Deconstruct this Business Calculus Journal: derivatives and integrals with business applications

For students of business and economics, this specialty entry in the Deconstruct Series guides students through the concepts behind derivatives and integrals as well as their applications to supply, demand, profit, and margins. We know you need calculus, and we know you want it to be relevant to your interests. This book presents calculus through the eyes of both mathematicians and economists, blending the concepts of differentiation and integration with the theories behind how money flows.

This book combines the intuition-building activities of the Deconstruct Series with conceptual and calculation problems from the wonderful world of business. Whether you're a business student who wants to pull ahead of the pack with superior mathematical skills, a math or science student interested in what makes stocks tick, or a student "strongly encouraged" to take this class for your degree, there's plenty for you here.

The Deconstruct Calculus Series of interactive journals teaches calculus in a hands-on way. We have four principles.

First, our books emphasize intuition. You might not have had a book tell you how natural many of the concepts behind the name "Calculus" are. The Deconstruct Series is that book for every student who wants to—or has to—explore this subject we love. You'll learn concepts before calculations and will understand rather than memorize.

Second, Deconstruct books focus on you, the student. We provide answers to every question, examples are personal, and problems are useful.

Third, it's DIY. You'll be doing calculus, not just parroting equations and reciting theorems for a class.

Fourth, the Deconstruct Series emphasizes collaboration. Calculus is better with friends.

From the Publisher

The Deconstruct Calculus Series was developed through more than a decade of educational research, classroom testing, and funded curriculum innovation projects. The project received an Innovation in Teaching Award and has been funded by the Sloan Foundation, the College of Charleston, and the S.C. Space Grant.

Editorial Reviews & Endorsements

Academic Reviews

"I absolutely love the books—they are books that all students taking calculus should use!"
Jo Boaler, Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Education at the Stanford Graduate School of Education and cofounder of youcubed and Struggly

"I am enjoying the calculus books! I wish I had these books when I was taking calculus."
Cathy Williams, Co-Founder and Executive Director of youcubed

"They look beautiful, can't wait to dig in!"
Daniel Egger, Duke University, Pratt School of Engineering

Student Reviews

"Business Calculus showed me that math really is useful in everyday life—from finance to investing. For the first time, I understood why I was learning these concepts."

"The quality of the activities is more valuable than simply working through dozens of problems. Building concepts step by step helped me truly understand the material."

"The deconstruct format was the most beneficial math experience I've had… I learned more because I understood the concepts rather than just memorizing procedures."

About the Authors

Dr. Amy N. Langville is a professor of mathematics at the College of Charleston and is passionate about making mathematics more human, creative, and accessible. After years of teaching calculus and authoring internationally recognized books on topics ranging from search engines and ranking systems to mathematically inspired notebooks, Amy became convinced that many students struggle not because calculus is too difficult, but because it is often presented without intuition, context, and opportunities for students to discover mathematics for themselves. She spent more than a decade creating the Deconstruct Calculus Series, the (anti)textbook she always wished her students had.

Dr. Kathryn Pedings-Behling is an instructor of mathematics at the College of Charleston and has taught mathematics at both the secondary and collegiate levels in face-to-face, online, and hybrid classrooms. Her research focuses on improving students' attitudes toward mathematics and broadening participation in STEM. Through years of teaching and curriculum development, she has seen firsthand how confidence and curiosity can transform mathematical learning.