College Textbook questions

[wiredspider]

I need to purchase some books for the summer semester, saw on half.com that someone has the book in new condition for about half of what the used price is from the bookstore. However, it says it's an instructor's edition, what does that mean? Also see a few that say international edition... Thanks!

 

[chrisms]

Probably has notes for the instructor. I'd assume it's still usable

 

[RedCOMET]

If i remember correctly, the instructor eds. had answers to problems and how to solve problems listed in the book, plus extra info to help the teacher teach the material to the students

Int'l edition= ???

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you buy anything other than the exact US edition (not older edition) then you might not have the right set of problems when homework is assigned. If you know someone in the class with the real textbook then one of these other editions might be "close enough."

 

[BCYL]

Yep, instructor's edition means your regular textbook + answer key and some additional notes

 

[wiredspider]

I'm thinking it has some extra stuff for the instructor, but seems almost to good to be true that the book is actually cheaper...

 

[RedCOMET]

Originally posted by: wiredspider
I'm thinking it has some extra stuff for the instructor, but seems almost to good to be true that the book is actually cheaper...

If that be the case, don't get it. Also, don't cheat yourself out of fully understanding and learning the material if you book already has the answers in it. That would be too easy.

 

[DaveSimmons]

You might even get in trouble if you take the instructor's version to class, if the professor thinks you are violating school policy on cheating.

 

[wiredspider]

Darn I just placed my order... Hopefully it all goes well...:/

 

[RedCOMET]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
You might even get in trouble if you take the instructor's version to class, if the professor thinks you are violating school policy on cheating.

That seems like garbage. Its just like buying the solution guide to a book. Hows it cheating if anybody can buy it and therefore use it?

But in situations like this, its better to follower the safer path.
Or don't bring the book to class.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: wiredspider
I need to purchase some books for the summer semester, saw on half.com that someone has the book in new condition for about half of what the used price is from the bookstore. However, it says it's an instructor's edition, what does that mean? Also see a few that say international edition... Thanks!

It means some teacher that got their instructor's edition textbook free for making a certain book a requirement is selling theirs on half.com

 

[desteffy]

usually they are the same as the regular one but have some extra notes in the margins and might have solutions next to all the questions written in red.

 

[MrBond]

The international version is a cheaper, B&W paperback copy of the book. In my experience, they're exactly the same as the hardcover version, only about 40% (or more) cheaper.

For one-semester classes you'll never take again, go with the international version, it's well worth it. If you're going to use the book a lot in the future, spring for the hardcover version. Paperback copies of large books don't hold up well after a semester of carrying them around.

 

[wiredspider]

The Instructor's edition was cheaper than the internation edition and it's hardcover!

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: BCYL
Yep, instructor's edition means your regular textbook + answer key and some additional notes

Yep. I have an instructor's edition Trig book that someone (I assume a trig teacher) was giving away in the math hall during finals.

 

[Landroval]

Originally posted by: RedCOMET

Originally posted by: wiredspider
I'm thinking it has some extra stuff for the instructor, but seems almost to good to be true that the book is actually cheaper...

If that be the case, don't get it. Also, don't cheat yourself out of fully understanding and learning the material if you book already has the answers in it. That would be too easy.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: RedCOMET

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
You might even get in trouble if you take the instructor's version to class, if the professor thinks you are violating school policy on cheating.

That seems like garbage. Its just like buying the solution guide to a book. Hows it cheating if anybody can buy it and therefore use it?

But in situations like this, its better to follower the safer path.
Or don't bring the book to class.

They're not available to anyone, textbook publishers restrict sales of teachers' editions to professors (and they'll verify that the person is teaching the class).

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: MrBond
The international version is a cheaper, B&W paperback copy of the book. In my experience, they're exactly the same as the hardcover version, only about 40% (or more) cheaper.

For one-semester classes you'll never take again, go with the international version, it's well worth it. If you're going to use the book a lot in the future, spring for the hardcover version. Paperback copies of large books don't hold up well after a semester of carrying them around.

true, but of course the first and only time i purchased an international edition (for calculus... saved me $60), chapter 4 and 5 were reversed and some of the problems were different. YMMV

 

[rgwalt]

Many publishers make international editions of books that are only available in areas such as India, China, Tiawan, etc. They are paper back versions of the same books you get in the US.

I've used an international edition, and it was great.

R

 

[thegimp03]

International editions are fine...they're usually just soft-cover instead of hardcover, which is how they save money making it. Instructor editions should be ok too, but your teacher might be anal and not like you using it, which is a risk.

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: thegimp03
International editions are fine...they're usually just soft-cover instead of hardcover, which is how they save money making it. Instructor editions should be ok too, but your teacher might be anal and not like you using it, which is a risk.

The teacher wouldn't even know. No class in either undergraduate or graduate level ever took required one to take their textbook to class. Besides, just because you have an instructor's edition doesn't mean you automatically have to subject yourself to cheating by looking at the solutions before attempting the problem (for problem solving subjects). As with any course, it's up to you to learn the material and make it meaningful for yourself.