Deconstruct this Calculus 1 Journal: Derivatives

Learning Calculus—whether you want to or have to, you’ve come to the right book.

This first entry in the Deconstruct Series acts more as a journal than a textbook, guiding students to the discovery of concepts and formulas through intuition and following in the footsteps of the original inventors of calculus. We want students of all levels to learn by seeing the traces of investigation left by mathematicians rather than memorizing reams of equations with slick presentations that make the subject sterile and unapproachable.

Explore derivatives through hands-on activities that get you up and away from your desk, challenge problems that show the potential of calculus to solve everyday or specialized problems, and historical graphic novellas depicting the people, from many cultures and times, behind the curtain of mathematics.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of conceptual and calculation problems to prepare for exams in any class as well. We present the rules and algorithms of differentiation, applications to extrema, higher-order derivatives, and many other topics.

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

"I was scared at first to use the deconstruct format because it was so different. The activities helped me understand the applications before jumping into the calculations."

"The deconstruct activities broke difficult concepts into simpler explanations, making new material much easier to understand."

"The techniques are explained with words, pictures, examples, and practice problems, making concepts much less intimidating than they first appear."

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.

Dr. Tyler Perini is a mathematics professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he researches and teaches optimization methods. His passion for diversity and inclusion influences all his STEM projects, including the Deconstruct Calculus Series.