Larson Calculus question

[Jane in NC]

Hello.

For those of you with students who have worked through Larson's Calculus of a Single Variable, may I ask a question concerning content of the book? (I own a copy of Larson's Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions so I am trying to compare.)

According to the course outline on Chalk Dust which corresponds with the Single Variable text, it appears that the book does not introduce derivatives of log, exponential or inverse trig functions until Chapter 5, right? But basic trig functions are introduced earlier, are they not?

Initially I thought the only difference between the two texts was the extra material on multivariable Calculus in mine, essentially making the text usable over three college semesters of Calculus. But I think a second difference might be the positioning of the log/exponential material.

People often ask me for my opinion on math texts and while I own a great number of them (especially older ones), I don't have every variation of every text on the market. Given that we are using the Larson Early Transcendental text for Calculus next year, I'd like to know how it compares with the book in the popular Chalk Dust series.

Another question: do the Thinkwell Calculus lectures use a text?

As always, thanks.
Jane

[Beth in Central TX]

I have Larson's Calculus of a Single Variable, 5th edition. Here is the table of contents:

Prerequisites: The Cartesian Plane & Functions
Chap. 1 - Limits & Their Properties
Chap. 2 - Differentiation
Chap. 3 - Applications in Differentiation
Chap. 4 - Integration
Chap. 5 - Logarithmic, Exponential, & Other Transcendental Functions
Chap. 6 - Applications of Integration
Chap. 7 - Integration Techniques, L'Hopital's Rule, & Improper Integrals
Chap. 8 - Infinite Series
Chap. 9 - Conic Sections
Chap. 10 - Plane Curves, Parametric Equations, & Polar Coordinates

Yes, the derivatives of log & exponential or inverse trig functions do not begin until Chap. 5. The Chapter 5 lessons include:

Tha Natural Logarithmic Function & Differentiation
The Natural Logarithmic Function & Integration
Inverse Functions
Exponential Functions: Differentiation and Integration
Bases Other Than e & Applications
Differential Equations: Growth & Decay

HTH!

[Jane in NC]

Thanks Beth. Could you look at chapters 1 & 2 to see if the basic trig functions are included in the material on limits and derivatives?

[Brenda in MA]

But basic trig functions are introduced earlier, are they not?

Jane

Jane,

I have the 8th edition of Calculus of a Single Variable. The chapters in my text are similar to those in Beth's, but with slight variation. Here are the chapter topics in my text:

Prerequisites: Preparation for Calculus
Chap. 1 - Limits & Their Properties
Chap. 2 - Differentiation
Chap. 3 - Applications of Differentiation
Chap. 4 - Integration
Chap. 5 - Logarithmic, Exponential, & Other Transcendental Functions
Chap. 6 - Differential Equations
Chap. 7 - Applications of Integration
Chap. 8 - Integration Techniques, L'Hopital's Rule, & Improper Integrals
Chap. 9 - Infinite Series
Chap. 10 - Conics, Parametric Equations, & Polar Coordinates

They begin to introduce the derivatives of trig functions in section 2.2, and they introduce the integrals of trig functions in section 4.1.

I suspect that the material is similar in all the books in the Larson series because we have the DVDs from the publisher (ISBN 0-618-52804-0), and it says on the package that they cover these texts: Calculus with Analytic Geometry, Calculus of a Single Variable, Calculus I, Calculus II, and Multivariable Calculus.

HTH,
Brenda

[Brenda in MA]

Thanks Beth. Could you look at chapters 1 & 2 to see if the basic trig functions are included in the material on limits and derivatives?

Jane,

Chapter 1 does include information on continuity & limits of basic trig functions.

Brenda