Improvements in this edition evolved out of the generous response from a large number of users of the last and previous editions as well as survey results from instructors, mathematics departments, course outlines, and college catalogs. Fundamental to a book's growth and effectiveness is classroom use and feedback. The text is written for student comprehension. Great care has been taken to write a book that is mathematically correct and accessible to students.
Emphasis is on computational skills, ideas, and problem-solving rather than mathematical theory.
Most derivations and proofs are omitted except where their inclusion adds significant insight into a particular concept. General concepts and results are usually presented only after particular cases have been discussed. Over 375 completely worked examples are used to introduce concepts and to demonstrate problem-solving techniques. Each example is followed by a similar matched problem for the student to work while reading the material. This actively involves the student in the learning process.