Thread: Why are lower class text books so bad

  1. #1
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    Why are lower class text books so bad

    Well I'm tutoring again this semester and have picked up a bunch of math classes.

    One thing I've noticed on both the math and the programming courses is that the lower classes' books are just down right crap. The examples and problems they give are as clear as mud, the book itself is cheaply made, and there is nothing interesting in them.

    My calc book has a bunch of side information about different things such as applications of ideas, tid bits on the history of the people that developed some of the theories, etc.

    You'd think that the lower books would be better made since they are more important, but nope they find the biggest moron they can to write them.

    </rant>

  2. #2
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    stop whining; who needs a text book for calculus - its child's play

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  3. #3
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    I woke up this morning and found my drool in the shape of an integral problem.

  4. #4
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    Obvious answer, but "It's cheaper"?

  5. #5
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    Why are textbooks so darn expensive anyways. In China the textbooks are mass thin and paperback and cost like 1$

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    Quote Originally Posted by KneeGrow
    Why are textbooks so darn expensive anyways. In China the textbooks are mass thin and paperback and cost like 1$

    Cause they probably make the books down the street in a warehouse. I'm not sure about books, but I think mass produced ones would probably be made in those areas.
    "When I die I want to pass peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather did, not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car."

  7. #7
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by axon
    stop whining; who needs a text book for calculus - its child's play

    do u member how many miles it was? LOL

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by RoD
    do u member how many miles it was? LOL


    16 I believe.




    "When I die I want to pass peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather did, not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car."

  9. #9
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    >>Why are textbooks so darn expensive anyways. In China the textbooks are mass thin and paperback and cost like 1$<<

    I doubt that they pay for text books period - as it is still a Communist country. But I rather pay for my books and read "correct" (I use this word with caution) information, rather then about the rhetoric of the "glorious red party and its magnificent leaders throughout history - Hail Stalin!"

    Children in North Korea learn that King Jong is a demi god... yey pinkos!

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  10. #10
    Has a Masters in B.S.
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    actually Axon, dont the Chineese communist hate the Russian communists? i.e. Stalin with them? dont you mean "Hail Mao?"

    edit: on topic, "Made by idiots, for idiots." haha

    edit: no wait, im wrong they "diverted" after stalin? so yeah your ok.
    Last edited by no-one; 09-30-2004 at 10:28 PM.
    ADVISORY: This users posts are rated CP-MA, for Mature Audiences only.

  11. #11
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    'no-one' is right, we do hate Russians.

    As for textbooks, why spend $60-120 on a heavy, picture, big book when u can get the same amount of knowledge from a 200 page novel sized book. You can't say that our textbooks are bad. After all Chinese people are known for their math abilities

  12. #12
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    listen KneeGrow, the text books in the US are overpriced - but you didn't get my point

    >>After all Chinese people are known for their math abilities<<
    way to propagate the stereotype! actually I never understood why this particular one was considered "bad" :-\

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  13. #13
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    my pre calculus book is very nice(i am in 10th grade). and i goto a public school and it is ten years old. surprises the hell outta me.

  14. #14
    the hat of redundancy hat nvoigt's Avatar
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    I guess that as the smart authors are writing the higher level books, that leaves whom for the lower level classes ?

    In addition, the textbook is made by the lowest bidder.

    I don't think chinese books on maths are bad, after all maths is a subject that you cannot influence. No matter how much the communist party would like 1 + 1 to be 3, despite it's power to crush students with tanks, it won't be able to change that simple definition. I wouldn't want kids to read chinese books on history or economy or health care though.
    hth
    -nv

    She was so Blonde, she spent 20 minutes looking at the orange juice can because it said "Concentrate."

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    Then ask a smart question.

  15. #15
    Bob Dole for '08 B0bDole's Avatar
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    I guess that as the smart authors are writing the higher level books, that leaves whom for the lower level classes ?
    What??

    This whole thread is crap, lower level class textbooks are just as good. It's the material that gets better.
    Hmm

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