Euclidean-Geometry Books

The author clearly explains the topic. My only complaint is that some of the problems are rather difficult, and there isn't a solution key.

This is a great text on matroid theory. This book is far easier to read than other matroid book I have seen (Welsh). Second priting from 2006 fixes some of the errors in the first printing and is cheaper to boot(being a paperback).

Caveat: Amazon points to wrong book as the paperback of first edition.

This book is excellent fun, needing only undergraduate mathematics to get to grips with the essentials of irregular tilings - including tilings that lack even the Penrose Tiling's classic (statistical) five-fold symmetry!

Please note that many of the theorems quoted in this book are not proved in the book, although clear references are made to other texts. This is clearly necessary for the book to be as accessible as it is, but for me, despite the book's great clarity, it cost one star of rating.

This book can't miss,--*not with a title like that!* And it *is* a hit!-- Perhaps few math books are hits in the corner-book store, or at amazon. In this case, my undergrad students, and the grad students too!,-- reacted very positively. And they aren't easy to please! This lovely little book also worked great when I tried it in an individual undergrad research project. --What does the old positional number system (the one we all learned in school)-- have to do with dynamics,-- or with various "mystery-tiles", pinwheel tilings...? Look!! It is in the book! (Hint: They all come about by clever manipulation of the letters in a finite alphabet, or the chosen 'digits' in our familiar number system.) These manipulations follow rules, and they come from specifying a matrix. Then the more abstract tools from mathematical analysis, and ergodic theory, enter when second generation dynamical systems, (abstractions if you will!)-- are built on "spaces" of all tilings in a given class,-- or on a specified varity of outcomes in symbolic dynamics. We then arrive at iterated matrix operations, and limits: We must solve associated eigenvalue problems. Take limits, and if you are careful, you find equilibrium states which represent solutions to otherwise intractable puzzles,-- from math (for example, familiar, or unfamiliar, completions of number systems),-- and from applications to real life problems, familiar,-- or perhaps unexpected, tilings. Useful ones!

This book approaches projective geometry from a very concrete point of view. There are lots of detailed constructions and virtually no formal proofs. Symbolism is kept to a minimum in favour of lots of pictures and vivid prose. We are happy with this approach most of the time but perhaps Whicher gets carried away occasionally (e.g., "The quadrangles set themselves side by side, becoming smaller and smaller in a kind of échelle fuyante as they reach towards the vanishing line, which functioned as an outer infinitude"; p. 123). Also, the down-to-earth geometry is mixed with rambling sections on the beauty and importance of projective geometry in metaphysical terms, especially in chapters 1, 2, 9. The mathematics really begins in chapter 3, where we study projective construction of quadrilaterals and tiled floors, see the role of the horizon and practice moving points to infinity. We then look at the theorems of Desargues and Pascal and attempt to feel their truth by carrying out constructions. Chapter 4 introduces the principle of duality and illustrates how a projective transformation is determined by three points. In this case the emphasis on constructions is natural and fruitful. Indeed it immediately convinces us of Pappus's theorem (given three points on a line and three points on another line, the three intersection points of the connecting lines are collinear): the third line is a natural line of intermediate perspective for projecting the fist three points to the other three points. The three-point rigidity also suggests that four points cannot be completely arbitrarily related, and the hidden relationship is the fundamental projective invariant, the cross-ratio. These insights pay off when studying curves (chapter 5). So, for example, another deterministic property of point configurations that reveals itself through constructions is that five points determine a conic section, so six points on a conic cannot be arbitrarily related, and indeed we have already seen that Pascal's theorem provides a relation between them. In chapter 6 we set out to study projective transformations in general, but faith in picturesque constructions is holding us back from doing so, as we are essentially forced to restrict ourselves to products of only two perspectivities. Such transformations (homologies) of a plane to itself are effectuated as follows: pick an eye point and a picture plane and project the plane up to the picture plane; now pick a new eye point somewhere else and project the picture plane back down again. Clearly, this transformation is characterised by a fixed line (intersection of the plane and the picture plane) and a fixed point (intersection of the plane and the line through the two eye points). It's all nice and well that we understand homologies, but more general projective transformations are barely acknowledged. In chapter 7 we study polar transformations, a very pretty topic. Imagine a circle and a line l outside it. Through any point x on l there are two tangents to the circle. Connect the points where these tangents touch the circle with a chord. Now, as x moves along l, the chord pivots around a fixed point inside the circle. Thus there is a "polar" relationship between points in a circle and lines outside it (we could of course also start with the point in the circle and find the polar line). Since the construction is projective it works for any conic, and in fact the directrix is the polar of the focus. Now we draw a curve inside the circle. Any point on the curve has a polar line, and together these lines envelope a new curve, the polar curve. This transformation has many remarkable properties, interchanging inflection points and cusps, for example. (See also the cover image.) In chapter 8 we study the analogous situation in space, where, for example, the icosahedron polarises to the dodecahedron.

This authoritative and profusely illustrated work is singular in it's derivation of the topic in it's native language - using geometric rather than algebraic vernacular. Not a simple-minded abridgement, but rather a deeply philosophical treatment of the subject with an extremely rare insight as to it's broader context in the natural universe.

Hyperbolic geometry is mathematics at its best: deep classical roots; stunning intrinsic beauty and conceptual simplicity; diverse and profound applications. In this source book we see how three great masters worked to understand this new and exciting geometry.

First, Beltrami's two 1868 papers. The geodesic geometry of surfaces of constant negative curvature such as the pseudosphere capture much of the essence of hyperbolic geometry. However, one does not find the actual hyperbolic plane lying around in three-space. But Beltrami has a way of mapping a surface of constant curvature into the Euclidean plane such that geodesics go to lines. From this point of view the previously intractable step--how to go from a hyperbolic surface to the hyperbolic plane--suggests itself immediately, and we obtain the projective disc model. Now, one way of looking at this construction is to say that it consists of putting a constant-curvature metric on a disc. This point of view is sufficiently abstract to work in n dimensions, as Beltrami shows in his second paper. As a bonus he exploits two other constant-curvature metrics to obtain the other two fundamental models of hyperbolic geometry: the conformal disc model and the half plane model. (Especially for the second paper one is very grateful for Stillwell's introductions.)

Next, Felix Klein. Instead of differential geometry, Klein approches the subject from the point of view of projective geometry. Indeed, Beltrami's projective disc metric begs to be interpreted in terms of projective geometry: the distance between two points in the circle is easily expressed in terms of the cross-ratio of these two points and the two colinear points on the circle. Similarly, projective geometry subsumes spherical and Euclidean geometry as well.

Lastly, there are three little texts by Poincaré, from a third viewpoint: complex function theory. The isometries of Beltrami's half plane model are readily described in terms of linear fractional transformations (in fact, the harmony is even more marked in three dimensions, as Poincaré soon realises). But we can also go "backwards", i.e. we can deduce Beltrami's metric from the isometry group. This proves to be a very rewarding shortcut indeed, since we can employ the built-in geometry of complex function theory.

The intellectual power of the human race is never more in evidence than when discoveries are made that are counter to common sense. Examples are quantum mechanics, relativity and non-Euclidean geometry. While the study of such topics is fascinating in the way it forces you to suspend disbelief until the absurd becomes knowledge, almost as interesting is how the topic was discovered. All forms of non-Euclidean geometry were derived from futile attempts to prove Euclid's parallel postulate. The thought processes as the inevitable was conceded and the consequences determined are solid lessons in how scientific and mathematical progress is made.
In this book, we hear from those instrumental in developing the consequences of hyperbolic geometry. The book consists of translations of original papers by E. Beltrami, F. Klein and H. Poincare. In reading them, you are allowed to be there at the creation, learning firsthand how a revolution in mathematics was made. I found the papers to be fascinating, learning many aspects of hyperbolic geometry that I did not know before.
Mathematical progress is commonly measured by nonlinear sticks. The papers of this book not only show you how hyperbolic geometry was developed, but many of the consequences. It is ideal for a short course in non-Euclidean geometry.

First and foremost, the writer worked at my school. That being said, the math department brought his book along with someone else named Blitzer. Now, Blitzer has a great way of explaining the material well and makes it easy to grasp. This guy, no way, he has no such luck. The guy knows his math, no doubt, but he tries to show you the absolute hardest way to learn it. Our professor used to tell us to do it her way if we couldn't do it his way, which we all did. I barely managed to pass the class with a "C" and it required almost every waking moment doing HW (she gave extra credit for it) as well as studying and learning and memorizing key formulas (or putting them into my Ti-89). I really had a hard time grasping the material the way it was placed forth by this author.
If I had to do it all over, first and foremost, I wouldn't take that accelerated course and secondly, I wouldn't want to use this book, so I'd do only the HW and then use a secondary book to learn. I hope that the next book he drops isn't as a**-backwards.

When I purchased this book for college I was amazed on how excellent the condition was. Of course there's a pencil mark here or there, this book is practically new. So if you're looking for cheap, nice books amazon's by far the cheapest and has the fastest shipping time (fyi)!!!

The book arrived in about one week and is in excellent condition. I am very happy with the service.

The product was never delivered. Vendor never responded to e-mail inquiry. I have filed a claim with Amazon.

I am 55 years old and promised myself that when I became financially able I would relearn Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Calculus I, II,III & IV and ODE skills from start to finish. I am now finished with Sullivan's book I have found the book easy to read and understand. The presenation of the material is well thought out and the abundance of practice problems invaluable. If you are serious about math then this is a great book.

A retired hedge fund manager.

Precalculus (8th Edition) is a great textbook. A little on the heavy side (as in the weight of the book, need a wheel barrel to get it around).

We requested the 6th Edition of Precalculus textbook by Sullivan, using an ISBN number for identification. The seller sent the 7th Edition which is NOT the same. I wrote him directly, told him of the error and requested returning the textbook, he responded that it was the correct one and he was not responsible. He suggested that I sell it on Amazon and that was my only recourse. I feel this is unethcial and very poorly handled. I will not purchase another textbook on Amazon after this experience.

This is my first time purchasing anything on Amazon.com. I was a bit skeptical and uncertain. I wondered if the book I ordered would arrive and if so, in what condition.
I was pleasantly surprised when I received the package in the mail. When I opened it, I was alarmed that the book was in such good condition and everything that was mentioned about it was true.
I purchased a few other books which arrived in the time specified that it would arrive and in the condition that was stated in the ad.
I have no fear using this site to purchase other materials.

At the beginning I was a bit worried about the way the book explains the material. It seemed too simple for a book dealing with more complex subjects in math such as functions, trigonometry and analytic geometry. Then again it could be said that this quality is the one that makes the book such a joy to read.

Not a single time did I felt lost or confused by the presentation. Most of the graphics and photos do supplement the explanation, and help the reader grasp the information better. One of the highlights, one that perhaps most people will miss, is the simple review questions at the beginning of each section. These little snippets of previous material force the reader to review those concepts that will be essential for further understanding.

Every new section in the book is short and clear; thus reducing the amount of explanation, but at the same time maintaining just enough so that the reader will not feel lost in the many formulas and derivations. If this book does not get "5 starts" from my review it is only because it could be more mathematically rigorous by presenting more proofs. But by not doing so it increases the clarity and easy presentation the book possesses - great book well worth the price.

why are the reviews for the 6th and 7th edition of this book the same? is there no difference between editions, such that reviews for the 6th should be kept for the 6th. the 7th edition might have changes that could cause some to review/change a viewpoint about its content. maybe at the core they are the same book/method, but it is overall a different book and the reviews should be kept edition specific.

it is my opinion that amazon will not post this as it obviously not a review, but it my contention that the 8 posted are not reviews of this edition, either. why are they posted?

Some people might say: "This book wasn't my cup of tea".I suppose I don't like tea then. Maor's book "may" be interesting to the more historically fixated, but being more interested in math, I found this book too light on proof and theory and more of an anecdotal acounting of the lives of mathematicians. If you're like me, you don't care if the Ambasador of Zanzibar created the double-angle equation, you just want the proof; the proof is lacking, therefore so is the book.(My apologies to the Ambasador of Zanzibar, it isn't my intention to implicate you in any double-angle scandal.) I often secretly read math outlines in history class; this is like reading an outline of history in math class. The font was terrific though!

On the whole, this was a pleasant read. I'll try to give a sense of where the highlights are and aren't, since the book could have used some more rigorous editing to make it more uniformly good.

The bits on the early history of trigonometry were fascinating. I particularly appreciated the clear and complete explanations of problems from the Egyptian Rhind papyrus and from cuneiform sources.

Not all of the later historical developments are equally worth our time. The sidebars on Viète, Lissajous, and Landau were particularly good, but the ones on Agnesi and De Moivre didn't add much. (This is unfortunate in the case of De Moivre, but I think a sidebar just can't do justice to so great a mathematician--the fun and beauty is lost when you try to squeeze the highlights together.) I agree with Maor that the big names should not be allowed to slide into oblivion, but in a book like this the subject matter should always pass the stricter test of what intrinsic "delights" it offers.

In this genre, the digressive nature of a "journey of discovery" is part of the appeal. But sometimes the thread connecting the episodes was hard to discern here. Chs. 7-8, 10-12 are tedious and feel like padding compared to the well-sustained interest throughout most of the book.

On the other hand, Ch. 14 ("Imaginary Trigonometry") is a masterpiece. With only a basic knowledge of how complex numbers work, readers can appreciate three beautiful examples of conformal mapping (w=sin z, w=e^z, z=w^2). These mappings are chosen and illustrated to your imagination much better than any of the visual exhibits in a standard applied math textbook like Greenberg's "Advanced Engineering Mathematics."

It's in the nature of such a book that sometimes the key problems presented are solved with the help of something that Maor thinks is too advanced or tedious to present to his audience. The result can be that the story of historical progress is obscured by these "rabbit out of a hat" moments. At least, I found that I had to stop and look up the missing pieces, in order to make some of the developments as impressive as they were supposed to be. (I also had to look up some "well-known theorems" in Euclid, read up on the background to Stirling's factorial approximation, etc.)

I was hoping for things I could use in math class but I didn't find anything.

I accidentally stumbled upon this book when looking up "hypocycloids." This book literally blew me away! How many books do you know of that addresses De'Moivre's Theorem....and shows you how to use it? And, this little book also gives you the history of the concepts.

This book starts out taking you on a trip thru Ancient Egypt and trigonometry's roots. It dissects a pyramid, mathematically. Cool. It then explores all facets of trigonometry from a fun point of view.

You can't help but love this book. I can hardly put it down. So, if you ever want to know "why" you are doing anything trigonometrically, then this book is for you. Total amateur or PhD level person will love this little book!

The latest of a series by Eli Maor, this one is my favorite.

For those who need more warming up to the mathematics, I would recommend reading Maor's earlier books first. Infinity and Beyond, The Story of a Number (e), and Trigonometric Delights have some overlapping subject matter. And, the author develops them in later books with new concepts. Although there is some content overlap (perhaps five percent), there is plenty original content in each book.

The main reason this book is a favorite of mine is due to the subject, trigonometry is not covered so well by others. Also, this book has a more refined format than his earlier books. High school trigonometry, rarely taught in depth today, is good enough to make this an easy read. For young adults who have suffered the modern brush over, this book is priceless. For all readers, this book offers a fresh perspective. You will see the practical applications; and you will truly learn the purpose of a trigonometric function. If you appreciate graphical representations, you will appreciate this author's approach..

As in his earlier work's subject matter, Maor gives a good history of this subject matter. But, geometric solutions to problems are the gems of this book. Regiomontaus's maximum problem, a geometric solution to Zeno's paradox, and a geometric construction of an infinite product are developed. Also described is the contribution of trigonometry to the infinite series and De Moivre's theorem. If you ever owned a Spirograph, you will have wished a copy of this book to truly visualize what those circles and gears were truly doing and to learn to predict results through math.

Any book by Eli Maor would not be complete without concepts of conformal mapping as applied to mapmaking. In this book, he cleverly shows in detail the conversion of a spherical map to a flat one while explaining the virtues of conformal mapping. In the penultimate chapter Sinx = 2, Imaginary Trigonometry, Maor illustrates the link between trigonometry, imaginary numbers, and the complex plane. Nowhere else have I seen a better description of conformal mapping of a complex valued function. The book's final chapter is a clear and interesting illustration of Fourier's theorem. These last two chapters contain the most challenging concepts; but they are clearly explained.

I hope for another book by this author to be published soon.

This book is excellent for a supplement to another book. I supplies extra problems that you need in order to learn or review trig problems.

I needed to brush up on my Trig for a calculus class that I'm currently in. While reading the text I found it hard to follow what the author was getting at.

At certain times magic equations would pop out of thin air and you would have to stew over them for hours at a time trying to figure out what the heck they meant.

This book is definately not for a beginner or someone who's looking for an easy quick overview after being away from the subject for abotu 6 years.

I used Schaum's for a Summer School Trigonometry course. It doesn't replace a textbook but it covered all the necessary topics effectively and provided a good alternative to derivations and problems found in the text. I relied on it as a backup and a good check on the work being covered in class.

This book as mentioned in the title is horrible. It is incomplete in many areas, case and point, curve graphing. In many cases the book does little more than introduce the topic and give somewhat bland math questions. This book will not help you through a normal course because it is somewhat babified.
Now back to the incompleteness. Half-way through the book trigonometric function graphs are introduced (y=sinx and so on). The book very briefly describes aspects of each periodic function in a somewhat scattered manner. All of the information that is given fits on about one 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper, somewhat terse isn't it?
This book is not for beginners and is most likely not even for people that would like to brush up on trigonometry. For a more comprehensive edition of a trigonometry tutorial you must turn elsewhere because this book will leave you asking what? huh? how? Perhaps one of the better trigonometry titles out there, and believe me I say this reluctantly because it is also deplorable, is Trigonometry the Easy Way. In conclusion if you have this book return it or if you can't use it only as a way to reinforce trigonometry ideas.

I am observing that my test scores on tests on tests involving trigonometery are increasing, thanks to this thin aid. It is thin, yet it is good. That is almost impossible. This book is one of the best created. Trigonometry is hard, and is mentioned and applied almost everywhere. This book is comphrehensive and is both easy and advanced. Everyone should have this. You can have knowledge of math, science, and computers with it.

Books
This is a very good Trig book. However, there was no offer of an answer book. I will teach a course using this book. Can you give me a site where I can get an answer book? With the answer book I could give 5 stars.

I usually buy books that have good feedback because it has served me well in the past, but unfortunately this isn't the case with this book. The author couldn't have picked a more perplexing way to explain this subject. Yes it's filled with problems, but what good are the problems if you don't have the correct answer nor do you have an explanation on how to solve them. Don't let the wonderful reviews fool you. If you still think it's worth a try, then I advise for you to look at a copy before buying.

So I bought this book for some Trig class I signed up for at the last minute. I didn't know what to expect. I skimmed through the book and saw triangles everywhere. I figured that a few triangles should not be so difficult to figure out- the measurements and all. It's a skimpy little book, but there sure is a lot of info crammed in there. I studied hard. I had dreams of triangles floating around, suspended in the air. I could not get triangles off my brain. Day and night- triangles and more triangles. I think I just got sick of looking at triangles come final exam, because I went out and got hammered to get them off my mind just hours before the exam. I'm not BSing you either. To make a long story short, I took the exam while under the influence of alcohol. It worked, the booze got the triangles off my brain, but the timing was not good because I had to think about triangles in order to finish the darn exam. I had a perfect GPA until that Trig exam. I did manage to pull off an A- on the exam, which surprised the heck outta me. Now I try to not let triangles get the best of me anymore. I'm angry at them, but at the same time I understand them. Triangles deserve respect. Don't be boozin' before an exam. This was a good book and I recommend it highly. But some advice first; don't be square and let the triangles shape your mind- think outside the box and you'll do fine, circle the correct answers if you can, and come at problems from different angles.

Don't waste your time. It's books of this sort that bring disinterest and sleep to the eyes of teenaged minds. To think that the work of Euclid (now freely available on Google Books) has degenerated to this third-hand rendition of the foundation of natural existence is awe-inspiring. Like all other books in this class, the discussion never connects the reader to the idea that the symbolization of the relationships of the orientations of the boundaries of certain forms are universal and utterly fundamental. Instead, we get tossed a few line drawings, graphs, number types mixed with graphic symbols, and condescending ministration on whether we got it right or wrong. The author's idea of connecting trigonometry to other fields of math is to state profound meanings like "trigonometry is a part of precalculus, and is related to other precalculus topics". In one exercise, the author commands: "Using a protractor, measure the angles of the triangle as accurately as you can. Do your measurements add up to 180 degrees? Let us now turn our attention to circles." The missing parts of the discussion being: 1) Who invented the protractor? 2) Why do protractors always work, or do they? 3) Why bother measuring with a cheesy plastic nomograph when its the RELATIONSHIP that's of primary importance? 4) Should I be all OCD about measuring accurately because that's what Trigonometry is all about? 5) My measurements don't entirely add up to 180, why is that? 6) Why 180 degrees, and not 37 lurkmons, and can't I make up my own system of relationships? 7) Then what makes the relationship of orientation of certain extensions or boundaries universal? 8) How is it possible to add numbers to shapes, or did you just miss out on presenting to me a massive chunk of the development of the arithmetization of geometric thought? 9) Why are we doing all this? Is there a progression of thought process involved or should I just keep memorizing an apparently jumbled collection of methods extracted from all modes of mathematical approach at face value? 10) Is this a thinking sort of course? Or do I just follow instructions like a drone? Naaah... Let's just skip to circles. No wonder people despise how math is taught, and also, the teacher.

The book is well written with clear descriptions, many examples and plenty of diagrams. The book also contains a large number of exercises and therein lies my gripe. There are absolutely NO SOLUTIONS. For self study this is of little use and I have had to revert to the Schaum's Outline for Trigonometry for practice. Two stars is perhaps a bit harsh but I think it important that potential purchasers notice that no solutions are provided for any of the exercises.

my first go at pre-calculus i had the most horrid and difficult to follow text book in the world, and quite naturally failed the class. this book of my second go at pre-calc has been one hundred times better. difficult concepts are not dumbed down but rather explained in a way that makes them seem easy, examples in the text are well laid out, explained completely and linked to problems in the excersises that are similar. the excersises themselves progress from the easiest form of a problem to the hardest so one builds on the previous. honestly, buy this book, you will not be disappointed.

This book teaches a real understanding of the concepts, not just memorization or how to enter the data into a calculator. I am returning to college after a 27ish year hiatus, and needless to say, needed some brushing up.

The first text that I attempted to use was given to me by a co-worker and omitted much of the understanding needed to progress.

We, as a nation, need to LEARN again, not memorize, and this book actually teaches!

Bravo!

First off Robert Blitzer is a smart man but this book is poorly written.

When going through some practice exercises i found that the difficulty kicked in right away, giving me no time to get used to the concept of the problem i was faced with. To add insult to injury some problems were hard to solve since they left blank on how to accomplish solving the task....

I also felt his tendency to use excessive amount of word problems led me to belive this was wriiten for a master level college class.

First, I wouldn't say Blitzer's books are as great as hyped...a decent portion of explanation was wordy, convoluted and confusing. I mostly stopped reading the book and only took notes of the teacher's explanations.

I have to disagree about exercise difficulty. Each chapter or section started with easier exercises which increased in difficulty. However, in the 2nd Edition there were quite a few errors in the answers to odd-numbered problems in the back of the book, so if you couldn't arrive at the same answer you wondered if you were really wrong or not! Had to wait until the next class to find out...bad!

My HUGE GRIPE is our college makes a big deal of all teachers (with the exception of ever-changing technology/computer texts) using the same book...but WHAT'S THE POINT? Each book is designed to cover several courses so the textbook publishers can rake in BIG MONEY for their thick book. The next year, they add some different charts and change some problems so you can't get by on your old edition if the college goes to the next one...which the college ALWAYS does, for no benefit...regardless of the errors you must put up with, that are undoubtedly a result of the pressure to constantly "upgrade" the book.

So, you buy a book that is SUPPOSED to cover at least 2 courses, you use less than half of it, then when you take the 2nd course, you have to RE-BUY IT!

In addition, they now market books with CDs using the publisher's own online-course website instead of the schools...which you cannot access unless you buy the new-edition book with THEIR CD. The stupid college uses the publisher's online-course website even if the college's own online-course website is perfectly fine.

So now I have to buy this stupid 3rd edition in addition to my 2nd edition, and I have to get the one with the CD. This is just the publisher's way of forcibly preventing people from recycling textbooks. If I am not allowed into the publisher's course website with a used CD, I am withdrawing from this college and transferring! I'm only at this college to take some courses required to transfer to a top college, anyway. I will GLADLY take them somewhere else!

College deans pay attention...YOU DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND COLLEGE STUDENTS WASTE THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY MAKING TEXTBOOK MANUFACTURERS RICH...USE YOUR OWNED DARNED WEBSITES FOR ONLINE COURSES!

I used this book for an accelerated Algebra/Trig class at the college level. I found this book to be one the best math books I have ever encountered. When examples are given in the text it goes step by step and for most, explanations of what is being done. Other texts that I've used have skipped steps and left you wondering how did they get from A to Z?

I wasn't always able to make it to class, but the examples and explanations did not loose me and I was able to play catch up successfully on my own with this text. I can't say that about any other math text.

I must agree with the other person who wrote a review and said it would sure be nice if Blitzer had a Calculus text (though Larson is a good Calc author). Calculus would have been a breeze with a Blitzer book instead of a stuggle (had to buy a Larson book to supplement by school's Calc book choice).