ASU Math Textbooks: From MAT 170 to Calc III — Used Copies Guide

Math Textbooks at ASU: High Demand, High Reuse

Math textbooks at ASU are some of the best-value used book purchases on campus. Here's why: the same textbooks get used semester after semester, thousands of students take these courses every year, and the core mathematical content doesn't change between editions as dramatically as, say, a pharmacology text.

If you're in MAT 170, MAT 265, MAT 266, MAT 267, or any of the supporting math courses required for STEM majors, here's what you need to know.

The Standard Textbooks by Course

MAT 170 (Precalculus):

ASU uses a custom course packet / text for precalculus that's specific to ASU's curriculum and sold through the campus store. This one is trickier to find used because it's ASU-specific, but check ASU List — previous students sell them regularly. An older version might differ in problem numbering, which matters if the professor assigns specific problems. Ask a current student which semester's version they're using.

MAT 265 (Calculus for Engineers I):

Stewart's Calculus: Early Transcendentals is the standard. This is one of the most widely assigned calculus textbooks in the country. New, it's $200+. Used, you can find it for $20–40. Previous editions work for almost all course purposes — the calculus of derivatives and integrals hasn't changed.

The exception: if your professor assigns specific problems from specific pages, edition differences in problem numbering can be annoying. Workaround: sit next to someone with the current edition during lecture to confirm problem numbers.

MAT 266 (Calculus for Engineers II):

Same book as MAT 265 — Stewart's is multi-semester. Buy one used copy that covers both courses if you plan ahead. Huge savings.

MAT 267 (Calculus for Engineers III / Multivariable):

Again, the same Stewart series. If you buy the complete Stewart when you start MAT 265, you're set through MAT 267.

MAT 243 (Discrete Mathematics):

Rosen's Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications is common. Available used, widely available. Older editions are functionally identical for most course content.

MAT 343 (Linear Algebra):

Lay's Linear Algebra and Its Applications is standard. Used copies are abundant because this course is required for both math and CS majors.

The Edition Question

Math publishers release new editions primarily to update problem sets — making it harder to share answers from solution manuals — and to reorganize chapters slightly. The underlying mathematics is the same.

For most ASU math courses, the previous edition works fine for reading and studying. It only creates friction if:

The professor assigns specific problem numbers that differ between editions
The course uses an online homework platform (WebAssign, MyLab) tied to a specific edition

For #2, you need the current edition's access code, but you can buy the access code alone from the publisher and use a cheap used textbook for reading.

The Math Tutoring Building and Textbook Culture

The math tutoring center in Wexler Hall and the math department spaces in the ISTB buildings draw a lot of STEM students. There's an informal economy of textbook sharing and selling in those spaces. People leave notes on bulletin boards, post in the math department student org chats, and ask around in the tutoring center lounge.

The STEM student community at Coor Hall — which houses a lot of math and statistics courses — is another good resource.

Selling Math Textbooks: Easy Money

Math textbooks at ASU sell fast because demand is constant and predictable. Every semester, thousands of students need MAT 265, MAT 266, or MAT 267. List on ASU List the week before the start of the next semester and you'll usually get a buyer within days.

Price slightly below Amazon used for the same edition. Include the course number and the professor's name if you know it's a popular section assignment.

Free Resources to Supplement

For calculus, Paul's Online Math Notes (tutorial.math.lamar.edu) is free, comprehensive, and structured around exactly what MAT 265, 266, and 267 cover. Many ASU calculus students use it as their primary study resource even when they own the textbook.

MIT OpenCourseWare's 18.01 and 18.02 cover single and multivariable calculus with full problem sets and exams. Free, legitimate, and comprehensive enough to replace a textbook for self-study purposes.

You still need the assigned textbook for specific problem sets if they're graded, but for understanding calculus, the free resources are genuinely excellent.