- #1
athena810
- 22
- 0
Hi,
Background:
I'm a junior self-studying Calculus, and I want to study from a rigorous textbook. I've seen many threads comparing and contrasting the textbooks of Apostol and Spivak. I have access to the online versions of both author's textbooks, but I find it difficult to concentrate when the book is on a screen (must be a mind thing), so I'll probably get one in print.
Anyway, I did read the first two chapters of Spivak's book and I found the problems impossible. I think mostly it was because I do not know how proofs work. Frankly, I was confused as to what was being asked. I hear the problems in Apostol's book are easier so i was considering reading that, but I have diffiuclty concentrating, and I think it'll be worst since I hear he's very dry. I do have a textbook from school (Stewart) and I like the pictures, but I probably want to read something more rigorous.
So like I said, I plan to self-study Calculus, because I like it and my teacher isn't really that good, so I'm worried I'll do poorly on the AP (next year). She also does the "memorize and repeat" method of teaching, which really annoys me. I should probably read How to Prove It since I heard that it helps. So, should I learn Calculus before reading Apostol or Spivak, or should I just go for it..?
Thanks
Background:
I'm a junior self-studying Calculus, and I want to study from a rigorous textbook. I've seen many threads comparing and contrasting the textbooks of Apostol and Spivak. I have access to the online versions of both author's textbooks, but I find it difficult to concentrate when the book is on a screen (must be a mind thing), so I'll probably get one in print.
Anyway, I did read the first two chapters of Spivak's book and I found the problems impossible. I think mostly it was because I do not know how proofs work. Frankly, I was confused as to what was being asked. I hear the problems in Apostol's book are easier so i was considering reading that, but I have diffiuclty concentrating, and I think it'll be worst since I hear he's very dry. I do have a textbook from school (Stewart) and I like the pictures, but I probably want to read something more rigorous.
So like I said, I plan to self-study Calculus, because I like it and my teacher isn't really that good, so I'm worried I'll do poorly on the AP (next year). She also does the "memorize and repeat" method of teaching, which really annoys me. I should probably read How to Prove It since I heard that it helps. So, should I learn Calculus before reading Apostol or Spivak, or should I just go for it..?
Thanks