Single Variable Calculus: Early Transcendentals, Student edition

Book Preface

The maglev (magnetic levitation) train uses electromagnetic force to levitate, guide, and propel it. Compared to the more conventional steel-wheel and track trains, the maglev hasthe potential to reach very high speeds—perhaps 600 mph. In this series, author Soo T. Tan uses the maglev as a means to introduce the concept of the limit of a function and continues to weave this common thread through the topic of integration.

Tan’s innovative introduction of the limit concept in the context of finding the velocity of the maglev captures student interest from the very beginning. This intuitive approach demonstrates the relevance of calculus in the real world and is applied throughout the text to introduce and explain some of the fundamental theorems in calculus, such as the Intermediate Value Theorem and the Mean Value Theorem.