Math Books

[anotherlaujgirl]

COST SO MUCH IN COLLEGE!

I definitely miss high school and borrowing textbooks. 

[o2bnocn]

I agree with you.  Currently taking statistics. Hopefully my book will arrive soon.

[kapeh12]

Oh, yeah.  I remember.  Also the higher in math you go, the smaller and more expensive the books.  Science books are just as bad too.  I was a physics and math double major...so I was very "book broke" in college.

At least we could sell our books back at the end of the semester to recover some of the costs - we'd get more money if the book was being used again the next term (vs upgrading to a new edition).

[Liquidfire_43]

To be honest... Math courses in College don't really require you to have the textbook in class, since all they do is go over examples after examples... Out of the 5 math classes I had (Pre-Cal [A+B], Cal 1, Cal 2, and Math Technology [Half Cal and half of diff eq.]) none of my teachers really used the book to teach. Most of the professors just make some eq. similar to the example of the book.

If you ever google math problems you notice most math problems are circled around, so almost all the math textbooks are generic . You only need to know the homework problems and then you can ask the professor, classmate, and the internet to show you how to do the questions.

If I were you, I would either get a pdf. file of the math book (e-textbook), split the textbook with a friend, rent the textbook (online or your college should have this feature), or trade off textbooks with someone you know in your field.. Recently I traded a Management textbook for a Chemistry book from a friend I know in my major and it save me about $160 from buying the xerox book. I wouldn't do this if it were a electrical book, since I might need it as a reference when I go more into my field.

[lvstephanie]

If you know what version of the books they're using, you can sometimes find it more cheaply than at your school's bookstore... I know I picked up a few of my text books at half-priced books (http://www.hpb.com). You may also find them on other on-line sites like Amazon, etc. Also, sometimes you can get an older edition for a lot cheaper... Your professor may have chosen the most recent edition, but an older version may work just as well... I think that depends more on your particular course / instructor. The older editions may teach the material just as well as the newer ones, but the homework problems may be different, so if your course grades homework assignments, then you may not as easily use an older version. However at the college level, I found that homework became less important, probably because they figure that the students know how to study / do homework and give them the freedom to study at more of their own pace.

[gaylasue]

When I was in high school, we had to buy our books!  Wasn't long after I graduated that they started supplying them to the students for a small user fee.  Of course my high school text books weren't nearly as expensive as my daughter's college text books cost!  $600 for one book that is used for only one semester is ridiculous! 

[countrygirl12]

Borrowing textbooks?  In my high school we were issued books we used while in the class.  I have heard of high schools though where they do have to buy the books.  And you are right $100 plus for a stinkin textbook is crazy.

[jford87]

Textbooks are outrageous. It is so ridiculous. One semester my books cost me almost as much as my tuition at a state university.

[zreeds]

to avoid those high priced math books, try buying your books used, either from amazon or on campus. they may be written in but sometimes those notes help you.

[countrygirl12]

Looks like you could download them to an iPad or ereader for a reasonable price.  Oh wait, then somebody wouldn't be getting rich. lol

[dancer139]

text books  are outrages.  My daughter always bought used books and saved a great deal 

[anotherlaujgirl]

Oh, yeah.  I remember.  Also the higher in math you go, the smaller and more expensive the books.  Science books are just as bad too.  I was a physics and math double major...so I was very "book broke" in college.

At least we could sell our books back at the end of the semester to recover some of the costs - we'd get more money if the book was being used again the next term (vs upgrading to a new edition).

LOL I agree.  the price of a text book amounts relatively close to a round trip ticket back home for me.

[hotcocoa]

My daughter is at a university and I think the cost of books is ridiculous.  I am stuck with about 15 huge books that we can't resell.  I don't want to think of how much is wasted on them.

[cberman]

agree textbooks are crazy and supper expansive

[anotherlaujgirl]

My daughter is at a university and I think the cost of books is ridiculous.  I am stuck with about 15 huge books that we can't resell.  I don't want to think of how much is wasted on them.

Yeah I have that same  problem. It's either I can't sell it because there's a new edition out, or I buy a book for $150 and sell it.. but the school's only buying it back for $10.

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