Whether calculating the volume of odd-shaped objects, predicting the outcome of a large number of trials in statistics, or even predicting the weather, we depend in myriad ways on calculus in three dimensions. Once we grasp the fundamentals of multivariable calculus, we see how these concepts unfold into new laws, entire new fields of physics, and new ways of approaching once-impossible problems. Understanding Multivariable Calculus: Problems, Solutions, and Tips, taught by award-winning Professor Bruce H. Edwards of the University of Florida, is the next step for students and professionals to expand their knowledge for work or study in many quantitative fields, as well as an eye-opening intellectual exercise for teachers, retired professionals, and anyone else who wants to understand the amazing applications of 3-D calculus.
Understanding Multivariable Calculus: Problems, Solutions, and Tips
Gain a profound understanding of multivariable calculus with this excellent and clear guide that is useful for students, professionals, and lovers of mathematics.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Bob24 from
Very understandable
Dr. Edwards is a wonderful teacher for this subject. Just the right amount of theory couple with multiple examples, he made a somewhat complex subject easy to understand.
As he suggested, I would recommend having a copy of a calculus textbook on hand just for reference.
Date published: 2024-12-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
PoetViolinist from
Excellent production in addition to teaching
The production here is excellent. Dr. Edwards is always looking into the camera, there are no shots from odd camera angles. The graphics are very clear (white text on a blue background) and are on the screen long enough to be read and understood. No distracting backgrounds, no backgrounds with unrelated video screens with motion, no green screen. The graphics and illustrations are clear, and the colors also help to make it easier to understand the content.
The class is the professor clearly explaining the content, with excellent production that truly enhances the understanding of the content. Many other courses do not have the excellent production value in this course.
My very strong recommendation is that other courses should be made using this combination of very clear teaching with excellent production values.
Date published: 2024-10-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Amber from
Mastering Math
This is an excellent college course. Being able to rewind and review made this one of my favorite math courses. I have watched it several times!
Date published: 2024-08-16
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Raoul from
Comprehensible, Fascinating
Well taught course on a difficult topic by a sympathetic instructor. Took me about a year to complete. I last took Calculus in 70s.
Excellent for an Introduction to MVC from which one could pursue it further or related math subjects. I liked the course so much I bought a (used) copy of his Calculus textbook.
I was saddened when the course ended.
Date published: 2023-05-17
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Stanford64 from
Outstanding Course!
I took beginning calculus in college and did well; however, I had little interest in continuing with future forays into the discipline. Now that I'm fifty years out of college, my interest was renewed. I bought Calculus II and this course. Professor Edwards is such a good and inspirational teacher; his passion for the subject comes through in his teaching, which is so clear and understandable. I highly recommend this course and the one proceeding it for anybody who struggles with higher math. Excellent!
Date published: 2022-08-17
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ammar from
better than what you will get in the university
10/10 will recommend; Clear and entertaining. +100 Respect
Date published: 2022-05-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
TheOnlyHannah from
I took Multivariable Calculus through LSU's Distance Learning program for college credit. There was only a textbook for that course, and I would never have gotten through it with an A if not for these lectures. Love this professor, love doing math with someone who is so good at teaching it, love seeing calculus presented in all its glory
Date published: 2022-04-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Honza from
Very clear explanations
The presentation of multivariable calculus is very professional with crisp graphics and illustrative examples. I have a PhD in Applied Mathematics and it is a joy to watch these lectures presented in such a lively manner.
Date published: 2022-04-02
Overview
About
Dr. Bruce H. Edwards is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Florida. Professor Edwards received his B.S. in Mathematics from Stanford University and his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Dartmouth College. After his years at Stanford, he taught mathematics at a university near Bogota, Colombia, as a Peace Corps volunteer. Professor Edwards has won many teaching awards at the University of Florida, including Teacher of the Year in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences Student Council Teacher of the Year, and the University of Florida Honors Program Teacher of the Year. He was selected by the Office of Alumni Affairs to be the Distinguished Alumni Professor for 1991-1993. Professor Edwards has taught a variety of mathematics courses at the University of Florida, from first-year calculus to graduate-level classes in algebra and numerical analysis. He has been a frequent speaker at research conferences and meetings of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He has also coauthored a wide range of mathematics textbooks with Professor Ron Larson. Their textbooks have been honored with various awards from the Text and Academic Authors Association.
Trailer
01: A Visual Introduction to 3-D Calculus
Review key concepts from basic calculus, then immediately jump into three dimensions with a brief overview of what you'll be learning. Apply distance and midpoint formulas to three-dimensional objects in your very first of many extrapolations from two-dimensional to multidimensional calculus, and observe some of the new curiosities unique to functions of more than one variable.
34 min
02: Functions of Several Variables
What makes a function "multivariable?" Begin with definitions, and then see how these new functions behave as you apply familiar concepts of minimum and maximum values. Use graphics and other tools to observe their interactions with the xy-plane, and discover how simple functions such as y=x are interpreted differently in three-dimensional space.
30 min
03: Limits, Continuity, and Partial Derivatives
Apply fundamental definitions of calculus to multivariable functions, starting with their limits. See how these limits become complicated as you approach them, no longer just from the left or right, but from any direction and along any path. Use this to derive the definition of a versatile new tool: the partial derivative.
30 min
04: Partial Derivatives-One Variable at a Time
Deep in the realm of partial derivatives, you'll discover the new dimensions of second partial derivatives: differentiate either twice with respect to x or y, or with respect once each to x and y. Consider Laplace's equation to see what makes a function "harmonic."
30 min
05: Total Differentials and Chain Rules
Complete your introduction to partial derivatives as you combine the differential and chain rule from elementary calculus and learn how to generalize them to functions of more than one variable. See how the so-called total differential can be used to approximate ?z over small intervals without calculating the exact values.
31 min
06: Extrema of Functions of Two Variables
The ability to find extreme values for optimization is one of the most powerful consequences of differentiation. Begin by defining the Extreme Value theorem for multivariable functions and use it to identify relative extrema using a "second partials test"-which you may recognize as a logical extension of the "second derivative test" used in Calculus I.
31 min
07: Applications to Optimization Problems
Continue the exploration of multivariable optimization by using the Extreme Value theorem on closed and bounded regions. Find absolute minimum and maximum values across bounded regions of a function, and apply these concepts to a real-world problem: attempting to minimize the cost of a water line's construction.
31 min
08: Linear Models and Least Squares Regression
Apply techniques of optimization to curve-fitting as you explore an essential statistical tool yielded by multivariable calculus. Begin with the Least Squares Regression Line that yields the best fit to a set of points. Then, apply it to a real-life problem by using regression to approximate the annual change of a man's systolic blood pressure.
31 min
09: Vectors and the Dot Product in Space
Begin your study of vectors in three-dimensional space as you extrapolate vector notation and formulas for magnitude from the familiar equations for two dimensions. Then, equip yourself with an essential new means of notation as you learn to derive the parametric equations of a line parallel to a direction vector.
30 min
10: The Cross Product of Two Vectors in Space
Take the cross product of two vectors by finding the determinant of a 3x3 matrix, yielding a third vector perpendicular to both. Explore the properties of this new vector using intuitive geometric examples. Then, combine it with the dot product from Lecture 9 to define the triple scalar product, and use it to evaluate the volume of a parallelepiped.
29 min
11: Lines and Planes in Space
Turn fully to lines and entire planes in three-dimensional space. Begin by defining a plane using the tools you've acquired so far, then learn about projections of one vector onto another. Find the angle between two planes, then use vector projections to find the distance between a point and a plane.
32 min
12: Curved Surfaces in Space
Beginning with the equation of a sphere, apply what you've learned to curved surfaces by generating cylinders, ellipsoids, and other so-called quadric surfaces. Discover the recognizable parabolas and other 2D shapes that lay hidden in new vector equations, and observe surfaces of revolution in three-dimensional space.
31 min
13: Vector-Valued Functions in Space
Consolidate your mastery of space by defining vector-valued functions and their derivatives, along with various formulas relating to arc length. Immediately apply these definitions to position, velocity, and acceleration vectors, and differentiate them using a surprisingly simple method that makes vectors one of the most formidable tools in multivariable calculus.
31 min
14: Kepler's Laws-The Calculus of Orbits
Blast off into orbit to examine Johannes Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Then apply vector-valued functions to Newton's second law of motion and his law of gravitation, and see how Newton was able to take laws Kepler had derived from observation and prove them using calculus.
30 min
15: Directional Derivatives and Gradients
Continue to build on your knowledge of multivariable differentiation with gradient vectors and use them to determine directional derivatives. Discover a unique property of the gradient vector and its relationships with level curves and surfaces that will make it indispensable in evaluating relationships between surfaces in upcoming lectures.
30 min
16: Tangent Planes and Normal Vectors to a Surface
Utilize the gradient to find normal vectors to a surface, and see how these vectors interplay with standard functions to determine the tangent plane to a surface at a given point. Start with tangent planes to level surfaces, and see how your result compares with the error formula from the total differential.
29 min
17: Lagrange Multipliers-Constrained Optimization
It's the ultimate tool yielded by multivariable differentiation: the method of Lagrange multipliers. Use this intuitive theorem and some simple algebra to optimize functions subject not just to boundaries, but to constraints given by multivariable functions. Apply this tool to a real-world cost-optimization example of constructing a box.
31 min
18: Applications of Lagrange Multipliers
How useful is the Lagrange multiplier method in elementary problems? Observe the beautiful simplicity of Lagrange multipliers firsthand as you reexamine an optimization problem from Lecture 7 using this new tool. Next, explore one of the many uses of constrained optimization in the world of physics by deriving Snell's Law of Refraction.
30 min
19: Iterated integrals and Area in the Plane
With your toolset of multivariable differentiation finally complete, it's time to explore the other side of calculus in three dimensions: integration. Start off with iterated integrals, an intuitive and simple approach that merely adds an extra step and a slight twist to one-dimensional integration.
30 min
20: Double Integrals and Volume
In taking the next step in learning to integrate multivariable functions, you'll find that the double integral has many of the same properties as its one-dimensional counterpart. Evaluate these integrals over a region R bounded by variable constraints, and extrapolate the single variable formula for the average value of a function to multiple variables.
30 min
21: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates
Explore integration from a whole new perspective, first by transforming Cartesian functions f(x.y) into polar coordinates defined by r and ?. After getting familiar with surfaces defined by this new coordinate system, see how these coordinates can be used to derive simple and elegant solutions from integrals whose solutions in Cartesian coordinates may be arduous to derive.
31 min
22: Centers of Mass for Variable Density
With these new methods of evaluating integrals over a region, we can apply these concepts to the realm of physics. Continuing from the previous lecture, learn the formulas for mass and moments of mass for a planar lamina of variable density, and find the center of mass for these regions.
30 min
23: Surface Area of a Solid
Bring another fundamental idea of calculus into three dimensions by expanding arc lengths into surface areas. Begin by reviewing arc length and surfaces of revolution, and then conclude with the formulas for surface area and the differential of surface area over a region.
31 min
24: Triple Integrals and Applications
Apply your skills in evaluating double integrals to take the next step: triple integrals, which can be used to find the volume of a solid in space. Next, extrapolate the density of planar lamina to volumes defined by triple integrals, evaluating density in its more familiar form of mass per unit of volume.
29 min
25: Triple Integrals in Cylindrical Coordinates
Just as you applied polar coordinates to double integrals, you can now explore their immediate extension into volumes with cylindrical coordinates-moving from a surface defined by (r,?) to a cylindrical volume with an extra parameter defined by (r,?,z). Use these conversions to simplify problems.
31 min
26: Triple Integrals in Spherical Coordinates
Similar to the shift from rectangular coordinates to cylindrical coordinates, you will now see how spherical coordinates often yield more useful information in a more concise format than other coordinate systems-and are essential in evaluating triple integrals over a spherical surface.
30 min
27: Vector Fields-Velocity, Gravity, Electricity
In your introduction to vector fields, you will learn how these creations are essential in describing gravitational and electric fields. Learn the definition of a conservative vector field using the now-familiar gradient vector, and calculate the potential of a conservative vector field on a plane.
30 min
28: Curl, Divergence, Line Integrals
Use the gradient vector to find the curl and divergence of a field-curious properties that describe the rotation and movement of a particle in these fields. Then explore a new, exotic type of integral, the line integral, used to evaluate a density function over a curved path.
31 min
29: More Line Integrals and Work by a Force Field
One of the most important applications of the line integral is its ability to calculate work done on an object as it moves along a path in a force field. Learn how vector fields make the orientation of a path significant.
31 min
30: Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals
Generalize the fundamental theorem of calculus as you explore the key properties of curves in space as they weave through vector fields in three dimensions. Then find out what makes a curve smooth, piecewise-smooth, simple, and closed. Next, manipulate curves to reveal new, simpler methods of evaluating some line integrals.
31 min
31: Green's Theorem-Boundaries and Regions
Using one of the most important theorems in multivariable calculus, observe how a line integral can be equivalent to an often more-workable area integral. From this, you will then see why the line integral around a closed curve is equal to zero in a conservative vector field.
31 min
32: Applications of Green's Theorem
With the full power of Green's theorem at your disposal, transform difficult line integrals quickly and efficiently into more approachable double integrals. Then, learn an alternative form of Green's theorem that generalizes to some important upcoming theorems.
30 min
33: Parametric Surfaces in Space
Extend your understanding of surfaces by defining them in terms of parametric equations. Learn to graph parametric surfaces and to calculate surface area.
32 min
34: Surface Integrals and Flux Integrals
Discover a key new integral, the surface integral, and a special case known as the flux integral. Evaluate the surface integral as a double integral and continue your study of fluid mechanics by utilizing this integral to evaluate flux in a vector field.
31 min
35: Divergence Theorem-Boundaries and Solids
Another hallmark of multivariable calculus, the Divergence theorem, combines flux and triple integrals, just as Green's theorem combines line and double integrals. Discover the divergence of a fluid, and call upon the gradient vector to define how a surface integral over a boundary can give the volume of a solid.
29 min
36: Stokes's Theorem and Maxwell's Equations
Complete your journey by developing Stokes's theorem, the third capstone relationship between the new integrals of multivariable calculus, seeing how a line integral equates to a surface integral. Conclude with connections to Maxwell's famous equations for electric and magnetic fields-a set of equations that gave birth to the entire field of classical electrodynamics.
34 min
