Good calculus texts anyone?

Forum for the GRE subject test in mathematics.
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Which topic has the most challenging problems on the GRE

Abstract Algebra
0
No votes
Linear Algebra
0
No votes
Calculus
3
25%
Real Analysis
1
8%
Complex Analysis
1
8%
Topology
5
42%
Probability
1
8%
Differential Equations
1
8%
Number Theory
0
No votes
Other
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 12

renegade
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:15 pm

Good calculus texts anyone?

Post by renegade » Wed Dec 15, 2010 5:07 pm

Hi renegade,

The only book, besides "Cracking the GRE", I used for my Calculus preparation was "Real Analysis" by H.Royden. Only first couple of chapters you need to cover actually. Being able to solve problems from Royden, you should not have problems with calculus questions on subject test.

According to other literature, I found M.Artin's "Algebra" as very good book. Cannot recommend any on combinatorics/diff.eq./number theory though.

Wish you good luck on test!
Last edited by renegade on Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

trevaskis
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:33 pm

Re: Good calculus texts anyone?

Post by trevaskis » Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:41 pm

Anton's calculus is pretty good.

prong
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:17 am

Re: Good calculus texts anyone?

Post by prong » Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:14 am

i said probability because i know it least.

calculus is really important on the gre, though.

bobn
Posts: 61
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 2:59 am

Re: Good calculus texts anyone?

Post by bobn » Thu Dec 16, 2010 9:50 am

My Picks

Calculus :: Apostol 2 volumes + Thomas/Finny + more the best, thumb rule is you need to finish 60 questions in 2hrs practice for that speed and precision
Abstract :: Herstein + Gallian
Linear :: Insel
Real Analysis :: Arthur Mattuck + Rudin
Complex Analysis :: Brown
Probability :: Any Good book
Differential Equations :: Edwards and Penny
Number Theory :: Gareth
Topology :: Munkres + Lee ( Introduction to Topological Manifolds)
Combinatorics :: Kevin Ferland

renegade
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:15 pm

Re: Good calculus texts anyone?

Post by renegade » Thu Dec 16, 2010 3:31 pm

trevaskis wrote:Anton's calculus is pretty good.
Which one? There is "Calculus: A New Horizon", "Calculus Early Transcendentals Single Variable", "Calculus Late Transcendentals Combined", "Calculus with Analytic Geometry" etc...

trevaskis
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:33 pm

Re: Good calculus texts anyone?

Post by trevaskis » Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:32 pm

A new horizon.

Ergodic
Posts: 30
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:07 pm

Re: Good calculus texts anyone?

Post by Ergodic » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:37 am

Hi renegade, got your PM. I think you're overthinking it (as so many of us here have done in preparation for the test.) Just pick a damn Calculus book and work some damn problems in it, and under timed conditions! The books I happened to use are Stewart's "Calculus: Early Transcendentals" (4th ed) and for Precalc I used Larson and Hostetler's "Precalculus" (4th ed.)

You should pick problems that are related conceptually in as many ways possible as problems you'll encounter on the test, and give yourself 2.5 minutes per problem, just like on the test. This is, of course, presupposing you've already worked through all the practice problems on all the available tests.

Also, I'm not necessarily the best guy to ask on this, since I actually missed over a quarter of the problems on the exam (8 missed, 10 omitted.) But maybe that's good enough for this year.



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