ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Specialist Mathematics => Topic started by: darkphoenix on December 24, 2009, 04:37:02 pm

Title: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: darkphoenix on December 24, 2009, 04:37:02 pm
That explains stuff well. And could anyone upload the ebook for it?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: i-am-bored-69 on December 24, 2009, 04:48:42 pm
I used "essential", explanations's are alright, but the questions are excellent-good variety and challenging!
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: darkphoenix on December 24, 2009, 05:49:35 pm
any chance you have the ebook and can upload it?
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: kyzoo on December 24, 2009, 10:09:21 pm
The quality of textbook explanations is not that relevant to the development of your conceptual understanding; what's more important is your willingness to play around with the concepts and ignore textbook explanations in favour of your own.
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: darkphoenix on December 24, 2009, 10:20:26 pm
Hm yeah but its also good to see what other books have to say, and you can use it as an extra reference.
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: Stroodle on December 25, 2009, 10:57:37 am
As far as explanations go, the Dimensions Specialist textbook is really good. Only problem is that there are so many errors in it (but you can download an errata).
Maths Quest also just brought out a new range of books. Their layout looks good (no more silly pictures), but I wouldn't be surprised if they still target the same audience; with good explanations and relatively simple questions.


Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: dekoyl on December 27, 2009, 05:09:20 am
I think the Essential textbook is great. However, if you want to have a go at a few harder questions, try the textbook by Fitzpatrick et al if you can still find it as it's out of print. If your teacher taught around 2000-2002, they should have it.
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: jimmy999 on December 27, 2009, 02:48:20 pm
I think the Essential textbook is great. However, if you want to have a go at a few harder questions, try the textbook by Fitzpatrick et al if you can still find it as it's out of print. If your teacher taught around 2000-2002, they should have it.

Pretty much exactly the same thing my teacher said. He preferred the Fitzpatrick book but it was too out of date. If they updated it he would've picked it for our class. If I remember correctly, they have beautiful explanations and is easier to follow than the Essentials book
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: darkphoenix on December 30, 2009, 01:38:46 am
Ok, so theres Essentials, Dimensions and Fitzpatrick Books. So where can i get a copy on pc?

I already have the new Maths quest book cause our school is using it, it isnt that great at explaining and it has a lot of examples (Could be good or bad).
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: jasopan on March 17, 2010, 12:31:00 am
Our school uses the Heinamenn ones.
TBH they're not great, explanations so-so, questions piss-easy but they do have DECENT calculator explanations.
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: kyzoo on March 17, 2010, 07:05:48 pm
0.o Heinemann questions are not piss-easy, try the yellow page Extended-Responses one.
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: tl on March 20, 2010, 03:20:44 pm
We use the Jacaranda (Maths Quest) and the questions in the exercise are piss easy compared to the Review ones.. They're so lazy they just steal questions from the VCAA exams and stick 'em in. Also there's a bunch of typos from which they screwed up completely. E.g they screwed up copying a VCAA exam question.. SHAME MUCH?

I'll give it 4/10.. pre-average.

P.s It doesn't come with a CD.. gives some "eBook" thing..
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: darkphoenix on March 20, 2010, 10:46:26 pm
We use the Jacaranda (Maths Quest) and the questions in the exercise are piss easy compared to the Review ones.. They're so lazy they just steal questions from the VCAA exams and stick 'em in. Also there's a bunch of typos from which they screwed up completely. E.g they screwed up copying a VCAA exam question.. SHAME MUCH?

I'll give it 4/10.. pre-average.

P.s It doesn't come with a CD.. gives some "eBook" thing..

Yeah our school uses exact same one. The orange one yeah?

Agree, man, so many errors, too many examples, complex numbers review solutions were all wrong..
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: iillnc on March 28, 2010, 01:01:29 am
0.o Heinemann questions are not piss-easy, try the yellow page Extended-Responses one.
After I did the Essentials Book (Complex Numbers + Vectors) and getting stuck on every third question; I did the Reviews for the Heinamenn and blitzed through it :S

BTW Heinamenn Book this year has changed (eg no yellow pages, whole thing is blacck and white)
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: Souljette_93 on March 28, 2010, 07:53:19 am
We use the Jacaranda (Maths Quest) and the questions in the exercise are piss easy compared to the Review ones.. They're so lazy they just steal questions from the VCAA exams and stick 'em in. Also there's a bunch of typos from which they screwed up completely. E.g they screwed up copying a VCAA exam question.. SHAME MUCH?

I'll give it 4/10.. pre-average.

P.s It doesn't come with a CD.. gives some "eBook" thing..

Yeah our school uses exact same one. The orange one yeah?

Agree, man, so many errors, too many examples, complex numbers review solutions were all wrong..


Is there a change between the new edition and the older ones?  like the concepts, questions..( other  than the Calculater ) because we use the old edition.

Souljette<3
Title: Re: Which is the best textbook..?
Post by: darkphoenix on March 28, 2010, 09:40:15 pm
We use the Jacaranda (Maths Quest) and the questions in the exercise are piss easy compared to the Review ones.. They're so lazy they just steal questions from the VCAA exams and stick 'em in. Also there's a bunch of typos from which they screwed up completely. E.g they screwed up copying a VCAA exam question.. SHAME MUCH?

I'll give it 4/10.. pre-average.

P.s It doesn't come with a CD.. gives some "eBook" thing..

Yeah our school uses exact same one. The orange one yeah?

Agree, man, so many errors, too many examples, complex numbers review solutions were all wrong..


Is there a change between the new edition and the older ones?  like the concepts, questions..( other  than the Calculater ) because we use the old edition.

Souljette<3

Yeah i think there are quite a few differences, thats why they made us buy the new edition.