Course materials consist of the DVDs and the textbook.
The DVDs containing video lectures are available in the VHCC bookstore.
To contact the VHCC bookstore call 276-739-2400 and ask for the bookstore.
Required calculator
You can use any calculator you wish when you do your homework, but your instructor's best advice is to put your graphing calculator away until you get into your Junior-level courses. Once you know the mathematics it's easy to learn to do it on the calculator or computer. If you rely on the calculator when learning mathematics, you are almost certain to miss some of the essential aspects of the subject.
The only calculator permitted on tests will be the Casio fx-260. This is the same calculator that is legal for the SAT. This calculator is inexpensive, and is available through the VHCC bookstore as well as online.
Textbook Information
Three texts are recommended, and one widely used text is acceptable for this course. Coverage of topics in a multivariable calculus course is done in very much the same order, in chapters and sections with similar if not identical names, in the majority of textbooks, including those listed here.
Problem sets are independent of the text.
Order of recommendation is not significant. Cost,
availability for quick shipping, and other factors are addressed for the
recommended texts. Vendor selection is at the discretion of the student.
Recommended: Calculus,
Multivariable by Thomas (the least expensive of listed current, in-print
textbooks)
This book is in its 12th edition. Your instructor learned the course from one of the early editions of the text, and can't objectively judge its usability by students. It is noted that as of this writing (April 2012) user reviews posted at a popular vendor indicate an average four stars, out of 5. However this is with a limited number of reviews (5 reviews, three of which give 5 stars, two of which give three).
One advantage to this book is that a new copy is available in paperback, more expensive than the Bradley text but at what appears to be about half the price of a standard textbook. Prompt shipping is possible, from a reliable vendor.
It is possible that you have a copy of the full version of this text, which would contain both single- and mulitvariable calculus. You can tell if the text has chapters with titles very much like the following:
Vectors in the Plane and in Space
Vector-Valued Functions
Partial Differentiation
Multiple Integration
Vector Analysis
You are welcome to email the instructor (or use the forms if you are enrolled, have an access code and know what this means) with a copy of the chapter titles for verification.
Recommended Text: Strauss, Bradley and Smith. (available at low cost but supplements might not be up-to-date)
Besides being at least as good as any of the other listed texts, and better than most, it's currently (April 2012) available at very low cost. However prompt shipping can't be guaranteed and the instructor cannot predict shipping delays from various vendors, so if the beginning date for the course is approaching you should consider this factor.
Consider also that this text is out of print (publication date 2002), its supplements are somewhat dated and publisher support might be limited. If you generally learn best by reading the text and solving problems rather than by relying on supplements, and if cost is an object, this text is worth considering.
Calculus by Strauss, Bradley and Smith (full version) includes first-year as well as second-year calculus, is also out of print, but is available at low cost. If you don't have one this would provide a good reference for first-year as well as multivariable calculus, at low cost. However be sure the text includes the chapters
Vectors in the Plane and in Space
Vector-Valued Functions
Partial Differentiation
Multiple Integration
Vector Analysis
(or very similar chapter titles).
Either the second or third edition would be fine.
Also recommended: Calculus Multivariable by Larson
Don't confuse this with Multivariable Calculus, 9th edition by the same author. That text would be fine (especially if you happen to have it), but the recommended text appears to be newer and less expensive. It should be possible to assure quick shipping for a new text.
If you have used the Larson text for first-year calculus
and found that it fits your needs and your learning style, this might be a good
choice for you.
Acceptable: Multivariable Calculus by Stewart
This text is recommended mainly because it is widely used, does a good job of covering the material, and some students might well have a copy of the full edition. The text is perfectly acceptable but the instructor believes the other texts are marginally more appropriate to this particular section of the course. If you do have a copy, though, don't hesitate to use it.
It also is possible that you have a copy of the full version of this text, which would contain both single- and mulitvariable calculus. You can tell if the text has chapters with titles very much like the following:
Vectors in the Plane and in Space
Vector-Valued Functions
Partial Differentiation
Multiple Integration
Vector Analysis
You are welcome to email the instructor (or use the forms if you are enrolled, have an access code and know what this means) with a copy of the chapter titles for verification.