Havn't taken calc 3 in about a year now having to take vector calc, any adivce?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around preparing for a course in integral vector calculus after a significant gap since the last calculus course. Participants share their experiences and suggest topics to review, focusing on the content of the course and strategies for refreshing knowledge.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Homework-related, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about forgetting material from the first half of calculus 3 and seeks advice on what to review before starting the integral vector calculus course.
  • Another participant suggests reviewing vector calculus concepts, partial derivatives, and non-Cartesian coordinate systems based on their own university's curriculum.
  • A different participant emphasizes the importance of understanding basic derivatives, integrals, and vector operations such as dot and cross products, while also mentioning divergence, curl, and gradients as potentially relevant topics.
  • One participant recommends contacting the professor for specific guidance on the course syllabus and expectations.
  • A suggestion is made to read "Div, Grad, Curl, and All That" by H. M. Schey as a helpful resource for vector calculus.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of reviewing vector calculus concepts and derivatives, but there is no consensus on the specific content or approach to take, as experiences and curricula vary.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific information about the course syllabus and the varying content of calculus courses at different universities, which may affect the relevance of suggested review topics.

Who May Find This Useful

Students preparing for advanced calculus courses, particularly those transitioning into vector calculus or related fields in mathematics and engineering.

mr_coffee
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Hello everyone. Awhile ago I took honors calc 3, but only the 2 credit course, not the 4 because computer engineering didn't require the 4 credits. But now that I switched to computer science I have to take the 2nd half of calc 3 but I don't remember hardly anything.

This is the description of the course:
MATH 232 INTEGRAL VECTOR CALCULUS ( 2) Multidimensional analytic geometry, double and triple integrals; potential fields; flux; Green's, divergence and Stokes' theorems.

Any recommendations on what I should brush up on before getting into this course? Classes don't start until the 16 th so I have some time I can review.

I don't even remember what the first half of calc 3 even taught me, like the saying goes, if you don't use it, you loose it. I thought it was a lot of drawing of different shapes and taking derivatives of more than 1 variable which I also forgot how to do but I'll be able to catch on quickly I'm sure. Eh this is going to be fun. I do remeber getting an A in calc 3 first half though :blushing:
 
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Lets see, Calc 3. At my university that normally is series/sequences, non-cartesian coordinate systems, and basic vector calc. So my best guess for the second half would be make sure you go over any vector calc from before and partial derivatives.

But I don't know your course's sylibus, so this is just my best guess.
 
Knowing some basic derivatives/integrals and vector operations (dot/cross product, are there others?) would probably be enough to get you going.

edit.. Probably partial derivatives too, and maybe divergence, curl, and gradients (I am guessing you covered that in your first part of calc 3?).

The person who would know best would be the professor that is teaching your class next semester, just send him/her an e-mail.
 
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thanks for the responces guys,

good idea matt, i forgot all about e-mail, i'll do that
 
Buy a copy of :

"div grad curl and all that, an informal text on vector calculus" by h. m. schey. It is a wonderful book on vector calculus and an "easy" read (at least for the math inclined).
 

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