CASUAL CALCULUS (3V)

Yes, this is another Calculus book. However, it fits in a niche between the two predominant types of such texts. It could be used as a textbook, albeit a streamlined one — it contains exposition on each topic, with an introduction, rationale, train of thought, and solved examples with accompanying suggested exercises. It could be used as a solution guide — because it contains full written solutions to each of the hundreds of exercises posed inside. But its best position is right in between these two extremes. It is best used as a companion to a traditional text or as a refresher — with its conversational tone, its 'get right to it' content structure, and its inclusion of complete solutions to many problems, it is a friendly partner for students who are learning Calculus, either in class or via self-study.

Exercises are structured in three sets to force multiple encounters with each topic. Solved examples in the text are accompanied by 'You Try It' problems, which are similar to the solved examples; the students use these to see if they're ready to move forward. Then at the end of the section, there are 'Practice Problems': more problems similar to the 'You Try It' problems, but given all at once. Finally, each section has Challenge Problems — these lean to being equally or a bit more difficult than the others, and they allow students to check on what they've mastered.

The goal is to keep the students engaged with the text, and so the writing style is very informal, with attempts at humor along the way. The target audience is STEM students including those in engineering and meteorology programs.

Contents:

• Volume 1:
  • Preface
  • Prelude: Your Mathematics Pep Talk
  • Years of Work in One Chapter
  • Take It to the Limit
  • Embrace the Change
  • Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here
  • Calculus Has Its Ups and Downs
  • The Best Mathematics Symbol There Is ... So Far
  • Appendix A: Solutions to All Practice Problems
  • Appendix B: Solutions to All Challenge Problems
  • Index
• Volume 2:
  • Preface
  • The Integration Dojo
  • The Mathematics Chainsaw Massacre
  • Round and Round We Go: Solids of Revolution
  • Approximation
  • The Fear of All Sums
  • A Change in Graph Paper
  • Appendix A: Solutions to All Practice Problems
  • Appendix B: Solutions to All Challenge Problems
  • Index
• Volume 3:
  • Preface
  • Mathematical Deja Vu
  • Can We All Agree That Just One Variable Was Lame?
  • And Can We Agree Rectangular Coordinates Are Rather Dull?
  • Player V Has Entered the Game
  • We've Been Framed!
  • Big Bang
  • Appendix A: Conics, Quadrics, and Parametrics
  • Appendix B: Solutions to All Practice Problems
  • Appendix C: Solutions to All Challenge Problems
  • Index

Sample Chapter(s)
Prelude: Your Mathematics Pep Talk
The Mathematics Chainsaw Massacre
Mathematical Deja Vu

Readership: Undergraduate students currently taking or refreshing themselves on Calculus.

Key Features:

• The text is intended to be fully consumed;it is designed so that students become engaged with every topic and every exercise presented. It is not a text where 100 problems per section are presented so that instructors can select a dozen for assignment. The book is written in a very conversational tone;it is not a stuffy academic text. Proper mathematicians may get a rash from reading it
• The exercises are grouped to encourage "stepwise learning";if they are following the plan, students will have three runs of problem solving in each section —"You Try It" problems accompany the solved examples, Practice Problems are intended as a first "check up" at the end of a section, and Challenge Problems of equal or more advanced difficulty are presented for a show of final mastery. Students will have access to fully written solutions to all problems at some point along the way