Book Description

A first course in linear algebra for mathematics, engineering and computer science students.

Praised over many editions for its expository style and clarity of presentation, the revision of this best-selling text combines linear algebra theory with applications, and addresses a new generation of students' changing needs.
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This text can be used in a first or second year 1- or 2- semester course. Calculus is not a prerequisite, but there are exercises, examples, and applications for students with calculus backgrounds; they are clearly marked and can be omitted with no loss of continuity.
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Reviews (8)

Okay if required, but
The Anton book appears to be the standard in teaching undergrad LA, but I personally didn't like it very much. Part of the problem is due to several misprints in the early chapters. Some of the definitions of basic concepts are confusing at best, wrong at the worst. I found myself relying on the Hubbard-Hubbard "Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Forms" to get through the course. The explanations were more concise and easier to understand. If you'r eteaching yourself, Hubbard-Hubbard is the way to go.

Great textbook
I used Anton in my linear algebra class a few years back and I have referred to it often since. Anton's approach is to introduce the notation and basic tools, i.e. vector and matrix arithmetic, within the intuitive geometric settings of the Euclidean plane and space. Once the basic concepts of Euclidean vector spaces have been mastered, Anton moves into abstract vector spaces, linear transformations, and eigenvectors. One chapter is spent on complex matrices, and another chapter deals with numerical issues and least-squares applications. The only topic which is noticably missing is the singular value decomposition, but other than that, Anton is a remarkably complete text. The definitions and theorems are clearly presented, along with the motivating intuitions. The exercises at the end of the chapter sections are a nice balance between computational and theoretical problems. Overall I highly recommend Anton as a first linear algebra text.

8th edition is the best yet
I've been teaching out of Anton's Linear Algebra books for 17 years, and I'm especially impressed with the 8th edition. Difficult concepts are visited again and again in increasing levels of abstraction, easing students into them. I'm amazed at the organization of topics. I'm able to deliver punch lines arrive several times a day: "Now we see why we learned this yesterday. Here's something we saw a while back, remember this?"

As always, the writing style is clear and the exercises are well-chosen. I can't imagine teaching linear algebra with any other author.

Great Linear Algebra text
This is the best introduction on linear algebra. The book goes form the arithmetic of matrices to complex vector spaces. It covers every thing at a basic level and it doesn't leave out anything important. What I like most about the book, is that it's examples are both geometric and algebraic, so it appeals to many people with different thinking styles. The book really is an intro to modern math, because it has very UNDERSTANDIBLE PROOFS, and you lean information that can be later applied to more advanced versions of algebra. You don't really need and previous knowledge to understand this text. For those who can't wait after calculus 3 to learn linear algebra, I recommend this book.

This book is a jewel of the didactic
This book is a jewel of the didactic. It constitutes one of the best introductions that I know on the Elementary Linear Algebra. If you don't know anything about Linear Algebra, neither you have an enough background as to begin to study this matter, then this it is the book that you need. The book is self contained and the only thing that you need to study it it is elementary algebra, in which is included simultaneous lineal equations with two or three variables and its graphic solution. With that it will be enough so that you understand the book. Understanding this book will be able to try with other texts more advanced as that of Shilov, Mirsky and Noble. The text constitutes an elementary introduction to the topic, but I assure you that it is one of the best. In each part, Howard assumes that your you don't understand anything and then it selects examples that clarify the point in discussion. As it is natural, you won't find anything of rigor along the whole book: the theorems demonstrate them in intuitive form, in such a way that the student has very clear the content of the theorem. Then it enunciates and demonstrates it with the simple steps of a ordered demonstration already done and fixed in the mind of the student. It is a book written exclusively for the student in general, it doesn't for students of Engineering or pure sciences who surely found it too easy.
The book is full with exercises whose answer found at the end of the text. The last chapter will be very interesting for those students that want to be interested in the numeric analysis. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Math as science, art and life
What's so truly impressive about Jacobs' book is the way in which he demonstrates that math is all around. His choice of subjects provides the reader with a broad introduction to the mathematical sciences, including geometry, probability, combinatorics, statistics, topology and more. More importantly, his examples and explanations make it relevant and fun.

Jacobs' writing is clear (which cannot be said for many books on math at any level) and his organization sweeps the reader right along. Though technically a textbook, this is excellent reading for anyone who's interested in learning about math. I read it in junior high school, and have re-read bits and pieces as I progressed through college and graduate school. His subjects are complex enough to merit rethinking, yet his explanations clear enough to be grasped by the first time reader.

Truly one of the great introductory math texts -- especially for those who think they don't need to know or can't understand math.

This book fosters true love of math.
I'm a 36-year old homeschooling mother who had done calculus in high school and college, and mechanically got some right answers, but never knew why. I hadn't bothered to slow down and notice the beauty and power of the language of mathematics. In his textbook, Mathematics: A Human Endeavor, Harold Jacobs smashed my lack of confidence into a million pieces. He showers the student with so much real-life relevance and humor, that even a slight amount of curiosity about the subject bears delicous fruit. Working through this book will convince any human being, of almost any age, that he or she is a born mathematician.

Best Introduction to Mathematics !
I stumbled across this book when I was 17 whilst rummaging in my school library. It was too late for me to use it as my workbook but I enjoyed reading it nevertheless. My sole regret was that had I found it earlier than I might have had success in teaching my fellow students the joys of mathematics. The book is beautifully designed with gorgeous graphics to demonstrate mathematical ideas. There are also wonderful cartoons that people on this side of the Atlantic may never get to see otherwise. This is the book (with its companion "Geometry") that I give all my nephews/nieces on their 10th birthday so that they may not claim that they were deprived of good maths tuition.

For women and others "afraid of math"
This is a wonderful way to learn mathematics. It makes simple things you thought you could never learn ... Read more

Book Description

Updated to reflect the latest technological advances in statistical tools, this solid text presents ideas and concepts more clearly for students who have little or no background in statistics. The Tenth Edition retains all the elements and style that educators nationwide have come to expect—clear prose, excellent problems and precise presentation of mathematics involved—while eliminating some of the computational drudgery. The seamless integration of technology gives professors multiple teaching options.The volume outlines all aspects of summarizing data, possibilities and probabilities, rules of probability, expectations and decisions, distribution, sampling, problems of estimation, tests of hypotheses, analysis of variance, regression, correlation and nonparametric tests.For Statistics professionals and others using elementary statistics. ... Read more

Book Description

An intuitive, yet precise introduction to probability theory, stochastic processes, and probabilistic models used in science, engineering, economics, and related fields.

The book covers the fundamentals of probability theory (probabilistic models, discrete and continuous random variables, multiple random variables, and limit theorems), which are typically part of a first course on the subject. It also contains, a number of more advanced topics, including transforms, sums of random variables, least squares estimation, the bivariate normal distribution, and a fairly detailed introduction to Bernoulli, Poisson, and Markov processes.

The book strikes a balance between simplicity in exposition and sophistication in analytical reasoning. Some of the more mathematically rigorous analysis is explained intuitively in the text, and is developed in detail (at the level of advanced calculus) in the numerous solved theoretical problems.

This text is being currently used in introductory probability classes at several universities, including M.I.T., Berkeley, and Stanford. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great book!
Written by two prolific MIT professors, "Introduction to Probability" presents a clean and insightful introduction to probability and stochastic processes. The book is intended for advanced undergraduate and/or beginning graduate students. While many introductory probability texts are dominated by superficial case studies (which in my opinion convey a false sense of confidence about the subject), "Introduction to Probability" promotes deep understanding through clear mathematical writing and thought-provoking examples.

Testimonial: I recently adopted "Introduction to Probability" as the text for a first-year, masters of engineering course on stochastic systems, and it was a great experience. In working with the book, I found that the authors' thoughtful approach really helps to solidify the students' understanding of basic concepts. For example, the text's approach to conditional probability, particularly with its emphasis on sample-space, is so clear that several students (even the TA) came to me afterward saying that, prior to reading the book, they never had a clear understanding of what the formulas actually mean. From an instructor's perspective, "Introduction to Probability" is easy to use. It is accessible to students with diverse backgrounds, and it is also well-balanced, with lots of intuitive/motivating discussion in the main body of each chapter and advanced concepts in extended end-of-the chapter problems. The authors support the text by making available a large amount of supplementary material on the web, including supplementary exercises (suitable for homework or exams) and lecture notes from their introductory probability course at MIT. I highly recommend "Introduction to Probability" to anyone preparing to teach an introductory course on stochastic systems, probability, and stochastic processes.

The odds are you'll love this book
Probabilities are a powerful way of understanding the world and doing science. Trouble is, understanding probabilities is not easy: it takes math, insight, and a fresh way of thinking. Worse, the stuff is so useful in so many contexts that its expositions are often obscured by the intended applications.

I recently found myself looking at several probability books to give a recommendation to a friend. This book (by two well-known MIT professors of Electrical Engineering) is a wonderful treatment in terms of its style (simple informal explanations, motivating discussions, frequent notes of a historical/philosophical nature); its selection of topics (the basics, mainly, usually from the most useful perspective); its rigor and accuracy; its reasonable brevity; its rather conventional point of view (contrast it, for example, with the very interesting recent book by E. Jaynes); and its humor. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

EXCELLANTO
I HELPED MY SON WITH HIS HOMEWORK AND PERSONALLY FOUND THAT I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THIS BOOK. VERY GOOD BOOK, VERY IMPRESSIVE LAYOUT.

Thorough but overkill
I absolutely agree with the review by Stephen Armstrong below. It doesn't take 50 - 100 problems for the average student to grasp a simple, basic algebraic concept. I see no reason for this book to be over 700 pages; the authors clearly ignored the need for simplicity and relevance in presenting their material. Of the several books I've used for algebra, this one has the most distracting presentation. It's hard to figure out what really matters and where the student should focus. And it's hard to discern how the concepts presented relate to each other. It seems that in the authors' desire to be thorough, they lost perspective.

A Terrific Sequel to Beginning Algebra.
After having completed a course in Beginning Algebra, the next textbook, Intermediate Algebra really smoothed everything out. The topics it covers are basically quite the same as Beginning Algebra (same author), but it goes into deeper depth that are peasy to pick up (especially with the examples in the start of each section). One thing I particularly like about Lial and Hornsby mathematics textbooks are the summaries they provide at the end of each chapter you complete. They give a concept covered in the chapter, a couple of examples, and therefore serve as a revision page before a test or exam.

Helps a lot
This is a terrific book. It makes me feel that I shouldn't bother to attend my math class in school. The book explains concepts clearly. You don't even need a mentor. You can manage the book all by yourself, for the book itself is your teacher, your mentor. There is an abundance of exercises for you to practise. They never run out of it. It makes you feel that math is fun. It is the simply the best way to learn math. The best part of the book is the review after every chapter. I can learn back whatever I've missed. I'm an 8th grader only, but I can still manage the 2nd year of high school algebra. The book has helped a lot. The book is perfect for talented 8th graders.

A problem-centered math text...
Lial and Hornsby have written a college-level intermediate algebra text that demonstrates the best and the worst of US math instruction. On the positive side, this is a lavishly produced book: great detail, lots of graphs and clearly ordered explanations, excellent colors, nearly 1 1/4 inches thick with what they consider the 11 essentials of intermediate algebra (listed above in the Amazon.com notes). The books comes from Addison-Wesley-Longman, from which you can purchase an integrated set of videos and CD-ROM of testing problems (not used or viewed for this review). Theirs truly is a work of love. On the other hand, they represent the most tedious part of American math instruction, which is interminable problems--5,921, to be exact--which roll through the book, section after section. Their extraordinary work makes me wonder how any college math teacher in a 3-credit course could hope to get through 2% of the problems in a semester. Many of the problems are repetitious, going over the same features (of problem solving) again and again. I fear that only the grinds and math gearheads will appreciate this.

Even more worrisome, however, is the absence of conceptual integration, other than that these 11 topics are "important" if you want to go to advanced algebra or college geometry. The one pertinent conceptual comment was that polynomials are to algebra as numbers are to arithmetic, but the authors never followed up on this. It is not clear, for example, why inverse functions are related (or not) to conic sections. The handling of systems of linear equations borrowed liberally from matrix algebra, but the authors chose not to demonstrate more general solutions and stuck with solving the problems "manually."

More than concepts in math, American students know how to solve problems, which presumably is why this book, reflecting its intended audience, is so problem-saturated. Even so, when we test our best students against the best from other countries, we do not fare too well. Perhaps it is because we ignore the structure of the thinking in math, and substitute problem-solving instead. The result is that attentive students will know the notes, and some will know the notes quite well, but not the music. ... Read more

Book Description

A brief introduction to business statistics that balances a conceptual understanding of statistics with the real-world application of statistical methodology.This essentials version features selected core topics from the authors' market-leading Statistics for Business and Economics, 8th, presented in 13 chapters. It includes the highly-regarded strengths of the longer text, including the problem-scenario approach that uses real-world examples to introduce statistical techniques.Methods, Applications, and Self-Test exercises include hundreds of problems based on real data.Examples and exercises throughout focus on ways that statistics contribute to improving the quality of products and services. This text can also be computer integrated at the discretion of the instructor. Instruction for data analysis based on Microsoft Excel and Minitab is included in appendices of appropriate chapters. Case problems are also provided with the text, with data sets available on disk for both Minitab and Excel formats. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Text!!
The information in this book is clear-cut, concise, and easy to read. Easily understandable examples are given for the various statistical formulas, and extras like z-score value charts and the like help a lot. If you have a talented instructor leading your Stats class (like I did) in addition to this text, you will be sure to ace this course (like I did)!

P.S.: If you happen to be an Information Systems/Information Technology major (such as myself) DO NOT RE-SELL THIS BOOK! You will need the information in this book in your future Info Systems courses, and you will definitely realize the TRUE value of this text!

A useful book. . .
. . .by authors who remember that they are writing for persons who are NOT professional mathematicians.

In today's world, frequently persons enter the business profession from a background in something other than what in the past might have been considered traditional avenues. Not all business textbooks recognize this (see my review for "Mathematical Applications")! However, this book seems to be an exception.

The material is presented in a logical format; key formulae are highlighted and set off from the rest of the text; and in-depth business examples are given in each chapter, demonstrating the particular statistical tools to be taught.

A useful and recommended volume. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is a much-needed professional book that will instruct readers in the many newmethodologies now at their disposal to make the best use of longitudinal data. This book explains how to select an appropriate method given a research question, including how to use both individual growth modeling and survival analysis. Throughout the chapters, the authors employ many cases and examples from a variety of disciplines, covering multilevel models, curvilinear and discontinuous change, in addition to discrete-time hazard models, continuous-time event occurrence, and Cox regression models. Using Longitudinal Data is a unique contribution to the literature on research methods and will be useful to a wide range of behavioral and social science researchers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great if you really want to do longitudinal data analysis
One of the great features of this book is that it is addressed to the empirical researcher and it really tells you how to conduct good data-analysis with longitudinal data. It doesn't push one particular piece of software, either, but uses a variety of different software packages. The book is really easy to read, and clearly explained -- and, there's so much in it!

Best thing since sliced bread!
This is a great book, it tells you in a straightforward way how to analyze your longitudinal data to answer questions of critical importance in the social sciences. It's not wedded to one particular piece of software, as many books on statistical topics are, but uses examples of real data and different software (HLM, MLwiN, SAS, Stata) to conduct the analyses. An absolute must for the researcher who collects longitudinal data. ... Read more

Book Description

This extremely readable, highly regarded, and widely adopted text present innovative ways for applying calculus to real-world situations in the business, economics, life science, and social science disciplines. The text's straightforward, engaging approach fosters the growth of both mathematical maturity and an appreciation for the usefulness of mathematics. The authors' tried and true formula — pairing substantial amounts of graphical analysis and informal geometric proofs with an abundance of hands-on exercizes — has proven to be tremendously successful.Functions, derivatives, applications of the derivative, techniques of differentiations, exponential and natural logarithm functions, definite integral, variables, trigonometric functions, integration, differential equations, Taylor polynomials and probability.For individuals interested in an introduction to calculus applications. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good Text for Basic Calculus Concepts
Contrary to what some other reviewer have claimed, I found this book quite helpful.It provides the basic concepts of Calculus such as limits and derivative rules and applications, exponents and logarithms, integrals, double variable calculus, trig functions, techniques of integrations, an introduction to differential equations, and even series.

I found this book very easy to use.It presents the information in a very terse, straightforward manner.Basically, it cuts down on the mathematical theory and allows students to solve the important equations quick and easy.Instead of being lost in complicated definations of derivations, I was able to quickly find derivations and discover their uses in functions.

This is the book that I used for my "Calculus for Social and Natural Science Majors" course.Personally, I feel that I learned much from this book.I never took a Calculus class in high school and wasn't the most mathematically inclinded so i was sure that Calculus was going to be tough.This book made it really easy to understand and somehow Calculus turned into one of my easiest classes.

This book, however, is not for those who plan on taking higher level Calculus classes.It has most of the fundamentals, but not more advanced topics.Also, several topics are presented out of order from a regular Calc 1 class (so I'm told).For instance, calculus of several varibles--a topic usually covered in a third level course--occurs before techniques of intregration.

The book is quite suitable for a Business/Natural Science Calc class, as it was intended to be used for, and overall seems to make the subject easier.It provides a good means of jumping right into the subject.

awful
Bad Book on an already hard subject. There are better books out there. Don't waste your money or time on this stinker. It left me dazed and confused. It didn't teach the subject just gave examples which would be fine, if the examples were based on the exercise problems. What a waste of paper.

Horrible text on an already difficult subject
This was a horrible text book. It does not help with teaching, or with explaining the topic at hand. Instead it gives examples,which would be fine except the examples were not like the exercise problems. The book left me confused, and with plenty of questions for my instructor. I hated this book, and looked for better books to get me through the class. Alot of money for nothing. There are better books out there.

Whats the difference between the 8th and 7th eds?
The book itself is OK at best.The author makes use of OK examples but has some very good questions.Too bad its hard to solve the more advanced questions he asks from the examples given.

In compairing the 7th and8th editions there is almost NO difference between the two.I think I ranaccross under 10( at most) total changes, and they were VERY minor.Whyprint another edition?More money to charge university students isprobably why.

Oh, and I did very well in the 2 semesters...so Im not justbitching either! ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers the sound presentation of mathematics, useful pedagogy, clear and well-constructed writing style, superb problem-solving strategies, and other qualities that have made the Martin-Gay series so successful. Exceptionally interesting and practical real-world applications throughout the book capture readers' interest, while Martin-Gay's streamlined problem-solving process develops and hones their problem-solving skills.New features include Spotlight on Decision-Making applications, revised Chapter Projects, Real-World Chapter Openers, Vocabulary Review sections, video icons, and Study Skills sections.For readers interested in learning or revisiting essential skills in beginning and intermediate algebra through the use of lively and up-to-date applications. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Sometimes complex
This book covers many problems but lacks descriptive solutions. I could not get a good concept of how to solve the problems because most of the solutions were broken into several sections. This book does give some of the answers but again it does lack descriptive solutions.

I can't wait to get this book!
In my pre-algebra I and II classes, we used Martin-Gay's books. They were wonderful! They're easy to understand and follow with plenty of exercises. I was looking forward to using her books for Intermediate Algebra. I was extremely disappointed to find that the college switched to a different book...one that isn't helpful at all. I'm planning on using Martin-Gay's book along side our college textbook we now have. Hopefully, the lightbulb will be going on much quicker!

Very Complete
This book won't let you get stuck, it explains all concepts clearly. It offers a good beginning algebra review, and gives you a thorough dose of the tougher stuff.

I Wish I Had This Book in High School
I am not reselling my Basic and Intermediate Algebra books by the same author. These books explained algebra better than any book I've ever attempted to muddle through in the late 80's that's for sure!

An interesting math textbook!
First, I should share that I am the author ot this textbook! Next, I want to respond to the other review by saying that the criticisms are accurate for the premlinary edition, but not this first edition (with subtitle "Functions and Authentic Applications"). In fact, the first edition was not available when the other review was posted! In the first edition I completely rewrote the the text so that it is now really easy to follow. It even has a list of key points at the end of each section. The text has tons of current, interesting data sets that makes the course come alive. You will need to use a graphing calculator with this text. My students love using this text and I'm sure you will too! ... Read more

Book Description

Maintaining a contemporary perspective, this strongly algebraic-oriented text provides a concrete and readable text for the traditional course in elementary differential equations that science, engineering, and mathematics readers take following calculus.Matters of definition, classification, and logical structure deserve (and receive here) careful attention for the first time in the mathematical experience of many of the readers. While it is neither feasible nor desirable to include proofs of the fundamental existence and uniqueness theorems along the way in an elementary course, readers need to see precise and clear-cut statements of these theorems, and understand their role in the subject. Appropriate existence and uniqueness proofs in the Appendix are included, and referred to where appropriate in the main body of the text. Applications are highlighted throughout the text. These include: What explains the commonly observed lag time between indoor and outdoor daily temperature oscillations?; What makes the difference between doomsday and extinction in alligator populations?; How do a unicycle and a two-axle car react differently to road bumps?; Why are flagpoles hollow instead of solid?; Why might an earthquake demolish one building and leave standing the one next door?; How can you predict the time of next perihelion passage of a newly observed comet?; Why and when does non-linearity lead to chaos in biological and mechanical systems?; What explains the difference in the sounds of a guitar, a xylophone, and a drum? Includes almost 300 computer-generated graphics throughout the text.This text, with enough material for 2 terms, provides a concrete and readable text for the traditional course in elementary differential equations that science, engineering, and mathematics readers take following calculus. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very good
Fast and its just brand new, he never opened the books

As good as it gets
Differential equations are difficult to teach (though not conceptually difficult), and that fact becomes obvious when you look at most DE books. However, there is the occasional text that teaches the subject in a most comprehensible way. I have used other DE books, among them S. Goode's "Introduction to Differential Equations and Linear Algebra", and let me tell you -- it [is bad]. Plain and simple. It was the only math class I've ever taken which left me with what felt like an incomplete understanding of the subject. And then I used this book for a course at MIT and I realized why I hadn't learned anything previously. The old book [was bad]. And this was pretty good. The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is because it doesn't have any particular line of development. But that's not that important, and this book is a great way to learn differential equations.

Good book but a strong background on calculus required.
This book will tell you everything you need to learn on differential equations. It covers thoroughly the methods for solving first and second order differential equations. The book also extends into Fourier transforms. I used this book at MIT for the differential equations class and found it very useful. Within its contents, matlab exercises are present and some simple projects which lets the student apply its knowledge. The only problem with the book is that it can be hard to read at certain points. Also the author assumes a strong background in calculus. ... Read more

Book Description

The mere thought of having to take a required calculus course is enough to make legions of students break out in a cold sweat. Others who have no intention of ever studying the subject have this notion that calculus is impossibly difficult unless you happen to be a direct descendant of Einstein.

Well, the good news is that you can master calculus. It's not nearly as tough as its mystique would lead you to think. Much of calculus is really just very advanced algebra, geometry, and trig. It builds upon and is a logical extension of those subjects. If you can do algebra, geometry, and trig, you can do calculus.

Calculus For Dummies is intended for three groups of readers:

• Students taking their first calculus course – If you're enrolled in a calculus course and you find your textbook less than crystal clear, this is the book for you. It covers the most important topics in the first year of calculus: differentiation, integration, and infinite series.
• Students who need to brush up on their calculus to prepare for other studies – If you've had elementary calculus, but it's been a couple of years and you want to review the concepts to prepare for, say, some graduate program, Calculus For Dummies will give you a thorough, no-nonsense refresher course.
• Adults of all ages who'd like a good introduction to the subject – Non-student readers will find the book's exposition clear and accessible. Calculus For Dummies takes calculus out of the ivory tower and brings it down to earth.

This is a user-friendly math book. Whenever possible, the author explains the calculus concepts by showing you connections between the calculus ideas and easier ideas from algebra and geometry. Then, you'll see how the calculus concepts work in concrete examples. All explanations are in plain English, not math-speak. Calculus For Dummies covers the following topics and more:

• Real-world examples of calculus
• The two big ideas of calculus: differentiation and integration
• Why calculus works
• Pre-algebra and algebra review
• Common functions and their graphs
• Limits and continuity
• Integration and approximating area
• Sequences and series

Don't buy the misconception. Sure calculus is difficult – but it's manageable, doable. You made it through algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Well, calculus just picks up where they leave off – it's simply the next step in a logical progression. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One glaring weakness
I would give this book 5 stars except for one omission that I find unbelievable: There are no practice problems! Not a single one! Each chapter of the book should have at least a couple problems for the reader to work. This omission mars an otherwise splendid review of the subject.

Refreshing Approach to the Fundamentals of Calculus
I have been using "Calculus for Dummies" to review my Calc I and Calc II basics. I am surprised and pleased with how well Ryan's descriptions and explanations have allowed me to better understand the underlying principles in Calculus. If you are serious about the groundwork and maintenance of your mathematical skills, you know that it is frequently beneficial to return to the basics for those fundamental concepts which can occassionally grow fuzzy with time. If you can find a text that treats the material in a new and entertaining way, the review can be enjoyable as well as instructive.

I highly recommend Ryan's book. He limits complexity (and warns you when he is doing so) to keep the material accessible. For the ultra rigorous analysis, there are many college texts available. But if you are new to Calculus, or looking for a different and refreshing approach to the basics, you will find "Calculus for Dummies" a wise investment. If you are taking Calculus in school and are having some problems understanding the material (and who hasn't?), this book will help you "decode" some of the more difficult concepts. I am sure that it is destined to become a valuable catalyst text on many a struggling math student's desktop.

Excellent Book
As a freshman college student, I purchased this book to help me understand what my awful professor and text book were trying to say. This book does a fantastic job at bringing calculus "down to earth", to quote Mark Ryan. It eliminates the pages of proofs my text book had and cuts right to the chase, explaining calculus in plain English. This book actually TEACHES calculus in a fun way.

This book is worth every penny if you are a student. If you're a beginning calculus student, you will probably get more use out of this book than your text, as did I.

Excellent calculus companion for high school and college
In the tradition of the "For Dummies" series, "Calculus For Dummies" offers its readers with the advantage of clearly understanding critical ideas in calculus.

The book starts off with a refresher for algebra and such and then eliminates any fears of limits the reader might have. The fundamental idea of a limit (without the advanced delta-epsilon notation) allows the reader to thoroughly understand the backbone of calculus.

Differentiation is treated in detail with examples in power rule, chain rule, quotient rule, and applications (which the reader will have absolutely NO problem with after reading this book).

The concept of integration is explained so that the reader may see the fundamental principles of infinite summation of rectangles of miniature area. "Calculus For Dummies" has a strong presentation of integration techniques (especially integration by parts and the LIATE method pneumonic device) as well as trigonometric, volume and surface area, substitution, and indefinite integration.

Lastly, "Calc for Dummies" concludes with a discussion of infinite series. The book explains each of the 10 methods covered and also offers tips as to which method to use for a specific occasion.

All in all, a tremendously well-written book for those taking Calculus for the first time, those who need a companion for their current calc class, as well as those wishing for a refresher. "Calculus For Dummies" is very readable and allows the reader to understand the beautiful language of calculus without the rigors of proofs most calc textbooks have. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Used in Graduate Class on Probability and Random Processes
I used this book for a graduate class in Probaility and Random Processes and we covered every chapter. I gave the book three stars based on other probability books I have used, but compared to other engineering books I would rate it lower.

I feel main problem with the book is the examples not very helpful in solving the 100+ problems that accompany each chapter. Most of the examples were just useless explanations graphs. The book also seems to gloss over some of the important concepts needed to solve the homework problems. The only homework problems that I found useful were the MATLAB examples. I would recommend doing these problems even if they are not assigned.

The book also does a poor job covering applications, especially in the later chapters on random processes. I would have been interested in more signal processing and communications applications, the main reason I took a course on probability and random processes.

As far a background for a person using this book, I would recommend the person be graduate student with a solid math background.

What a terrible book
I am a graduate student using this book in a class. I would really like to warn other people from using it.

The book describes everything with a lot of examples. As a result of this you do not get a basic understanding, but rather some examples that you can adapt and use for a problem that you have to solve.

It is like learning that a wheel is turning because you might turn it with your hand, rather than because you are applying a torque to it. Or that a lamp is turned on because you might hit the switch, rather than because a current flows through it.

For some reason everything has to be described with CDFs instead of PDFs in the book. It seems like PDFs are something that is difficult to imagine for the author.

I once had a teacher in a class, and a book containing a lot of examples like this one. He claimed that he could write everything the book contained on 2 pages - He was right!! I think the same thing could be done with this book.

Do not choose this book. It is highly unrecommended.

I can't believe something like this even exists!
This book is just god awful. I think probablity theory is a very fascinating subject, however, I don't think this is a good book to learn it from.

Where do I begin:

-The biggest grip I have with this book is the problem set. The problems in this book are, literally, just plain hard. The author expects you to do problems,using the techniques they used in proving an actual theorem! I'm not talking about using the actual theorem, but the actual steps they used. I'm an undergrad in a graduate course, and most of the graduate students aren't even doing well on the homework assignments. I consider myself a pretty decent student. I was able to learn DSP using the Oppenheim book(with the aid of a teacher's solution manual of course). The problems in this book are harder than the problems in Oppenheim's DSP book(and I have a teachers solution manual for this prob. book). The bottomline is that 80-100 problems per chapter won't do anyone any good if they can't solve those problems.

-The author's notation is extremely weird, confusing, and downright bad.

-I just have the strangest feeling that the author is trying to make the students,whom are using the text, feel like they're stupid.

-This book is nine years old. I think the author should rewrite the text from scratch.

-My instructor is literally terrible, so I'm going through a lot of hell in this course.

-And finally, the author, when explaining the theory, uses alot of tedious reasoning and formulas when doing certain theorems. For example, when he's explaining the concept of a bernoulli distribution, the author uses the indicator function to explain the concept. This is not even needed to explain this concept(I have checked this several books, and this was not done), and it's a bit tedious and pointless to include it in the theory.

-My communication systems teacher told our class last semester, that learning from enigneering books is not a good way to learn material. This is all because the authors like to show off their intellectual skill and nothing more. They usually forget to include problems by the time of publishing, and have to delay the release of the book to include problems. And what do they include, diffcult problems, which are really not needed to learn introductory concepts.

Useful, non-rigorous reference
I used this book in a sophomore-level probability course for electrical engineers and I found the book a bit confusing at the time. The notation is somewhat awkward and examples are interleaved throughout general concepts, making it difficult to discern key ideas.

During my doctoral studies, I gained a different perspective. I consistently found the book to be a valuable starting point for many concepts and I now find the examples a quick way to brush up on elementary principles.

However, Leon-Garcia doesn't give a thorough approach to probability theory (there are essentially no theorems) and avoids set theory almost entirely. To really put my teeth into something, I would have to track down a more advanced text for any particular concept I was interested in. Basically, Leon-Garcia tries to seperate "Probability and Random Processes" from rigorous mathematics.... something similar to eating fat-free cheesecake.

so so book
I used this textbook for a junior level class. Frankly, although the book is good initially, the end of chapter problems are way too hard, especially in chapters 3,4,6 and 7. Also, much of the book is formula, which is a bit too much for undergrads. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Good intro for self-study
This is an introductory book. It also fits in introductory level of Mathematical Statistics. The prerequisites are introductory calculus and linear algebra. Most theorems are proved in calculus style but there are some gIt can be shownsh that are not proved. So some readers may not be satisfied with the book, especially Math majors.

Logical steps are shown in detail; else logical gaps are contained within a level such that a first time reader can fill in the gap with a pencil and paper. Occasional mix with Bayesian perspective is also a feature. Answers to odd-numbered exercises are provided except ones that ask derivations and proofs. Exercises that require some tricks are provided with hints. In these respects, this textbook is suitable for self-study.

Upon completion of the entire material, I feel concepts are developed well up to Hypothesis testing Chapter 8 where the presentation of material reaches climax and its level of exposition is somewhat higher than other chapters. Thereafter, simple linear regression is treated in detail, but coverage and detail of materials seem to deteriorate from the following general regression section, nonparametrics and thereafter. Kolmogorov-Smirnov Tests section is treated nicely though. Anova section lacks in coverage. The new simulation chapter is presented more like a demonstration rather than an introduction.

I have never seen the previous 2nd edition (unfortunately Dr. Degroot is no longer with us), but according to the preface of this 3rd edition, Dr. Schervish describes 8 major changes from the previous edition. Notable are some material removed from the previous (likelihood principle, Gauss-Markov theorem, and stepwise regression), some added (lognormal distribution, quantiles, prediction and prediction intervals, improper priors, Bayes test, power functions, M-estimators, residual plots in linear models and Bayesian analysis of simple linear regression), more exercises and examples, special notes, introduction and summary to each section, and so on. I find the last in the list is somewhat disturbing, especially introduction parts that are often redundant with the very next paragraph. On the other hand, I find that special notes provide good insights.

I wish they included introduction to Statistical Decision theory, full coverage of regression analysis to be usable such as diagnosis, transformation and variable selection, coverage of Multivariate Normal distribution, more coverage and depth in nonparametrics and simulation, and lists of recommended readings for further study at the end of each section with comments.

There are a noticeable number of typos as of this first printing I have. I sent suggestions for typos and was impressed that Dr. Schervish updated errata list within a few days at his homepage. I wish all authors were like him being responsible.

How to remain a classic
This new editon mantains the features that have made it a classical for a long time:

- Clearly written;
- Tough subjects are made understandable even for beginners;
- Classical results are presented rigorously after a bunch of examples;
- Many exercises, well posed, whose solutions are found in the end of the book (just even exercises).

This books has been long without a revision and we can see easily that it is much better. The main improvement is the computational treatment of Statistics in terms of theory and exercises. And, of course, it is visually more pleasant.

You may think this is little, though. But, a classical is so well done that there is not much more to do. This is the case. So the second author adds what was difficult when DeGroot first wrote it (computational stuff, as I said) and suppress what is out of fashion or has been overcome.

I think it is still the best option to start out to learn Statistics.

Cannot follow the logic --2nd Ed.
First of all I don't know how the 3rd and 2nd Edition differ.

I am trying to learn Probability and Statistics on my own, and I find it very difficult with this book.

The book does do somethings well. It does explain concepts better than what I have read so far (Schaum's). However, in the sections on combinatorics, especially, and thereafter I cannot follow the logic. I read an example problem, the solution is given immediately with little explanation as to how. The author says the bare minimum e.g. here n=52 and k=13. I have seen the combinatoric calculations, that are the solutions, in a multitude of ways, with sums in the numerator, products in the numerator, and it is not at all obvious as to why. There is insufficient discussion in the solution.

Then in working the exercises, there is nonuniform quality with the even-number solutions. Some answers just have a number, others have the formula, and some have numbers with factorials so you can kind of guess what the author did. But in the case where there is just a number, you can't.

Can you learn from this book? Sure you can, but my prediction (after reading Ch. 1) is that it's about as difficult as trying to learn a programming language by looking at syntax and running the code, having no programming experience.

Great stats book
I used to hate statistics, but this book is pretty clear and concise, and gets the idea across very quickly and easily. The exercise questions were of reasonable difficulty, and are put forth in a clear manner, unlike other books which present the questions in round-about manner. The examples tend to follow on or build upon from the earlier chapters, so it is best to tackle the book in the order as prescribed by the chapters.

best introduction to the field
I have looked at many introductory books to probability and statistics and this one is definitely the best. It is very clear and readable and yet gets to pretty advanced stuff. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Very useful book for GRE CS Subject preparation (part III)
I needed a book which would speed me up with my GRE computer science subject test (part III: Theory). Having non US and non english language based Bachelor Degrees in CS and Math, I needed something to both learn the more precise terminology and at the same time to gather my prevous knoweldge of the subject. After little bit of browsing and examining of reviews, book contents and browsing pages in bookstores, I decided to buy this one.

I admit that I had a solid knowledge of almost all chapters of the book and that the book might be hard to swallow for someone who is not a little bit familiar in mathematical logic and elementary math but otherwise, the book is excellent. Even authors admit that previous editions were more demanding and in this one they introduced many easier examples and appropriate pictures and diagrams so I really did not have any problems understanding every concept.

After each chapter exercises are given and while they are useful, I would prefer solutions embedded into the book (as in Knuth's Art of Programming). Rather that doing that, authors put solutions (to selected exercises) on their web page which is not bad but the book would be more complete (and probably more expensive) with solutions inside. I would pay $20 more for that version though...

I also must say that I really appreciate hard cover and excellent quality paper (these unfortunately raised the price)

Overall, this is an excellent book and if you are in a similar situation as me, I would recommend this one.

A very good book for theory of computing
Hopcroft's book is a very good introduction to the theory of computing, from finite automata to undecidability. He introduces the text with a crash course in proofs, which is useful for a text of this nature. They have several examples with illustrations to facilitate quicker learning of deterministic finite automata, pushdown automata, and Turing machines. These illustrations proved very helpful for me, a visual learner. The book itself is chock full of examples and theorems with proofs. Problems with the book: more explanation on Homomorphisms would be nice. The exercises can get very much harder than the simple material the book teaches, so running through them takes considerable amount of time often. Overall it's a good book, and a lot easier to understand than their first edition in 1979. The material can at times seem a bit outdated since the computing world has changed by several orders of magnitude since their original work, but it still provides a solid foundation in the philosophy and mathematics of computing. Perhaps if you're a Cornell student you'll get the privilege of taking this theory class with Hopcroft as your instructor; he's very nice and willing to help students understand the material.

first edition is a classic, the second one unremarkable
The first edition is one of the best book in its field. A classic. A reference for many advanced courses in computer theory.

Sadly, the second edition misses a great deal of the first edition. Many chapters were removed. Important lemmas and theorems are missing.

I would gladly exchange my second edition for the first one, if it wasn't out of print.

J.

Excellent introductory text, but has several weaknesses
This was my textbook for an introductory course on Finite Automata and Languages - I enjoyed it a lot and I think that the chapters until the Turing Machines are covered very well, along with good examples. As one previous reviewer has already mentioned, the exercises can get very hard as compared to what's actually presented - this I found not too good.

The topics of complexity classes and NP-Completeness, as well as the chapter on Turing Machines are rather succint and do not cover the full depth. Papadimitriou's "Computational Complexity" does a better job in this respect, even though it is not at all flawless. Some might say that there is a reason why this book is introductory, but I argue that instead of doing a poor job, the authors should have maybe just made another book dealing with the above-mentioned topics.

PS: My professor told me that the first edition was much better - maybe you could find it somewhere in the library, if interested.

Could be better
As a student using this book, I simply found it a little too difficult at times to grasp what the concepts were. The examples, at times were just too complicated, and could have been done better with easy to understand examples. Not so sure about this one. However, if you are already tamed in automata theory concepts, I'm sure you'll love it. ... Read more

Book Description

Complexity science reframes our view of many systems that are only partially understood by traditional scientific methods. Systems as apparently diverse as stock markets, human bodies, forest ecosystems, manufacturing businesses, immune systems, termite colonies and hospitals seem to share some patterns of behavior. These patterns provide insights into sustainability, viability, health and innovation. This book examines how leaders and managers in health care organizations are beginning to use complexity science to discover new ways of working. Edgeware is not just for health care leaders, but anyone interested in organizational behavior and effectiveness. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Complexity science explained to the masses!
As an innovation matures, it moves from one characteristic group of adopters to another. The topics of complexity and nonlinear dynamics were initially adopted by people who were considered "outliers" by their peer group, "freaks". Such innovators are comfortable spanning across disciplinary boundaries to learn how something works. The successful diffusion of the innovation does not occur however until the innovators hand over the ideas to the change agents in the system--those individuals who are creative enough to listen to the innovators, and yet respected and legitimized enough within the system to steer collective opinion. Today complexity and nonlinear dynamics have reached that level of diffusion, and in such instances "implementation" becomes of utmost important, and such discussion of implementation is necessarily domain-specific.

Such is the nature of "Edgeware", a new book by Zimmerman, Lindberg, and Plsek. "Edgeware" is aimed at health care leaders--nurses, doctors, and administrators--who want to learn specific techniques and intervention strategies based on the premises of complexity. The book is broken up into four sections: a user-friendly primer on complexity, a summary of basic managerial principles based on complexity (e.g. "grow complex systems by chunking"), tales from the field (e.g. "Learn-as-You-Go Strategic Management", a story from University of Louisville Hospital), and Aides (e.g. "wicked questions" that surface differences in people's mental models). Additionally there is an appendix written by Adelphi professor Jeff Goldstein that provides the most effective "non-mathematical" nominal definitions of complexity terms that exists anywhere.

The book is unique in several respects. First, the authors span an intriguing experiential set. Zimmerman is an associate professor of business at York University in Toronto, and has written extensively on the "fractal" nature of organizations, and on emergent strategic planning. Lindberg directs an educational and consultative activity within VHA (Voluntary Hospitals of America, a purchasing cooperative that also engages in leadership and organizational development, and encompasses over 1400 health care providers in the U.S.), transfering the concepts of complexity into health care practice. Plsek is a former corporate quality manager at AT&T who now consults extensively in health care quality issues. Second, the book is the result of an evolutionary design process where it was given extensive "field testing" before being finalized. "Edgeware" essentially serves as the handbook for VHA's efforts to spread the concepts of complexity into practice.

Third, the book is arranged in a hypertext fashion (in fact, it is available on-line to VHA members), in a fashion similar to Senge et al's "Fifth Discipline Fieldbook". For example, references to books or articles, or principles and aides, are made in the margin of each "tale"; the book does not need to be read sequentially. Fourth, the science of the book is solid. Unlike so many other business and complexity books being published, the principles of complexity are represented faithfully. Finally, the book's section on "Aides" gives practitioners very specific advice on how to move from theory to practice, another missing element in most current business and complexity books.

This book is an excellent read and reference for anyone interested in the application of complexity principles to business and social systems.

from Dan Beckham, contributing editor of Healthcare Forum
Peter Drucker once described healthcare as the most complex of all business enterprises. So perhaps it's appropriate that the best book on the emerging science of COMPLEXITY should come out of healthcare. EDGEWARE will prove useful to managers in all industries. The book contains a primer on complexity, a set of unifying principles, practical applications, a rich bibliography, glossary and web site guide making it, page-for-page, the most valuable book to date on complexity and management.

At last. Authors who reveal the clarity in complexity.
As a journalist and business author myself, I've read virtually every book seeking to apply complexity science to strategy, work, and economics. None, I assure you, comes close to EDGEWARE in terms of sheer clarity and utility. Though solid on the theory of complexity, this book's real breakthrough in its tremendous practicality for leaders. The pages are brimming with case after case--episodes of complexity in action that inspire as well as inform. For leaders (in hospitals and anywhere else) who ask, "What do I do on Monday morning?" EDGEWARE provides literally dozens of suggestions.

Don't get me wrong. Applying complexity is hard work. No book will ever make it easy to abandon command-and-control leadership or to let organizations "play" their way into the future. But with EDGEWARE as your guide, the work will be joyous. ... Read more

Book Description

The last decade has brought dramatic changes in the way that researchers analyze economic and financial time series. This book synthesizes these recent advances and makes them accessible to first-year graduate students. James Hamilton provides the first adequate text-book treatments of important innovations such as vector autoregressions, generalized method of moments, the economic and statistical consequences of unit roots, time-varying variances, and nonlinear time series models. In addition, he presents basic tools for analyzing dynamic systems (including linear representations, autocovariance generating functions, spectral analysis, and the Kalman filter) in a way that integrates economic theory with the practical difficulties of analyzing and interpreting real-world data. Time Series Analysis fills an important need for a textbook that integrates economic theory, econometrics, and new results.

The book is intended to provide students and researchers with a self-contained survey of time series analysis. It starts from first principles and should be readily accessible to any beginning graduate student, while it is also intended to serve as a reference book for researchers. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

An excellent bridge to advanced econometrics
As an economist,before taking PhD lectures, I used to think that this book was too complicated. It is not for undergraduate students. Once you acquire some level in mathematics, this book becomes the best reference for time series econometricians. It covers a wide array of themes, the text is clear and understandable, even if, from time to time, you get lost in the mathematical explanations (but it's not the usual). I particularly liked the non-stationary chapters. The spectral analysis is a little bit confusing and there is no non-parametric secti