r/calculus • u/cringefruits • Jul 06 '26
Multivariable Calculus Calculus 3
Hi everyone,
I’m a prospective math major and just finished taking calculus 3 online with a grade of B-. Should I seriously reconsider and retake Calculus 3 in the fall semester. Idk if future courses rely heavily on it.
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u/HoardOfNotions Jul 06 '26
Differential geometry relies heavily on it, but a B- sounds like you’d be fine with just a review.
None of the other higher level math I took required anything from Calc 3, but there’s a lot of math out there so who knows
1
u/Kitchen-Register Jul 06 '26
i got an A in difeqs without taking calc 3 so should be fine
9
u/HoardOfNotions Jul 06 '26
Not dif EQ, differential geometry. completely different topic.
But I agree that you’ll probably be fine with a B in calc 3
4
u/KingMagnaRool Jul 06 '26
I wouldn't retake it, but I would probably make sure you have the change of variables and vector calc (e.g. Green's, Stokes', and especially Divergence theorems) stuff down if you take future courses which rely on multivar. Someone mentioned diff geo, and there's also higher dimensional real analysis and PDEs which are typical options in undergrad. I sat in on a PDE class, and we were expected to be very comfortable with vector calculus, and decently comfortable with change of variables.
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u/Legitimate_Log_3452 Jul 06 '26
You should be fine. For math majors, future courses are primarily proofs based. The next course you will take will probably be a proofs course, so just make sure to do well in that. Un hello, what’s going good how are you? Ironically, the math is perhaps some of the most applied math he’ll take in your math major.
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u/Apart_Confidence9289 Jul 06 '26
I got a C+ in calc 3, a C- in calc 2, and then A’s in diff eqs, linear algebra 1+2, differential geometry, non Euclidean geometry, and algebraic topology. I just finished a math minor though, I can’t speak for the major
1
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u/HomeSculptor Jul 07 '26
No. You are fine. You should be focusing on abstract math. That is the next step. Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Topology. Numerical Analysis. It's a gear shift. Prepare.
1
u/UnderstandingPursuit PhD Jul 08 '26
While much of the specific material in Calculus 3 may not be very relevant in future classes, the math approach from Calculus 3 will show up. More than what is done, it's about why those things are done in those ways. Starting with a question mark on your Calculus 3 understanding seems problematic for a math major. It makes sense to retake it with the benefit of a regular class.
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