Two-Dimensional Calculus

by Robert Osserman

Two-dimensional calculus is vital to the mastery of the broader field, and this text presents an extensive treatment of this crucial subject. The book's advantages include the thorough integration of linear algebra and materials that aid the development of readers' geometric intuition. Problem sets appear at the end of each chapter, many of them with answers. 1986 edition.

456 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1977

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book begins with vector basics as a natural launching point for the geometric focus. In the final chapters focusing on the double integral, this planar thinking will be especially enlightening for students nonplussed by centroids, moments, etc. Of course, the assessment of the area of a closed curve is the book’s introduction of the integral and this naturally leads to the double integral representing volume with appropriate illustrations continuing the geometric theme. This approach is comparable to that taken in An Introduction to Modern Calculus (Maak, 1963) which I feel is also worth a reprint edition. Each chapter concludes with exercises. For many of these, answers are provided in the back of the book. This is a self-contained work excellent for self-study or as an adjunct text for the undergraduate approaching this level of calculus.

[Look for my whole review to be posted at MAA Reviews: http://mathdl.maa.org/mathDL/19/]