Calculus textbook question!!??

Question

I am thinking of buying calculus by James Stewart and was wondering if it covers cal 1 2 and 3? If so is there anything else I should get to go with it? If not is there recommendations on what else I should get to cover higher level calculus? I am teaching myself and plan on getting into spivak eventually but for now start with the basics.

Answer 1

here is a great resource for deciding what math textbooks to purchase.

https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~abhishek/chicmath.htm

Answer 2

There are several versions of Stewart. The largest version is indeed meant as a textbook that can be taken through a full three-semester calculus sequence, and is well suited to the needs of a normal student.

To make sure you're getting that version instead of one of the shorter and lighter versions that cover less material, check the table of contents and make sure that the topics run all the way from limits in chapter 1 to the likes of surface integrals in chapter ~14 (I don't have a copy lying around, and it's been a while).

If you're interested in challenging yourself some, Stewart has sets of "Problems Plus" between some of the chapters, which call for additional clever thought beyond the routine algorithms needed for the text's homework exercises.

If you intend to take a formal course, just get whatever the textbook for that course is.