ISBN9780132255707

This is a very sound choice as a textbook for a course in finite mathematics. The coverage is appropriate, the level suitable for the non-math major, the explanations are excellent and the authors take the title seriously.
The topics are covered in the following order:

* Elementary functions and their graphs.
* The mathematics of finance.
* Matrices and systems of linear equations.
* Linear inequalities and linear programming.
* Logic, set theory and basic counting.
* Probability and probability distributions.
* Basic game and decision theory.
* Markov chains.

There are many exercises and at the end of each section there is a set of basic exercises followed by a collection of applied problems. The set of applied problems is split into three categories: business & economics, life sciences and social sciences. Since finite mathematics is often a preparation for students to work in these fields, this format is what impressed me the most. With all of these "real world" problems to work as part of their study, no student using this book could ever legitimately say that they see no purpose to their studies. Solutions to the odd-numbered problems are included.
I came into contact with this book after my choice of textbook was irrevocable. Had I seen it earlier, it would have been the one I used.

This is a very sound choice as a textbook for a course in finite mathematics. The coverage is appropriate, the level suitable for the non-math major, the explanations are excellent and the authors take the title seriously.
The topics are covered in the following order:

* Elementary functions and their graphs.
* The mathematics of finance.
* Matrices and systems of linear equations.
* Linear inequalities and linear programming.
* Logic, set theory and basic counting.
* Probability and probability distributions.
* Basic game and decision theory.
* Markov chains.

There are many exercises and at the end of each section there is a set of basic exercises followed by a collection of applied problems. The set of applied problems is split into three categories: business & economics, life sciences and social sciences. Since finite mathematics is often a preparation for students to work in these fields, this format is what impressed me the most. With all of these "real world" problems to work as part of their study, no student using this book could ever legitimately say that they see no purpose to their studies. Solutions to the odd-numbered problems are included.
I came into contact with this book after my choice of textbook was irrevocable. Had I seen it earlier, it would have been the one I used.

I am using this textbook for my Math for Business and Economics class and it is terrible. This book is not written taking into consideration the audience "Business Majors". Concepts are better explained in the Chapter review than under the sections they are being presented. There is only 1 example for each new concept and definitions are written using one or two definitions of new concepts within it. If this book is intended to take the student from the abstract concept to the real world it sure doesn't do this. I understood the material better in my Intermediate Algebra class than I do now.

They sent me the wrong book. I ordered the Finite Mathematics for Business Economics, Life Sciences and Social Sciences (10th Edition)by Raymond A. Barnett and received the solution manual. I feel very disapointed with this purchase.

This review is for the 11th edition of the book. I am using this for a business math course and overall the book is lacking. Many of the examples presented in the chapters are simplistic and have no relation to the difficulty of the application examples. It's unfortunate that the solutions manual while containing the solutions to the examples does not go into more detail in how to solve these type of problems. While it appears the authors goal is to go from abstract to application, he misses the mark. I find myself consulting external resources for almost every chapter. Not recommended.