimidated by math, this textbook will go a long way toward easing your fears, and if you're a lover of math, you'll learn a lot about Statistics and be highly entertained along the way.
Although an introductory calculus class was a prerequisite for the course I took using this text, the only time integrals and complicated formulas showed up was in footnotes or the occasional homework problem. In general, the book aims to teach through real world examples and applications, not through pages of potentially intimidating to-be-memorized equations and formulas. As a result, the "math" parts of the book (you can't really do Statistics without math) are hidden, so that you are often using "math" without realizing it.
I especially liked the book's listing of instructions, for a variety of Statistics software packages, about how to do on the computer whatever you'd just learnt in a chapter. There are some "do by hand" problems, but just as many "use the computer" problems--helpful, given that any time most of us will be using Statistics again will be for a job or for research and will involve computer software.
There are all sorts of random facts that break up the practically inevitable "ugh" feeling of reading a textbook. In addition, the writing is very clear and informal, without lots of technical jargon (what little there is is clearly explained first--no wondering in Chapter 15 what that darned "r," which you've been seeing since Chapter 6, means). When reading, I always felt the authors were talking to me through the page, which made reading go faster and more pleasantly. (The short chapters help, too.)
I also found the "What can go wrong?" sections at the end of each chapter useful, especially when we got to interpreting data: several times, I would try to do a homework problem, then go back to the chapter and realize I'd made a beginner's mistake and done exactly what I wasn't supposed to do. The authors know what first-time Statistics students are thinking, and they do a good job of steering you along the right course. ... Read more