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Why is learning vector calculus so hard?

Sorry for the late response! Vector calculus starts off hard, but then becomes really easy. The trick is to realize that it often just reduces down to solving regular calculus problems and recognizing symmetries (sometimes you don't even need to evaluate an integral if you can see it corresponds to a known shape). You're ultimately going to be integrating over a (numeric) variable and can usually pull a unit vector out of the integral. Just think, if you can get your equation into some form (expanding dot products and cross products) where you can see all the dx, dy, and dz parts, then you will probably know how to solve it! The most annoying thing to me was realizing just how many things could be related by triangles. I'm sorry if I can't do your question justice, there's a lot more I can say here, and I don't know exactly what you're struggling with. I had a hard time too, but now it's natural, so keep at it and you'll get there.

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