Stability comparison of 2-methylpropene and trans-but-2-ene
Since these two compounds are constitutional isomers, their heats of formation may be compared directly. 2-Methylpropene (isobutene) has a heat of formation = -4.0 kcal/mol. Trans 2-butene's heat of formation is -2.7 kcal/mol. Isobutene liberates 1.3 kcal/mol fewer kcal/mol than trans-butene (E-2-butene) upon combustion. The more negative the heat of formation, the more stable. The book gets an A.

Resource: http://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/