This is a very unusual calculus textbook, in structure, content and order of presentation. In terms of structure, the sections are very short with a large number of problems at the ends of the sections. What is unusual about the problem sets is that explicit review problems over previous sections are included. For example, at the end of section 69 there are problems from sections 47, 26, 68, 50 12 and 18. Since the subject of section 69 is integration by parts and the problem from section 26 deals with interest computation, there does not need to be a logical connection between the two. This is most unusual and I am not convinced that it is of value, in fact I consider it detrimental.
The content is also weak, most of the explanations do not extend beyond the basics. Instructors attempting to provide a rigorous explanation of the principles of calculus will most likely need to find some supplemental material.
Finally, the order of presentation is unusual. For example, lesson 70, which starts on page 361, covers the properties of limits. Rules such as "The limit of the (sum, difference, product, quotient) of two functions is the (sum, difference, product, quotient) of the limits of the functions", are mentioned in this lesson. Since this lesson comes after derivatives and integrals, which are based on limits, have been used for some time, I found the order very odd.
In conclusion, you can teach non-rigorous calculus classes using this book, but the unusual features mean that I would not consider using it as a textbook. |
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