Clearwater Publishing Company

 

A

 

Calculus For Cats

Kenn Amdahl and Jim Loats, Ph.D.

ISBN 0-9627815-5-x

258 pages, trade paper, first printing 2001

$14.95

Keith Devlin

"mabear324"


Made me want to sign up for Calculus! This book was amazing. It took something that we, from the outside of the math world, find enormously complex and confusing and through imagery and the imagination of the authors, made it understandable and accessible. I recommend it highly, especially to anyone who is about to take calculus for the first time. If you read this, you will be able to conceptualize what you are learning about....essential to truly understanding mathematics.

"mabear324" online review, amazon.com

Cynthia D Holcomb:

"Calculus for Cats is another breath of fresh air from the authors fo Algebra Unplugged. The authors' sense of humor, adept use of analogy, and realistic grasp of the subject matter will make this book a valuable and enjoyable addition for anyone who is or has suffered through traditional courses."

Cynthia D. Holcomb, Ph.D Cornell University, research chemical engineer

MathSquad.com

"A brand new book by the authors of Algebra Unplugged."

Here's what they said about Algebra Unplugged:

"One of our all-time favorite books. This book is aimed specifically at the math phobes. It is written in an up-beat, humorous style that avoids the usual "math teacher jargon." Totally cool!"

“The authors postulate that calculus was invented by cats who have a vested interest in keeping the real meaning of the discipline, not to mention its practice, out of human hands. Cats, the authors explain, are constantly scurrying after mice, and they use the calculations of calculus to catch them. Each function, or as your math book would say, each f(x) (or y), is really a mouse that the cat is scurrying to catch...I got a much better sense of what calculus' aims really are and how it works.

The American Mathematical Monthly

“An "alternative" (to put it mildly) treatment of first-semester calculus, emphasizing chatty explanations, de-emphasizing calculations, and entirely omitting exercises; studies what calculus is about rather than how it's done. Some discussion is helpful (e.g., a clear description of variables and their relations); some is misleading ("Finding ... derivatives . . . is the central task of calculus.") Tone will strike some as friendly, others as relentlessly cute.
Paul Zorn

 

Saskatchewan Learning:

This humourous and witty book applies the concepts and vocabulary of calculus to the exploits of felines. The authors theorize that calculus was invented by cats who have a vested interest in keeping human beings from gaining a conceptual understanding of the discipline. As long as human beings do not understand calculus, cats can continue to rule the world. The fundamentals of calculus are explained through analogies rather than mathematical exercises. The book includes a table of contents.
Suggested Use: Derivatives of the Transcendental Functions; Differentiation; Functions; Integration; Limits and Continuity; Practical Applications of Derivatives

 

 

 

Cloudia:

“ Excellent Math Review. Calculus isn't my subject. I found its study frustrating, and the authors of Calculus for cats obviously sympathize with my plight. I had read their Algebra Unplugged which helped to refresh my memory even about the more than basic principles of that study. Approaching calculus, I had a lot less confidence. The nice thing about this book is that you don't need confidence in your math abilities to enjoy it. The authors postulate that calculus was invented by cats who have a vested interest in keeping the real meaning of the discipline, not to mention its practice, out of human hands. Math books are written to obscure understanding not enhance it, and the cats love it. Cats, the authors explain, are constantly scurrying after mice, and they use the calculations of calculus to catch them. Each function, or as your math book would say, each f(x) (or y), is really a mouse that the cat is scurrying to catch. You can too. There are many amusing images, notably a cat at the center of a circle holding a long rope with another cat holding the other end skating around it. The authors also get down to much nitty gritty about notation and explain why different subjects like physics or economics or even different branches of pure mathematics use different notations to mean the same thing. It's all stuff that's very useful for a student to know ahead of time. (It helps to know that you will study second derivatives after you study first derivatives for example. That is it helps to have a comprehensible outline before you start the class.) It doesn't substitute for the calculus class itself, but I got a much better sense of what calculus' aims really are and how it works. Now if only I could figure out how to tackle those nasty little exponents.

Cloudia, online reviewer Amazon.com

 

This is an introduction to the concepts and vocabulary of calculus, for people about to take their first calculus course. No exercises to solve, this is a book to simply read. If you enjoyed Algebra Unplugged, by the same authors, and found it useful, this is the book to send you even farther down the road to mathematical enlightenment.

Calculus For Cats starts from the logical premise that cats are really aliens who have taken over our planet and forced humans to do their bidding. Think about it. It explains a lot. To keep humans in their place (providing expensive food, warm laps and lovely curtain-toys) they must keep us ignorant of some of the more elegant mysteries of the universe, like calculus. While discussing the pursuit of linear mice and quadratic mice, the authors speak in language that even a dog could understand as they unravel the processes encountered in a first year course. It's a book of concepts, not a book of problems and solutions. What is a derivative and why would I want one? What is a slope, a logarithm, what do the letters e and u mean to the cult of the mathematically blessed, etc. Before traveling to an exotic land, wise tourists learn the simple phrases and customs. Why risk inadvertently insulting the local warlord or militia, right? The smart tourist want every insult to be intentional.

Same deal with math. If you're going to take a calculus class it helps to understand the terms ahead of time too. Do you want to be the only rookie who doesn't laugh at the instructor's minima/maxima joke? If you know someone about to take calculus, this book is the ideal gift. If you know someone struggling with calculus, this could be the code book they desperately need. And if you know someone who's already getting an A in calculus, hey, it couldn't hurt. If you know someone who has very little chance of ever taking a calculus course, consider this book the duct tape and plastic sheeting of mathematical emergency preparedness. It costs so little, and if they ever need it, they will thank you profusely.

Perhaps less obvious, this is the ideal gift for that person on your list who has absolutely no interest in math but has an obsession with all things feline. They've already got the cat salt and pepper shakers, they've already got the cat-shaped clock, they wear tabby slippers and sleep on Garfield pillows. One might despair finding that perfect gift no one else has thought of. Or that their pet hasn't already destroyed.

We guarantee, they don't have a calculus book for their cat yet. But you must hurry. We both know it's just a matter of time.

 

clearwater publishing company publishes Kenn Amdahl books in Colorado. Clearwater Publishing Company publishes educational fun books. Books include There Are No Electrons Electronics &lt;span class=&quot;style8&quot;&gt;for Earthlings, Algebra Unplugged, Calculus for Cats, Joy Writing: Discover and Develop your Creative Voice, The Land of Debris and the Home of Alfredo. Clearwater also publishes The Barefoot Fisherman: a fishing book for kids by Paul Amdahl. and Economics for the Impatient by C.A. Turner. Our books are about science, math, creative writing algebra, calculus s, economics, fishing, kids, parenting, education. Curriculums like them, and so do home schoolers. Joy of Writing and The Joy of Writing are not our books, but Joy Writing is. Kenn Amdahl is president. He's a songwriter and author in Broomfield Colorado. Electronics, teaching electricity, teaching math, especially alebra and calculus and creative writing. SAT, LSAT, and other test takers may like these books. They are like books for dummies, algebra for dummies, algebra unplugged, math book. kenn amdahl jim loats calculus for dummies, creative writing for dummies, fishing for dummies, parenting for dummies . Or Algebra for Idiots, Calculus for Idiots, Creative Writing for Dummies. Memoir writing or memoir writers may find Joy Writing useful, although it is not The Joy of Writing or the Joy of Sex or the joy of writing sex or the Joy of Algebra for that matter. They are not chicken soup for the writers soul, or algebra for the writers soul, or calculus for the writers soul. They are not strictly speaking Christian or religious or spiritual, but those folks are welcome. Jesus would not disapprove of these books. Jesus might like them. The Rapture of Writing might be a good title. Self-publishers read our books, Dan Poynter is recommended. Top ten bestsellers not on the list. New York Times Bestsellers are loved here. DaVinci Code or Harry Potter fans welcome. Obviously I'm practicing my writing on this web area that you should not be able to see because I need to make thisalgebra unplugged, math book. kenn amdahl jim loatsclearwater publishing company publishes Kenn Amdahl books in Colorado. Clearwater Publishing Company publishes educational fun books. Books include There Are No Electrons Electronics &lt;span class=&quot;style8&quot;&gt;for Earthlings, Algebra Unplugged, Calculus for Cats, Joy Writing: Discover and Develop your Creative Voice, The Land of Debris and the Home of Alfredo. Clearwater also publishes The Barefoot Fisherman: a fishing book for kids by Paul Amdahl. and Economics for the Impatient by C.A. Turner. Our books are about science, math, creative writingg algebra, calculus s, economics, fishing, kids, parenting, education. Curriculums like them, and so do home schoolers. Joy of Writing and The Joy of Writing are not our books, but Joy Writing is. Kenn Amdahl is president. He's a songwriter and author in Broomfield Colorado. Electronics, teaching electricity, teaching math, especially alebra and calculus and creative writing. SAT, LSAT, and other test takers may like these books. They are like books for dummies, algebra for dummies, calculus for dummies, creative writing for dummies, fishing for dummies, parenting for dummies . Or Algebra for Idiots, Calculus for Idiots, Creative Writing for Dummies. Memoir writing or memoir writers may find Joy Writing useful, although it is not The Joy of Writing or the Joy of Sex or the Joy of Algebra for that matter. They are not chicken soup for the writers soul, or algebra for the writers soul, or calculus for the writers soul. They are not strictly speaking Christian or religious or spiritual, but those folks are welcome. Jesus would not disapprove of these books. Jesus might like them. The Rapture of Writing might be a good title. Self-publishers read our books, Dan Poynter is recommended. Top ten bestsellers not on the list. New York Times Bestsellers are loved here. DaVinci Code or Harry Potter fans welcome. Obviously I'm practicing my writing on this web area that you should not be able to see because I need to make this square bigger and have not learned how yet except to type in words, poetry, prose, language, steinbeck type stuff, No Child Left Behind, that's my motto. Naked books, with no girls gone wild, no bikini models no first amendment problems. Sorry, no Jill, no wagner. no amateur index ladies or lightspeed girls or coeds or women. Just books about electricity, like Tesla or Edison might write, books about Algebra like Aristotle might write. Calculus books like Garfield the cat might write. Cat stuff, feline stuff, study guide type raw material. Books for girls who like to read and boys who know how to. Teach yourself math, science, fishing, in clear water or clearwater economics creative writing and poetry. Sing a song. Release a CD Write a book and self publish it. Groups we like include Book Organizations of Colorado, Colorado Independent Publishers Association CIPA Colorado Authors League Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Pikes Peak Writers Aspen Writers Mountains and Plains Booksellers Independent Booksellers SPAN Small Press Association of North America Publishers Association of the WEst Colorado Library Association Last Note Singers Cottonwood the music group. Edward Ormondroyd and George Garrett gave blurbs to our books </span></div>
square bigger and have not learned how yet except to type in words, poetry, prose, language, steinbeck type stuff, No Child Left Behind, that's my motto. Naked books, with no girls gone wild, no bikini models no first amendment problems. no amateur index ladies or lightspeed girls or coeds or women. Just books about electricity, like Tesla or Edison might write, books about Algebra like Aristotle might write. Calculus books like Garfield the cat might write. Cat stuff, feline stuff, study guide type raw material. Books for girls who like to read and boys who know how to. Teach yourself math, science, fishing, in clear water or clearwater economics creative writing and poetry. Sing a song. Release a CD Write a book and self publish it. Groups we like include Book Organizations of Colorado, Colorado Independent Publishers Association CIPA Colorado Authors League Rocky Mountain Fiction Wri</span><span class="style11">ters Pikes Peak Writers Aspen Writers Mountains and Plains Booksellers Independent Booksellers SPAN Small Press Association of North America Publishers Association of the WEst Colorado Library Association Last Note Singers Cottonwood the music group. Jill Wagner is the actress in the Mercury Mariner TV commercial. Jill Wagner will become a big star and people will google her. That's Jill Wagner, mercuryvehicles.com, TV actress. She's in Vancouver filming a movie.Edward Ormondroyd and George Garrett gave blurbs to our books </span></div>

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