Reviews (42)

Shameful Plugs for Study Guide
Perhaps the most important questions at the end of each section are the true/false questions dealing with the concepts developed in the section. The computational problems are good for learning the algorithms but the true/false questions represent what you need to know.
Excellent Text and Reference
This is an ideal text, which serves as both a clear guide for the beginner and a valuable reference for the practicing professional. All points are very clearly and efficiently explained. Anyone should be able to understand this text.

Babble
I like Math, Not circler illogic.Took this course in 1997; while my professor was initially excited since he had known Lay, he soon simply shook his head in disgust, and said he needs to talk to his old friend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Algebra - Linear    3. Algebras, Linear    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Linear algebra    7. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Biomathematics    2. Calculus    3. Life Sciences - Biology - General    4. Mathematics    5. Medicine    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Biology, Life Sciences    8. Calculus & mathematical analysis    9. Mathematics / Calculus    10. Medicine: General Issues   

Reviews (9)

Beginning Algebra
This book is in great condition For being used, no writting on any pages or the covers, no bent pages, over all in perfect condition, and I am picky on how a book looks. I hardly even used the book because I ordered it and it was the worng book but I looked through it and used it to study until I got the right book.

Wrong book, no response to email complaint
The book is the incorrect edition of the one I ordered.It is a math book, and inappropriately is the annotated instructor's edition.The invoice is correct, but the book is not.The company, SRJbooks2@yahoo.com has not responded to my complaint and request to corrct the order.

Ok
This book was required for my math instruction, and as several readers have mentioned before, I am glad that the instructor was an excellent teacher the book by itself is no use. Unless you understand math to begin with.
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Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Algebra - General    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Editorial Review

Cryptographic techniques have applications far beyond the obvious uses of encoding and decoding information. For Internet developers who need to know about capabilities, such as digital signatures, that depend on cryptographic techniques, there's no better overview than Read more

Reviews (96)

A must-have book for understanding Cryptography.
This book has really shed a lot of light on cryptography for me. I honestly can't put it down--I wish I had paid more attention in my statistics classes so I could be able to apply some of the stuff the author talks about better. I am about half way through the book, and I haven't gotten to the point where it's more of a chore than a pleasure to read it (something I can't about my other technical books).
Prepare to drink from the firehose
This book is really incredible.When it was first published in the mid-90's, there was almost no material available on the subject of cryptography.Now, ten years later, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of books riding on Schneier's coattails - but almost none have anything new or useful to say.Impeccably researched (with 1,653 references!) and unarguably complete, Schneier's expertise in theoretical mathematics, experience as a practitioner, and razor-sharp lucidity combine to make this the only book you'll ever need on the subject of cryptography.

Text Book for School
The book was in excellent condition.The book came within the alloted time period.No complaints! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer security    3. Computers - Computer Security    4. Computers - Languages / Programming    5. Cryptography    6. Discrete Mathematics    7. Programming Languages - General    8. Security - General    9. Security measures    10. Telecommunication    11. Computers / Security    12. Data security & data encryption   

Reviews (9)

Better for tutoring than the AP Test
i go through calculus books the way some people go through Kleenex so i'll just say this:if you are needing review or find your calculus text book verbose or maybe just some extra help in a lower level calc class purchse this one.
Dissapointed
I bought princeton U.S. history ap and calculus Ap this year.
This book's not so awesome. . .
Well, I used this book in preparation for my Calculus AB exam.Some of this text's features bothered me when I was studying.For one, the book wasn't well organized, as there was no clear distinction between what was AB material and what was solely BC material.You can sort of figure that out for yourself, however, if you know what's tested pretty well.Also, I disliked the problems that were like, "Try it on your own.".There are too many problems that get redundant pretty quickly.If you can do one, you can do several of them.Also, for the few problems that you cannot work out, there is no guide in the back that tells you step-by-step how to do them.There is only an answer key in the back.Also, the practice tests are a bit too easy.
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Subjects:  1. Advanced Placement    2. Advanced placement programs (Education)    3. Calculus    4. Examinations    5. Study Aids    6. Study Guides    7. Test Prep    8. Study Aids / Advanced Placement   

Reviews (11)

Popular yet ordinary book!
Richard Feynman, one of America's greatest physicists, once said most of the popular textbooks (on physics) were somewhat mediocre. Larson has written one that is much better than the rest. everything is explained clearly. However, I would recommend those who are aspired for an austere treatment of elementary mathematics, ie, pre-calculus and beginning calculus, to go for the book High-school mathematics by some Russian mathematicians. ISBN: 5030010114 This series is just so comprehensive with lucid explanations that every high school math teacher should take a look at it. It's both fun and benefitial to read books on math translated from another language.

Piece of Sh**!
I have this book sadly for one of my classes.
A gem.But beware of Amazon bugs!
I reported them to Amazon months ago - nothing's changed.
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Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. General    3. Mathematics    4. Pre-Calculus    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Theory Of Functions    7. Calculus & mathematical analysis   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Applied    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (5)

An OK book
While its a very readable book I felt at times that the book leaved out some important details about certain topics. For example it gives an example and explains how to prove something yet gives no directions on how to disprove it, problems still require to do it. Another example later in the book is when it explains how to do something, shows an example, then mentions that some problems have multiple solutions but gives no directions on how to approach these kind of problems or how to make sure that you have all the solutions, you're on your own spending hours trying to put everything together.

Computation problems = 5 stars; Proof problems = 1 star; True/False problems = 3 stars
This was the textbook that my school has been using for its first and second year Linear Algebra courses. I found it somewhat terse. It seems like it could be a great book for someone already familiar with linear algebra or the logic aspect of mathematics; I don't recommend it for anyone who is not very familiar with proofs. Fortunately, it doesn't lack examples of how to solve computation problems and solutions to the odd-numbered problems are provided in the back of the book. Unfortunately, when it comes to the proof problems, instead of just providing the reader with the answer like most other texts, the author will either mention a hint or refer the reader to the study guide (mine came with a disk which has to be installed on a computer), which could be a problem for readers not familiar with how to do proofs. Serving as a somewhat of a mediator between these two extremes are true/false questions which accompany each chapter in each section of the text. While those start out somewhat fun in the beginning, they can also get tiresome and repetive very quickly. The solutions to these, like the proofs, are not provided, but fortunately, all one has to do is read the text carefully in order to determine the appropriate response.
underwhelmed
i'm not going to write 3 paragraphs about how much i love math, and what my fricking sat score was and how many A's i have as most nerds do when they review a math book.i am a math nerd too, but i'll keep the discussion to why i dislike the book (which will be short too, as i need to get back to studying it!)
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Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Algebra - Linear    3. Algebras, Linear    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Textbooks    7. Linear algebra    8. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (22)

No Student Solution Manual
As a student, how can I study without a solution manual? Is all Abstract Algebra classes this way? I have an awful time to study. I'm sorry.

Fraleigh put into perspective
[...]
Decent Book But Has Flaws
I am laughing at the good professor's review below.I do believe he must be a professor: he writes a lot and conveys little in terms of detail or example.
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Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. Algebra, Abstract    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Algebra    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Intermediate    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Textbooks    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (3)

Teacher's editions cannot be used by students!!!!!!
I ordered the book thinking it was the student edition because it did not say that it was the Instructors "annotated" edition.
Make sure your read all product details and comments
The product I ordered was a book,it was in very good condition. There was no problem with the product. Just want to make sure that no one makes the mistake of ordering the wrong book.I needed the student edition of Introductory Algebra, but ordered the teachers edition, because I didn't read all product details and comments.Now I have to order the student edition.Hope that this information will help others in their attempt to place an order.

didnt have any in stock
i didnt get it because they never got any in stock ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - Elementary    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (2)

Good-but wordy
The book was very helpful in helping me to finally learn Algebra. My complaint though is that the wording is too much and very confusing to understand for anyone who has a hard time with math.Get rid of the large pictures/graphs, study tips and objectives and maybe this book wouldn't be so big and heavy.The examples were what saved me because they were well defined and I wouldn't have understood what to do based on the explanations. Overall a good book.

Excellent book
I used this book for several math courses at DeVry Online. I am dyscalculic and this book helped me immensely ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - General    3. Arithmetic    4. Mathematics    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (5)

Inconsistent
This text, though very readable, teaches too much through example problems as opposed to actually explaining the information in the text. Presentation of some topics (chapter 6 particularly) was very poor. Some chapters were out of place (chapter 9 on differential equations, which should have been placed right before the last chapter).

DO NOT buy earlier editions for class--NOT same problems.
Hey, this isn't a review. I just want to let you know that the people who claim that the fourth edition is the "same content" are trying to rip you off. The fourth edition is NOT the same as the fifth edition. The homework problems are NOT the same. If you get the fourth edition, you will not be able to complete your assignments for class if the instructor gives assignments out of the book.
this coming from a student
Having taken 3 Calculus classes in sequence at my university with this book and having used one chapter of this book in my 4th math class that I am currently in (differential equations), I would say that I've used most of this book.Let's just say that this book needs a professor to go along with it.There's really not much of a chance, unless you're really smart, that you can only use this book with no other study aids and understand all of the concepts presented.This book really is made for your math professor to more fully explain.Having said that, I must add that the CD-ROM enclosed is GREAT.I guess if you don't have your professor to go over the finer details of some of the more vague concepts, then this is the next best thing.The sounds-like-a-grad-student voice that explains each chapter in great detail is easy to understand and makes most concepts pretty clear.I have to say that this CD-ROM is saving me on my midterm. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Calculus    2. Mathematics    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Calculus & mathematical analysis    5. Mathematics / Calculus   

Subjects:  1. Algebra - General    2. General    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Mathematics / General   

Reviews (3)

Awesome Algebraic Resource
This is simply a must have for any student or homeschooling parent today.Basically, it's the dictionary of the mathematic world.It's simple, concise, and indispensable.It's full of easy to find formulas, without all the mess to confuse you.If you're stuck on algebra, this is the book for you.

A recommendation from an algebra teacher!
For the last three or four years, I have recommended this book to my students' parents.I teach algebra (grade 8) and pre-algebra (grades 7 and 8) and have found that his book is written in a non-threatening, easy to understand manner.It is a perfectly wonderful reference book.Math is scary enough...this book demystifies algebra.Love it!

Algebra to Go
This is the best reference handbook that parents and teachers will fine it useful for students. Algebra to Go, "demystifies algebra for students in 8 grades and up by explaining key and often complex math topics in a way that's clear, friendly, and understandable". It is also a great refresher for parents who may have forgotten a thing or two about Algebra.. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Mathematics    6. Mathematics - Algebra   

Reviews (42)

it can work wonders, if you're willing to work hard
After being away from math for decades, I suddenly needed to take a college-level algebra class.As a lifelong math-o-phobe, I was terrified, but after working through the exercises in this book, I not only aced the placement exam and avoided a semester of high school level refresher algebra, I aced the class with a very high A.I credit my grade in that class in part to the rock-solid foundation taught by this book, and I recommend it enthusiastically to anyone who is struggling with algebra.
Excellent book!
I am not a math person, but this book helped me prepare for a college math placement test. It gave me just the review I needed. It did a better job of explaining many concepts in Algebra that I just never understood in school. I haven't taken a math class in over 14 years, but after reading this book I was able to enroll in a college Algebra class! For a math book, it's terrific. I highly recommend this book. It's all you will need to get you up to speed in Algebra.

I am glad I found this!
I am 46 years old and have not cracked open an Algebra textbook in close to thirty years. The reviews I read about this book helped me to decide to purchase it, since an upcoming Intermediate Algebra course is looming on the horizon.
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Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - General    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Mathematics / Algebra / General   

Reviews (4)

This book totally helps!
Being a mathophobe, I was terrified when I registered for the class.But since I had to buy this book for my math class, then math all of a sudden was really easy!I actually understood the WORD problems with ease and what not!!The only thing that keeps me from giving it a 5 star rating is that there are many typos in the book, especially in chapter 6.2:there are at least three typos in this specific area if and when you are assigned the odd problems; and what's more, if you want a good laugh, check out pages 455-456.You'll see what I mean!

Buy this book now!
I am a 34 year old student that has struggled with math my entire life. I have failed many math classes in college because I just did not clearly understand how to do the math problems. I enrolled at Harbor College in Willmington, CA this fall 2003 and purchased this required book. To my amazement, this book is written in a way that a dummie like me can easily learn all the lessons. I now have a class grade of 95 and FINALLY because of this book, I can do algebra word problems, and I understand how to check them. I am even tutoring some of my classmates, WOW! thats not too bad for a dummie! I thank the author for creating the best prealgebra book I have ever seen. It is written STEP-BY-STEP and in the most basic format that can be explained. Please only purchase this book. You will not be dissapointed and you will pass prealgebra. All thanks to K. Elayn Martin-Gay, what a job you did putting the book together!

Substantial, and Rich exercises
This workbook is packed with a lot of examples and rich exercises; which are presented in incremental development fashion.My two children, 10 and 11 year old, have high math aptitude; two grades beyond their average level. I bought this workbook to help them in the transition to algebra and trigonometry.Theyare able to go thru most of these execises in one summer.I must admit the quality of the lessons and exercises have this quite enjoyable and intuitive for my children to absorb. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arithmetic    2. Mathematics    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Algebra    5. Mathematics / General   

Reviews (20)

Very good graduate text book
This book makes no claims to be the mathematical bible on stochastic calculus and I believe that the author refers (in a blatant piece of marketing) to the other Shreve book with Karatzas, which trust me IS a very intractable read.
Correction of previous review.
My thanks to Mr Gordon Brown for commenting on my previous review. In that review I claimed that a weaker version of the Girasanov's theorem is proved ( this is correct)and that the author does this by impossing a weaker ( this should have read stronger, my apologies) condition. The remainder of my comments still stand. Specifically, it is not a priori clear form the premises that condition 4.3.1 on page 187, is indeed satisfied. Finally, Mr Gordon's last remark regarding the credibility of my person deserves no comment.

Stochastic Calculus
Probably the best introduction. Worth reading carefully many times over until the essential ideas are absorbed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Accounting - General    2. Business & Economics    3. Business/Economics    4. Calculus    5. Finance    6. Mathematics    7. Business & Economics / Finance    8. Business & Economics-Accounting - General    9. Business & Economics-Finance    10. Mathematics / Calculus   

Reviews (84)

Simply the best ...
If you didn't use this classic in your first pass at elementary
Analysis 101
Principles of Mathematical Analysis by Walter Rudin can rightly be called "the Bible of classical analysis".I have seen it cited in more books than I can count.And after a full year of working through the book in graduate school, I can see why.As many other reviewers here have pointed out, this book requires more than a little of that magical quality called "mathematical maturity".Simply defined, "mathematical maturity" is the ability to read between the lines and fill in the gaps in a given mathematical text.
Pretty Good
I want to start by listing some of my complaints. First of all, I do not think it is entirely appropriate for a student's first exposure to analysis. The majority of students would be better off taking a an honors calculus or advanced calculus course first, so they can learn how to prove things about the continuity of specific functions or convergence of series before they start proving things and functions and series in general (a look at, say, Bartle's book over summer break would probably work just as well, but my point remains the same). Second of all, the exercises are, for the most part, extremely challenging. While this is not a bad thing by any means, the book would probably benefit by having a few extra, easier problems. Third, it could use some pictures, not that many, but they would certainly help illustrate some of the ideas. Fourth, a few of the proofs are very difficult to understand because they are perhaps too concise (for example, the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in the first Chapter). Finally, $140 is prohibitively expensive.
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Subjects:  1. Advanced    2. Mathematical Analysis    3. Mathematics    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Calculus & mathematical analysis    6. Mathematics / Advanced   

Reviews (1)

This was a competent book with one small problem.
College Algebra is quite authorative on the subject matter covered and helps the student grasp the key points as well as some of the finer points of Algebra. While I was in this course I had the most difficult time trying to find certain supplements the book suggested that were put out by the publisher. They had no knowledge of the material at the company but it was clearly stated in the text. All in all the overall text and message of the book was rather competent and illuminating. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Algebra    2. Algebra - College    3. Algebra - General    4. Graphic Methods    5. Mathematics    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Textbooks    8. Mathematics / Algebra / General