MATH 32B
Calculus of Several Variables
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Enforced requisites: courses 31B and 32A, with grades of C- or better. Introduction to integral calculus of several variables, line and surface integrals. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2026 - David is easily the best professor I have had in the math department at ucla. He is the most approachable and friendly professor I have had in any class. He is an extremely clear lecturer and his pacing is fantastic. He routinely takes time to answer questions and genuinely seems to love teaching. He posts his lecture notes and lecture recordings on canvas. I would recommend attending lectures in person as they are easily the most useful of any math class I've taken. The material is definitely conceptually challenging but that is just how 32b is. I think David teaches the course about as well as it can possibly be taught. Homework is assigned weekly and is very manageable. Underrated, but he also posts 95% odd numbered problems on the homeworks so you can actually see the solutions in the back of the textbook. The first midterm was difficult, the second was much easier. He posts practice exams with solutions before the midterms, and they were fairly similar to the actual exams. His grading scheme is forgiving with one where a midterm is dropped, and one where both midterms are counted. He automatically picks the scheme that results in the higher grade for students. I believe he only adjusts scores before the final grades go in, I will update on that when I finish the class. Tldr: take this class with David, I doubt there is a better professor.
Winter 2026 - David is easily the best professor I have had in the math department at ucla. He is the most approachable and friendly professor I have had in any class. He is an extremely clear lecturer and his pacing is fantastic. He routinely takes time to answer questions and genuinely seems to love teaching. He posts his lecture notes and lecture recordings on canvas. I would recommend attending lectures in person as they are easily the most useful of any math class I've taken. The material is definitely conceptually challenging but that is just how 32b is. I think David teaches the course about as well as it can possibly be taught. Homework is assigned weekly and is very manageable. Underrated, but he also posts 95% odd numbered problems on the homeworks so you can actually see the solutions in the back of the textbook. The first midterm was difficult, the second was much easier. He posts practice exams with solutions before the midterms, and they were fairly similar to the actual exams. His grading scheme is forgiving with one where a midterm is dropped, and one where both midterms are counted. He automatically picks the scheme that results in the higher grade for students. I believe he only adjusts scores before the final grades go in, I will update on that when I finish the class. Tldr: take this class with David, I doubt there is a better professor.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2021 - March's 32B is the easiest mathematics major course I've ever take, and this is definitely an easy A class. He provides notes and sample exams of previous quarters which makes the midterms and final very very easy, as long as you go through and understand all the questions of those materials. Besides, his HWs are all optional, while his lecture is very clear and well structured. Overall, March is one of the best math professors I've ever met, and you absolutely wont regret taking his class if you want an easy A.
Spring 2021 - March's 32B is the easiest mathematics major course I've ever take, and this is definitely an easy A class. He provides notes and sample exams of previous quarters which makes the midterms and final very very easy, as long as you go through and understand all the questions of those materials. Besides, his HWs are all optional, while his lecture is very clear and well structured. Overall, March is one of the best math professors I've ever met, and you absolutely wont regret taking his class if you want an easy A.
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Spring 2020 - James was incredibly understanding this past quarter and really worked with the students to make sure our needs were met. If we were struggling, he would add additionally office hours and he even made adjustments to the grading scheme. Overall, even though this class was challenging and unclear at times, it was a great experience and James is a good professor. If you are willing to engage, you will get a lot out of his class.
Spring 2020 - James was incredibly understanding this past quarter and really worked with the students to make sure our needs were met. If we were struggling, he would add additionally office hours and he even made adjustments to the grading scheme. Overall, even though this class was challenging and unclear at times, it was a great experience and James is a good professor. If you are willing to engage, you will get a lot out of his class.
Most Helpful Review
As a teacher, Chayes is awful. All he does in class are ridiculously in-depth proofs that you'll never need to know. I can literally count on one hand the number of example problems he did in class, and most of those were ridiculously simple and didn't teach you anything. That said, if you're capable of teaching yourself the material, his class doesn't have to be horrible. His midterms were pretty easy. The final, on the other hand, was soul crushingly difficult in comparison. Don't walk into it expecting a third midterm, because you'll screw up your grade. I should know; that's exactly what happened to me. Got A's on both midterms, ended up with a C in the class.
As a teacher, Chayes is awful. All he does in class are ridiculously in-depth proofs that you'll never need to know. I can literally count on one hand the number of example problems he did in class, and most of those were ridiculously simple and didn't teach you anything. That said, if you're capable of teaching yourself the material, his class doesn't have to be horrible. His midterms were pretty easy. The final, on the other hand, was soul crushingly difficult in comparison. Don't walk into it expecting a third midterm, because you'll screw up your grade. I should know; that's exactly what happened to me. Got A's on both midterms, ended up with a C in the class.
Most Helpful Review
Trust me, you want to take Conley. He is THE best math professor I have EVER taken. (I have finished the 31,32,33 series and math 61). His lectures are more theoretical and not so important to attend. Do his homeworks and you will score well on the midterms. He has a review session before every exam as well as office hours where he stays and teaches for ~2 hours! He is very dedicated to his students, though he didn't ever respond to my emails. -_- Haha. Seriously, take him!
Trust me, you want to take Conley. He is THE best math professor I have EVER taken. (I have finished the 31,32,33 series and math 61). His lectures are more theoretical and not so important to attend. Do his homeworks and you will score well on the midterms. He has a review session before every exam as well as office hours where he stays and teaches for ~2 hours! He is very dedicated to his students, though he didn't ever respond to my emails. -_- Haha. Seriously, take him!
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