Calculus, Vol.

1: One-Variable Calculus, with an Introduction to Linear Algebra

and
Calculus, Vol. 2: Multi-Variable Calculus and Linear Algebra with Applications t
o Differential Equations and Probability
Tom M. Apostol
An introduction to the calculus, with an excellent balance between theory and te
chnique. Integration is treated before differentiation--this is a departure from
most modern texts, but it is historically correct, and it is the best way to es
tablish the true connection between the integral and the derivative. Proofs of a
ll the important theorems are given, generally preceded by geometric or intuitiv
e discussion. This Second Edition introduces the mean-value theorems and their a
pplications earlier in the text, incorporates a treatment of linear algebra, and
contains many new and easier exercises. As in the first edition, an interesting
historical introduction precedes each important new concept.
Product Details
Volume 1
Hardcover: 666 pages
Publisher: Wiley; 2nd edition (January 16, 1991)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0471000051
ISBN-13: 978-0471000051
Volume 2
Hardcover: 673 pages
Publisher: Wiley; 2nd edition (June 20, 1969)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0471000078
ISBN-13: 978-0471000075
User Review:
This book is extremely well-written and leaves you with the feeling that it coul
dn't have been better. A tribute to this fact is that it is still in its second
edition from 66 and, though it is rather old, has kept its quality.
It has a good number of exercises (usually between 15-30 per section/topic), whi
ch is less than most standard calculus book, but the difference is that the qual
ity of the exercises here is much higher, and you will be surprised when some mo
nths later, when tackling some problem for another course, you will remember hav
ing done the exercise in Apostol. It also has answers to all the exercises (exce
pt for the ones which require a proof, rather than a number as a result). The pr
oblems range from easy to very hard, but usually there won't be more than two pr
oblems per section that one won't be able to do upon first reading and a little
thinking.
The writing of the book is very good and rigorous, and it covers some topics tha
t are not present in most calculus books. For example it has a small seciton on
partial derivatives, it covers the weighted mean-value theorem for integrals and
rearrangements of series. There are many other topics that don't usually fit in
a calculus course, but the introduction of these when you are still learning it
makes the connection between the topics much clearer. After having read the boo
k from cover to cover, it has now become a very useful reference that never leav
es my table. Also, because it is rigorous and has a broad number of topics, if y
ou learn this and vol. II now you will save a lot of time later in more advanced
courses such as analysis, differential equations, linear algebra and to a lesse
r extent even differential geometry and probability.

Because of its nonstandard approach, I think that this book is unsuitable for mo
st people learning calculus for the first time (especially if you are taking a c
ourse and not just studying at your own pace). However, it (along with vol. II)
is mandatory reading for anyone who wants to study math, in my opinion.