Calculus & Its Applications builds intuition with key concepts of calculus before the analytical material. For example, the authors explain the derivative geometrically before they present limits, and they introduce the definite integral intuitively via the notion of net change before they discuss Riemann sums.

The strategic organisation of topics makes it easy to adjust the level of theoretical material covered. The significant applications introduced early in the course serve to motivate students and make the mathematics more accessible. Another unique aspect of the text is its intuitive use of differential equations to model a variety of phenomena in Chapter 5, which addresses applications of exponential and logarithmic functions.