Calculus: How Calculus Works

I’m actually understanding calculus now as opposed to just doing calculations and writing stuff down. Obviously everyone’s different with varying levels of understanding but for me this book is a gem… If you’re studying A level maths, then, you want this book. It cost less than a burger and it may well end up changing your life. Buy it, buy it, buy it!

I don’t usually do book reviews (this is actually my first) but this book is so good, especially for those at A Level or there abouts, that I had to recommend it. Get it, it’s awesome!

As a mature student, I’ve found A level maths, and calculus in particular, both fascinating and frustrating. My problem is that my brain seems to be a bit slower than it was a few years ago, and trying to learn calculus as a solid lump has resulted in limited understanding, mild frustration and occasional severe brain-ache.
Having come, by change, across Ms Tootill’s excellent book, I’m now back on track.

Breaking the subject down into a dozen or so discrete topics has removed the sense of foreboding, I can take my time mastering a chapter at a time (I’m currently on chapter 8). Each chapter tells me what I’m about to learn, then covers the topic, followed by a succinct summary. A liberal sprinkling of exercises, progress questions, practical assignments and study tips ensures that I do actually understand what I’ve just learned, before moving on to the next topic.

Key features of this  book (as well as its un-intimidating conciseness) are its clarity and user-friendliness. If you are meeting calculus for the first time, or needing confidence after a shaky start, then in my opinion all you will need is this book and the time to let it do its work.
The scope of the book runs from the basic idea of rates of change through graphical work, gradient functions, differentiation and integration, and their application. It will be found particularly useful by A level students, each well-structured chapter taking another step forward.
It was a fascination with topics like calculus which led me eventually to teach maths, so be warned, and don’t get too interested! Nonetheless, the author clearly knows from experience how to guide you to a secure understanding of an important but sometimes initially tricky topic.

My son was determined to do AS level Maths in spite of a mediocre performance at GCSE.
He hit problems in the first term as soon as they started on Calculus. So I bought him this neat little guide to Calculus – on a friend’s recommendation – and my son worked all the way through it.
He said he had never read a text book like this before – he thought the author was talking directly to him. Everything was clearly explained, with lots of supporting diagrams. Now he is confidently looking forward to continuing Maths at A2 level – because his teacher said that if you can crack calculus, the rest of the A level content just falls into place. So if your kids need help with A level Maths, help take the pressure off by giving them this book.

As a recently qualified maths teacher I am keen to find as many resources as I can to help my students. My A level class are a hardworking group and they know that success at this level really depends on a good understanding of the two core topics, Calculus and Trigonometry.
I found this book “Calculus – how calculus works” when searching the Amazon site for something suitable for the students who need more explanation than the standard A level books give.
They tell me they like the style and the easy pace of the book, and I can tell it has produced results, not only in their confidence, but in the marks they are getting. I would recommend it to any student who wants to succeed at A level.

This Calculus study aid is aimed at students in their first term of A level study. We are, however, currently using this book for some of our Year 13 students. These students are retaking  yr 1 modules in their A2 year and are using this book as an aid to revision of the calculus in the Core A level maths modules. This book enables students to work on their own, at their own pace, and without having to go through large sections of their text books again before attempting exam style questions.
The book is divided into clear, easy to understand sections. Each section has a summary, examples and practice questions with answers. it is written in a style and language that students can easily understand, and the use of simple but thorough examples, consolidates understanding.
Mrs J Mundy, Key Stage 5 Maths Co-ordinator, Exmouth Community College