i am currently pursuing a mathematics degree after having self-studied for some time and our Analysis 1 professor just introduced the derivative (for the first time) as a special case of the partial derivative (i.e. the derivative as the partial derivative for n=1) together with the gradient
that is by far the strangest lectuing choice i've encountered in my life so far. now i personally have no problem with this, as i am already well-familiar with the derivative, but how the fuck are students who are new to this supposed to grasp it all so quickly?