PDFs are a form of an electronic document known as a “portable document.” Laptops, iPads, and various other devices come with the necessary software for reading a PDF.
One way to view them is from Apple’s iBooks or from Adobe Acrobat. It might also be helpful to download an app called GoodReader onto your Apple iPad.
GoodReader has been specifically designed for reading books electronically, including PDFs. In order to use this application, it needs the actual Word DOC version of the file transferred over to it by iTunes sync–OR–the file could just be opened in iTunes and then transferred directly into GoodReader via USB cable connects directly into the unit’s unit’s micro-sized port at the bottom of its screen.