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Title: Finite Mathematics (8th Edition) (Lial/Greenwell/Ritchey Series)
ISBN: 032122826X
Author:
Margaret L. Lial
Raymond N. Greenwell
Nathan P. Ritchey
Publicate Date: 2004-06-17
Publish: 2004-06-17
List Price: $134.67
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $25.00
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $2.35
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Does NOT come with a Tutorial on CD
I purchased this book brand new and full priced because it is listed as havinga MathXL Tutorial on CD. I felt the aid of interactive instruction would be beneficial. Since having recieved this book and inquiring of Amazon, I find the book does NOT come with a CD but with an online address for a website with instruction which costs and ADDITIONAL $35.00 to access. The title is incorrect and misleading, and making this transaction with Amazon has been disappointing. I will think twice before I make another.Finite Mathematics (9th Edition) (MathXL Tutorials on CD Series)
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2: Great condition
This book was only used for one semester. It is in great condition looks brand new. I bought it brand new and kept it in the same condition.
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3: I recommend this book
I took an online class over the summer and used this book. Eventhough the teacher was not helpful, the book was. All the exercises were extremely helpful and the text was simple and easy to read. I would recommend this book for any who has to take this class.
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4: It passes the test for adoption consideration
As a reviewer and educator, I encounter many textbooks that can be used in the lower level classes such as basic statistics, algebra, precalculus and finite mathematics. Since the material to be covered in these classes has been established by consensus, it is a rare occasion when there is a significant difference in coverage. In addition, there is a natural order to many of the topics, so the differences in sequence also tend to be minimal. All of this leads to a routine sameness of the books, especially when examined by someone experienced in the topic.
Therefore, when examining a book for adoption consideration, my primary concern is how easy it will be for the students to read it. This requires that you intentionally dumb yourself down, reading the explanations in detail, looking for simplistic clarity. If a book has that feature, then it is most likely a good choice. With the exception of including solutions to a large percentage of the problems, all other aspects of the book are secondary. (I consider the lack of solutions to problems in a math book to be a fatal flaw.) In general, I consider the inclusion of more problems of the same type to be trivial padding; after all, the value added by including ten more routine matrix addition problems is minimal. In finite mathematics, it is possible to include problems based on circumstances that actually occur in the real world. The cost of manufacturing some items is in fact locally linear and the allocation of resources can be described by a matrix. Therefore, the realism of the applied problems must also be a consideration when examining a finite math text.
With these conditions of acceptance established, I can say that this book passes the test. The explanations have the simplistic clarity that students need and solutions to many of the problems are included. Many problems demonstrate reasonably practical conditions where finite mathematics is used in the world, and the appropriate background for the problems is given. While no decision has yet been made concerning what book to use next year, this one has been placed on my list of the top three finalists for further consideration.
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