Calculus with Analytic Geometry

This text book on calculus is well laid out and was instrumental in my son's math education. The Larson-Hostetler book that my son used in his high school calculus class is terrible: the binding falls apart, the examples don't relate to the problem sets, and the authors view rote memorization of techniques above developing them. An example: integral(1/sqrt(a^2-x^2) dx). Why give a formula for this when all the student has to do is get it into a 1-(x/a)^2 form and use arcsin? Within the first year of the textbook adoption, Larson-Hostetler was falling apart, and my son's math teacher had already realized what a mistake he had made choosing the book. I concede that the student study guide for Ellis-Gulick is not pretty (or correct) all the time, but the textbook itself is phenomenal. The approach of using theory to generate specific results works well. Variable examples are not too common, and if more examples are needed, the study guide is available. Thorough, well-written, and cheap, what else do you need?

I got this book for a calculus class in high school and subsequently used it as a reference throughout all of my college math classes. My husband (a math major) usually ended up with this books sitting open beside him as he did all of his work through college.It provides great examples, is easy to read, and has numerous excellent integral and derivitive tables.I recommend this book to anyone currently taking calculus or more advanced math classes, or anyone who wants to touch up on their calculus skills.

Reading some of the other reviews, I felt compelled to write. I used the third edition for all three courses in calculus I took at UMCP, and had Dr. Gulick for the second one. I would suggest that any terrapins who need to take the course do it with him, because he FOLLOWS THE TEXT EXACTLY. This means that you can actually skip an occasional class: if you do the reading and twice as many problems as assigned. But about the book...Honestly, I cannot see how anyone could fault it. I have seen physics, engineering, business, even French majors reading it with out difficulty. Now the problems, they can be tough. But complaining about them is like complaining the weights in the gym are heavy.Calculus, like any other skill, can only be acquired by effort, by doing. If you are willing to put a little in, you will get a lot out of this book. If you expect to sit back and subliminally absorb it, no text will be of much use to you.

This book is very clearly written and communicates the information far better than other Calculus books that I've examined. There are numerous examples throughout the text, all relevant, that help reinforce the concepts. The writing is very clear. I give this book my very highest recommendation.

I had the priviledge of having Dr. Ellis for two semesters of Calculus. He made alot of since in the lectures and this was reinforced as I read the book at home. It is possible to be taught a reasonable amount just from reading the text and doing the example problems. I would hate to see this book go out of print.