Ratti and McWaters wrote this series with the primary goal of preparing students to be successful in calculus. Having taught both calculus and precalculus, the authors saw firsthand where students would struggle, where they needed help making connections, and what material they needed in order to succeed in calculus. Their experience in the classroom shows in each chapter, where they emphasize conceptual development, real-life applications, and extensive exercises to encourage a deeper understanding.

With a new addition to the series, Precalculus Essentials, this text offers the best of both worlds: fast-paced, rigorous topics and a friendly, "teacherly" tone. This text is developed with a focus on key topics for calculus preparation.