Deconstruct this Calculus 3.5 Journal: Vector Functions

The last in the Deconstruct Series, for now, Book 3.5 takes students through more advanced calculus in three dimensions. Here, we take some impressive-sounding terms loved by sci-fi TV writers—force fields, parameterizations, vectors, and the list continues—and show that they are only difficult to understand when spoken about in obscure and unrelatable terms, as some texts tend to do.

Through Deconstruct-style activities that break away from just pen and paper, as well as challenge problems that give realistic context to the concepts, this book provides students with a unique learning experience for these advanced topics. There are plenty of opportunities to practice problem-solving techniques and algorithms while diving deeper into the implications of some of calculus's most important theorems.

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

"As a hands-on learner, physically interacting with the journal helped me work through difficult concepts and better understand the material."

"The deconstruct format uses simpler, real-world examples that make challenging concepts easier to visualize and understand."

"I thoroughly enjoyed the deconstruct method of learning mathematics. It helps students build understanding before jumping into problem solving, and it's an approach I hope to use in my own classroom."

About the Author

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.