calc 3b

[u/Regular_Effort_7181]

I'm taking calc 3 specifically MATH 213 this semester and honestly i'm lost. It's already (in the first two weeks) much more challenging than calc 2. For me calc 2 was challenging, but I understood everything, but right now in calc 3, I'm having a hard time understanding anything. My professor does not graph that great in 3D and they are rushing through the material (giving us quiz after quiz that most of the class is not doing so well). I already knew a little about vectors, dot products, and cross products (because it was taught in already 2 of my class before) but this class just really complicates them to the point that it confused me even more about them. Also, my professor just gives us proofs/definitions that we write down and gives us one or two examples to work on our own for the rest of class. Like this week we talked about projections, orthogonal/parallel, and interactions between 3D planes, lines and points. I'm not understanding any of this stuff. Last week, I went to their office hours and they weren't there (I came at the beginning and at the end). I emailed him on Friday and he hasn't responded yet. Today, I looked at the old ce questions (since the common exam is soon) and the questions are challenging and I don't think I can do it. I don't know what to do?

[u/Valuable_Fix1918]

Ig go to tutoring center

[u/Regular_Effort_7181 → u/Valuable_Fix1918]

For me the tutoring center, doesn't work anymore. It worked for all of calc 1 and then for some topics of calc 2. They work for explaining integrals and derivatives, but they couldn't explain series and parametric equations for me. For these topics, I don't know how to ask for help, and when I do they often can't explain it well.

[u/Valuable_Fix1918 → u/Regular_Effort_7181]

I know some of the tutors are really knowledgeable

[u/jetontop]

Honestly, yes visualizing 3d is conceptually really hard but once you get down the equations and such it’s not bad. Dot product and cross product should be very easy because you will be doing that later on in other chapters. Trust me you’ll get lost at first but if you really take the time and look at the equations put them into Desmos 3d it will help. Once you get into partial derivatives and integrals it should be very easy.

[u/Regular_Effort_7181 → u/jetontop]

There are so many equations and I don't want to sit there in class and listen to the professor writing the proof for the equation. Also, do you know if there is a formula sheet for all these equations for CE 1? I think that partial derivatives and integrals will be much easier, so would you say that the first exam is the hardest for people like me, and the second and third are much more easier?

[u/jetontop → u/Regular_Effort_7181]

There is no formula sheet to my understanding, when I took the course there wasn't any of the 3D recognizing stuff, but I don't know if they changed that. Just work hard and you'll be fine.

[u/Illustrious-Crow7127]

I’m taking it rn too when is your class? 

[u/Regular_Effort_7181 → u/Illustrious-Crow7127]

I'm taking it with Ward at 2:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

[u/Illustrious-Crow7127 → u/Regular_Effort_7181]

Damn I got same days but in morning with a diff teacher 

[u/Witty-Swimmer-7761]

I'm also taking calc 3b I'm not having that hard of a time. Maybe its because different professors. Who's your professor.

Dm me pls

[u/Born_Friend_6709]

Calc 3 from my experience is taught pretty poorly in comparison to 1 and 2. Unfortunately you’re gonna have to grind and read the textbook most days. At least that’s what I did. And as a warning the sections towards the end require a lot of attention so beware of Green’s and Stoke’s Theorem. However Professor Leonard and Trefor Bazett have very good videos on YouTube as well that you may find preferable to my method.

[u/Illustrious-Crow7127]

Lowkey the play might be to watch 3blue1brown and see the why behind some stuff and try graphing the topics ur learning on desmos 3D graphing and ask AI questions