Calculus for Dummies

Well, the good news is that you can master calculus. It's not nearly as tough as its mystique would lead you to think. Much of calculus is really just very advanced algebra, geometry, and trig. It builds upon and is a logical extension of those subjects. If you can do algebra, geometry, and trig, you can do calculus.

Calculus For Dummies is intended for three groups of readers:

• Students taking their first calculus course – If you're enrolled in a calculus course and you find your textbook less than crystal clear, this is the book for you. It covers the most important topics in the first year of calculus: differentiation, integration, and infinite series.
• Students who need to brush up on their calculus to prepare for other studies – If you've had elementary calculus, but it's been a couple of years and you want to review the concepts to prepare for, say, some graduate program, Calculus For Dummies will give you a thorough, no-nonsense refresher course.
• Adults of all ages who'd like a good introduction to the subject – Non-student readers will find the book's exposition clear and accessible. Calculus For Dummies takes calculus out of the ivory tower and brings it down to earth.

This is a user-friendly math book. Whenever possible, the author explains the calculus concepts by showing you connections between the calculus ideas and easier ideas from algebra and geometry. Then, you'll see how the calculus concepts work in concrete examples. All explanations are in plain English, not math-speak. Calculus For Dummies covers the following topics and more:

• Real-world examples of calculus
• The two big ideas of calculus: differentiation and integration
• Why calculus works
• Pre-algebra and algebra review
• Common functions and their graphs
• Limits and continuity
• Integration and approximating area
• Sequences and series

Don't buy the misconception. Sure calculus is difficult – but it's manageable, doable. You made it through algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Well, calculus just picks up where they leave off – it's simply the next step in a logical progression.

The book starts off with a refresher for algebra and such and then eliminates any fears of limits the reader might have. The fundamental idea of a limit (without the advanced delta-epsilon notation) allows the reader to thoroughly understand the backbone of calculus.

Differentiation is treated in detail with examples in power rule, chain rule, quotient rule, and applications (which the reader will have absolutely NO problem with after reading this book).

The concept of integration is explained so that the reader may see the fundamental principles of infinite summation of rectangles of miniature area. "Calculus For Dummies" has a strong presentation of integration techniques (especially integration by parts and the LIATE method pneumonic device) as well as trigonometric, volume and surface area, substitution, and indefinite integration.

Lastly, "Calc for Dummies" concludes with a discussion of infinite series. The book explains each of the 10 methods covered and also offers tips as to which method to use for a specific occasion.

All in all, a tremendously well-written book for those taking Calculus for the first time, those who need a companion for their current calc class, as well as those wishing for a refresher. "Calculus For Dummies" is very readable and allows the reader to understand the beautiful language of calculus without the rigors of proofs most calc textbooks have.


Refreshing Approach to the Fundamentals of Calculus   January 7, 2004
Vito A. Carbonaro (Brentwood, CA USA)
63 out of 63 found this review helpful

I have been using "Calculus for Dummies" to review my Calc I and Calc II basics. I am surprised and pleased with how well Ryan's descriptions and explanations have allowed me to better understand the underlying principles in Calculus. If you are serious about the groundwork and maintenance of your mathematical skills, you know that it is frequently beneficial to return to the basics for those fundamental concepts which can occassionally grow fuzzy with time. If you can find a text that treats the material in a new and entertaining way, the review can be enjoyable as well as instructive.

I highly recommend Ryan's book. He limits complexity (and warns you when he is doing so) to keep the material accessible. For the ultra rigorous analysis, there are many college texts available. But if you are new to Calculus, or looking for a different and refreshing approach to the basics, you will find "Calculus for Dummies" a wise investment. If you are taking Calculus in school and are having some problems understanding the material (and who hasn't?), this book will help you "decode" some of the more difficult concepts. I am sure that it is destined to become a valuable catalyst text on many a struggling math student's desktop.


Learn Calculus   October 4, 2005
Aaron Rutledge (Oak Creek, WI)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is, perhaps, the most concise and informative introduction to Calculus that I have ever come across. Mr. Ryan's ability to explain how mathematics works is practically legendary. It might be stretch to say this, but even if you haven't taken or studied pre-calc, and don't remember a whole lot about algebra, you could probably still hang with this book. That being said, you'll enjoy this book the most if you have pre-calc and algebra under belt, and you won't be disappointed! Admittedly, this book stays away from proofs, and theory unless it is absolutely necessary in order to make the subject understandable. What you get is a veritable instruction manual, or "how-to" that will introduce all of the techniques you'll need to succeed in your class (unless you have happlessly stumbled into the classroom of a "proof-happy" professor). If you want to learn the techniques of Calculus and actually understand what is going on in your first and second semester Calc classes, you cannot go wrong with book!


An excellent introduction to the subject and a good review   January 20, 2006
D. Comer (Albuquerque, NM)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I would define a calculus dummy as 1) A non-math major that want to get a good introduction to what calculus is about, 2) An individual that had long taken calculus that wants a quick refresher on the subject, perhaps to dig in deeper for more, 3) A student that is too lazy to read the real text book and thinks this book will be enough.

That said, I had taken calculus in college (10+ years ago), remembered some, but forgotten most of what I learned. After all, if you don't use it you lose it. As an design engineer turned software engineer I am about to make a life-changing career change back into design of RF electronics. I needed a quick refresher to get started. This was the book.

Mark does a very good job introducing the fundamental calculus topics including limits, differentiation, and integration. Among the tools covered are the derivatives, convergent and divergent series, functions, inverse functions, graphs, graph extrema, points of inflection, minima, maxima, mean-value-theorem, chain rule, power rules, product rule, implicit and explicit differentiation, first and second derivatives tests, integration, fundamental rule of calculus, trapezoidal rule, Simpson's rule, and much more.

I remembered enough of the subject while reading to make this book an easy read. I could, however, imagine that had I read this book prior to my calculus I course in college, how I would had a head-start advantage. There are several good "step back and a practical look at what these means" explanations that I sure wish my Bob Dylan look-alike graduate student calculus instructor could learn from.

I am now ready to move on to James Stewart's "Calculus" book.


Far better than ponderous academic texts   August 24, 2007
E. Mitchell (Spokane, WA USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I took college calculus 30 years ago. Wanting to refresh my memory, I first looked at my original and massive college textbook. Comprehensive but indecipherable. An academic tomb written to prove every theorem in the calculus - nice if you are a math major but not very helpful for those interested in applying calculus to real world problems quickly. I then found Calculus for Dummies which gets right to the key concepts in an accessible and direct fashion. The author's sense of humor is also helpful. With Ryan's book, you'll learn how to do calculus and solve problems. Great book. Highly recommended. While I scored highest in the class a long time ago, I had to study so hard - I only wish we had this book and graphic calculators 30 years ago and math class would have been a bit easier!