Product Description: For sophomore-level courses in Differential Equations and Linear Algebra.
Extensively rewritten throughout, the Second Edition of this flexible text features a seamless integration of linear algebra into the discipline of differential equations. Abundant computer graphics, IDE interactive illustration software, and well-thought-out problem sets make it an excellent choice for either the combination DE/LA course or pure differential equations courses. The authors’ consistent, reader-friendly presentation encourages students to think both quantitatively and qualitatively when approaching differential equations — and reinforces concepts using similar methods to solve various systems (algebraic, differential, and iterative).
I wish I could give it a 0 out of 5 stars This textbook is the most vague textbook I have every read. The examples give no further explination or clarification. The text use terms such as "it is obviously" and "this way is pretty obvious". The homework problems assume that you do each problem in order because several problems reference previous problems for clarification. Several problems use methods discussed in the problems section and are not explained in the text. The book also assumes previous knowledge to be mastered. The authors have an understanding of math symbols that take the place of words (i.e. "such that"), but I don't. I need explinations of these symbols and it wouldn't have been difficult to insert a note. I am disappointed that my school chose thise textbook to use. Avoid using this text for anything other than homework. I would rather read an "Idiots Guide to..." than study using this textbook.
Could be little worse This textbook has a number of problems: 1: It's expensive. I paid over $70, used, here on Amazon - it's over $120 new at the campus book store. This is particularly bad when you compare it to my other engineering calculus book, Thomas' Calculus 9th/Alternate edition - which is not only far cheaper (under $50, in good condition), it's also more than twice as long as Farlow's Diff. EQ.
2: It's *extremely* technical. The descriptions are designed for a mathematics major. I am an engineering major - for my purposes, it is more important to understand the material and develop problem-solving skills than it is to learn abstract high-level mathematical concepts. Having technical descriptions is fine, but this text doesn't follow them up with "quick and dirty" methods and formulas. Thomas' Calculus, 9th ed., is far more approchable in this regard.
3: The examples suck. They are too easy, too watered down, and there aren't enough of them. The text expects us to transform a few simple examples into the knowledge to do a whole series of complex problems.
4: The problems are hard. Very hard. Sometimes, new concepts are introduced with a sentence or two *right in the problem set*.
The purpose of the text is to teach the material and compliment the lectures by providing realistic problems. This text does neither.
I'm certainly glad I'll never have to take another calc class after dealing with this crap This is by far the absolute worst math book I have ever had the misfortune of using. The discussions teach everything using either completely abstract formulae or by using the absolute easiest example of that problem type. Then you get to the questions, which expect you to have mastered the concept of the preceding 10 pgs or so and be able to extrapolate these concepts to other topics (which the book offers no explanation of how to do). Overall, I would say you're better off learning this material from your cat's litter box, as it will probably make more sense. Also, i'm sure your cat put more effort into its litter box than the author's of this text put into writing this text.
Trash This book's attempts to teach anything do anything but teach. Each section has about ten pages of explanation followed by a bunch of problems. Unfortunately the explanations do anything but explain to people that are trying to learn math. If you're a math wiz you might be able to decrypt what they're talking about, but as a student I had no idea. In the examples the authors often use explanations such as "it is obvious that..." and "we remember from..." The lack of explanation (mainly laziness on the authors' part) makes it very hard to follow what they're talking about, and the problems afterwards often expect the reader to know things that weren't discussed or appeared as a one-sentence blurp in the margin. So unless you're a massochist or already know this stuff like the back of your hand and need a reference guide, spend your money someplace else.
Craptacular Unless you use this book straight away after taking an intensive Calculus II course, you're going to have absolutely no clue how they are doing any of the problems. They leave the "explanations" at an unacceptably high-level abstraction so that only those very freshly well-versed in Calculus can venture an understanding. Also contains no refreshers, not even a simple list of common integrals or integration formulas from Calculus. Just a crappy book, in my opinion.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
