
P1: OSO/OVY P2: OSO/OVY QC: OSO/OVY T1: OSO
MHDQ256-FM-MAIN MHDQ256-Smith-v1.cls January 8, 2011 12:17
LT (Late Transcendental)
CONFIRMING PAGES
Seeing the Beauty and Power
of Mathematics
The calculus course is a critical course for science, technology, engineering, and math
majors. This course sets the stage for many majors and is where students see the beauty of
mathematics, encouraging them to take upper-level math courses.
In a calculus market-research study conducted in 2008, calculus faculty pointed out
three critical components to student success in the calculus.
The most critical is mastery of the prerequisite algebra and trigonometry skills. Our
market research study showed that 58 percent of faculty mentioned that students struggled
withcalculusbecauseofpooralgebraskillsand72percentsaidbecauseofpoortrigonometry
skills. This is the number one learning challenge preventing students from being successful
in the first calculus course.
The second critical component for student success is a text that presents calculus
concepts, especially the most challenging concepts, in a clear and elegant manner. This
helps students see and appreciate the beauty and power of mathematics.
Lastly, calculus faculty told us that it is critical for a calculus text to include all the
classic calculus problems.
Other calculus textbooks may reflect one or two of these critical components. However,
there is only ONE calculus textbook that includes all three: Smith/Minton, 4e.
ReadontounderstandhowSmith/Mintonhandlesallthreeissues,helpingyourstudents
to see the beauty and power of mathematics.
Mastery of Prerequisite Algebra and Trigonometry Skills
ALEKS Prep for Calculus
is a Web-based program that
focuses on prerequisite and
introductory material for
Calculus, and can be used
during the first six weeks of
the term to prepare students
for success in the course.
ALEKS uses artificial
intelligence and adaptive
questioning to assess
precisely a student’s preparedness and provide personalized instruction on the exact topics
the student is most ready to learn. By providing comprehensive explanations, practice and
feedback, ALEKS allows students to quickly fill in gaps in prerequisite knowledge on their
own time, while also allowing instructors to focus on core course concepts.
Use ALEKS Prep for Calculus during the first six weeks of the term to see improved
student confidence and performance, as well as fewer drops.
xiii