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MATH 253 - Multivariable Calculus

monkey saddle

  • Rating: 10/10

General Overview

Felt like the golden child of MATH 152 and MATH 101. Both subjects were mixed together to create a course on multivariable calculus, which was appropriately challenging and interesting. About 20% of MATH 253 was a review of vectors and cross/dot products.

Topics Covered

  • 3D coordinates and vectors
  • Planes and lines
  • Surface sketching
  • Limits and partials
  • Tangent planes and linear approximation
  • Maximums and minimums
  • Double integrals
  • Triple integrals

Class Schedule

  • Three 2-hour lectures and one 1-hour lecture per week.
  • Midterms were always on the 1-hour day.

Grading Scheme

Two options:

  1. Webwork: 10% Midterms (2): 40% Final: 50%
  2. Webwork: 10% Midterm (best one): 30% Final: 60%

Personal Thoughts

My professor was one of the best I've ever had. He provided ample practice questions and tests while clearly explaining concepts in class. Thanks to his teaching style and resources, I developed a deep understanding of the material and often grasped the lessons during the lectures without extra effort. The most challenging topic was double/triple integrals. However, the tests were easier than the practice ones. Overall, this course was an enjoyable and rewarding experience.