Butler is a GREAT teacher. I have never taken calculus and I am a north campus major, but I was able to understand the material very well. He reviews material from the last lecture before starting on the new material so you have a basis for the next section which was really helpful. Yes, his tests are hard and he expects a lot out of his students, but the curve evens everything out so don't let the tests scare you too much. After the really low median on the second midterm, he made the final a lot easier. He also held like ten hours of office hours during finals week and it was EXTREMELY helpful. He breaks down every step and gives you the tools to get through the test questions. No math class at this school is going to be super easy unless you are AMAZING at math, so if you are actually looking to learn the material and be prepared to continue the series, you should definitely take Butler if you have a chance.

As a teacher, Professor Butler is fantastic. As others have already mentioned, he presents the material clearly, reviews the previous lecture's material at the beginning of each lecture to drill it in our heads, and posts his lectures online. On top of that, the guy is hilarious. However, his tests are incredibly difficult and confusing. Up until I got my grade, I was convinced that I was bound for failure due to the difficulty of the midterms. Ultimately (and suprisingly), I got an A thanks to the curve and the partially easier final. If your main intention is to learn and be challenged by new approaches to problems, take Butler. If you're looking for an easy, breezy class to fulfill a math requirement, I'd run far away from this one.

too bad hes not teaching for about 2 years after year 2010...
i love this guy
he is everything that a typical math teacher is not.
hes funny, witty, smart, caring, and down to earth.
he is truly a good teacher.

this class is all about utilizing his office hours, especially before tests!!!
this is because his tests are extremely difficult when your doing it but also extremely doable when you see the answer key after. you just have to think a bit around the box. i didnt go to his office hourse before the midterm 1 and 2. did ok midterm 1 (37 of 55) and horrrrribble midterm 2 (13 of 55, median was 18. dont worry he curves decently). before the final, i went to his office hourse for a good 2 hours to ask questions regarding his practice final exams and problems and he gave us so many hints on what is to be on the test and it surely did help!!! i got an 87 of 100 which was pretty much top notch so it boosted me to an A for the class.

butler truely wants you to learn and absorb.
ill miss him so much.

btw, if you miss a lecture or dont want to go to class, watch his vides online! woot.
i had ta ted and his accent was almost not existent and he was helpful.

challenging but highly recomended. B is doable. A is hard.

TAKE BUTLER! Professor Butler is a hilarious and caring mathematics teacher. I enjoyed going to all of his classes this quarter. He often makes hilarious remarks during class and is always excited to be teaching. He has funny T-shirts as well...some of them are math-related.

He was the first math professor at UCLA who I truly understood and actually felt excited about. His tests can be on the difficult side, but if you keep up the hard work, attend his office hours, and study a good amount you should be fine. He also tends to give hints on his test that are really helpful, but only if you understand the hint ;) If you try to do the problem the traditional way, it may take forever or seem impossible. BUT if you understand his hint, it can be easily solved in a few lines. Often his tests seem hard while you're taking them, but then when you see the answer key you're like, REALLY? COME ON! But learn from this. Learn his ways..haha.

Finally, take covel tutoring with this class also if possible. I found it to be very complimentary to the course.

He is the BEST professor I've ever met in UCLA! His lectures are clear, his tests are interesting, but the most important thing is, Butler really cares about students. He is so devoted into teaching and still spends a lot of time improving himself. What I learn from him is more than math!

If you are having doubts about taking Prof. Butler because you think his tests will be too difficult, then you should not be majoring in the math/sciences. Butler doesn't just want you to memorize formulas and regurgitate them on the tests. His tests are directed towards your critical thinking skills. He'll often make the first problem straight forward, and after that the fun begins. His tests are challenging, but very fulfilling. If you want to be handed a good grade because you can memorize a formula or method, then don't take Butler. But if you want to truly challenge yourself and see how much you really know and what you are capable of, then by all means don't pass up the opportunity to take this professor. Butler FTW!