Proof-based Calculus vs Regular Calculus in University

This post is for any of the 07s still here or if anyone else knows anything about proof writing. I’m going to UTM for CS and they offer me 3 different calculus sequences to choose from, one of which is the most similar to high school calc (computational calc), another is an intro to real analysis course which is considered to be highly rigorous (full of proofs), and another is a sort of in between course which has mixed computations and proofs. At UTM, I am forced to take an intro to proofs course regardless of the sequence I choose, so I will have to tackle them sooner or later eventually. I was just wondering if anyone here is looking at taking pure math or knows anyone who’s taken pure math and has any advice for me.

The thing is, I am not very interested in computational calculus. HS was very boring mathematically, and realizing there’s an entire different way to look at math compared to what we’ve done our whole lives sort of got me interested. Additionally, at UTM, I am able to drop a course, get a full refund, and switch to a different calculus stream within 2 weeks of my term starting. Also, the sequence I am looking at (Analysis I & II) has one of the best math profs it’s ever had recently, so that further influences me to try it despite everything I’ve heard about how hard it is.

Posted Jun 23, 2025, 4:22 AM UTC

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