本書序言

Besides numerous improvements and clarifications throughout the book and tweakings of existing material, this edition introduces, in Chapter 11, the concept of a metric space and its application to spherical trigonometry (and, of course, navigation on the surface of our spherical planet), and Einstein’s theory of special relativity, the conclusions of which follow from the selection of a particular metric for measuring distance in four-dimensional space-time.

Also new in this edition is the introduction to the methods of the Calculus of Variations in Section 20.4, and an introduction, in Appendix VI, to the opensource programming language, Python, which can replace Maple or Mathematica as a free computer algebra system.

本書特色

MyLabMath is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program designed to work with this text to engage students and improve results. Within its structured environment, students practise what they learn, test their understanding, and pursue a personalized study plan that helps them absorb course material and understand difficult concepts. MyLab can be successfully implemented in any classroom environment - lab-based, hybrid, fully online, or traditional. By addressing instructor and student needs, MyLab improves student learning. 
●Student Engagement and Achievement Students are motivated to succeed when they’re engaged in the learning experience and understand the relevance and power of mathematics. MyLab Math’s online homework offers students immediate feedback and tutorial assistance that motivates them to do more, which means they retain more knowledge and improve their test scores.
●Exercises with immediate feedback are based on the textbook exercises, and regenerate algorithmically to give students unlimited opportunity for practice and mastery. MyLab provides helpful feedback when students enter incorrect answers and includes optional learning aids including Help Me Solve This, View an Example, and the eText.
●Learning Catalytics is a student response tool that uses students’ smartphones, tablets, or laptops to engage them in more interactive tasks and thinking. Learning Catalytics fosters student engagement and peer-to-peer learning with real-time analytics.