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1Formulas and methods
Integrals
Power rule
∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1) + C
Definite integral
∫ab f dx = F(b) − F(a)
Common integrals
∫eˣ dx = eˣ, ∫1/x dx = ln|x|, ∫sin x dx = −cos x
Area between curves
∫ab (f − g) dx
Method
Rewrite the integrand as a sum of simple terms where possible.
Apply the power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1), and standard integrals for ex, 1/x, sin and cos.
Use substitution when you see a function and its derivative together.
For a definite integral, evaluate F(b) − F(a).
Sequences & series
Arithmetic sequence
aₙ = a₁ + (n − 1)d, Sₙ = n(a₁ + aₙ)/2
Geometric sequence
aₙ = a₁rⁿ⁻¹, Sₙ = a₁(1 − rⁿ)/(1 − r)
Infinite geometric series
S = a₁/(1 − r), |r| < 1
p-series
Σ1/kᵖ converges only for p > 1
Ratio test
L = lim |ak+1/ak|: L < 1 converges, L > 1 diverges
Radius of convergence
R = lim |ck/ck+1|
Taylor polynomial
Pₙ(x) = Σ f⁽ᵏ⁾(a)(x − a)ᵏ/k!
Maclaurin series
eˣ = Σxᵏ/k!, sin x = x − x³/3! + …, cos x = 1 − x²/2! + …, ln(1 + x) = x − x²/2 + …
Lagrange error bound
|Rₙ| ≤ M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!
Method
Identify the type: arithmetic (constant difference), geometric (constant ratio), a standard series, a power series or a Taylor polynomial.
For sums use Sₙ = n(a₁ + aₙ)/2, Sₙ = a₁(1 − rⁿ)/(1 − r), or S = a₁/(1 − r) when |r| < 1, with a₁ the first term of the sum.
For convergence: n-th term test first, then compare with Σ1/kᵖ or a geometric series, and use the ratio or root test for factorials and k-th powers.
For Taylor polynomials list f(a), f′(a), f″(a), …, divide the k-th derivative by k!, and bound the error with M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!.
Multivariable calculus
Partial derivatives
fx = ∂f/∂x (y constant), fxy = fyx
Gradient
∇f = (fx, fy), largest slope |∇f|
Directional derivative
Duf = ∇f·u, u = v/|v|
Tangent plane
z = f(a, b) + fx(x − a) + fy(y − b)
Chain rule
dz/dt = fx·dx/dt + fy·dy/dt
Second-derivative test
D = fxxfyy − fxy²: D > 0, fxx > 0 minimum; D > 0, fxx < 0 maximum; D < 0 saddle
Double integral
∬R f dA = ∫ab∫g(x)h(x) f dy dx
Polar coordinates
x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ, dA = r dr dθ
Method
For a partial derivative, treat the other variable as a constant and use the one-variable rules.
For gradient questions compute ∇f = (fx, fy) at the point; use |∇f| for the steepest slope and ∇f·u with a unit vector u for a directional derivative.
For extrema solve fx = 0 and fy = 0 together, then classify every point with D = fxx·fyy − fxy².
For a double integral sketch the region, choose the order (or polar coordinates for discs) so the inner limits are the bounding curves, and integrate inside first.
Differential equations
Exponential growth/decay
dy/dt = ky → y = y0ekt
Half-life
k = ln 2 / t½
Newton's law of cooling
T(t) = Ta + (T0 − Ta)e−kt
Integrating factor
y′ + p(x)y = q(x): μ = e∫p dx, (μy)′ = μq
Mixing tank
dm/dt = r·c − (r/V)·m
2Practice problems
1.IntegralsMedium
Evaluate I = ∫01 ex dx.
f(x) = ex[0, 1]
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region enclosed by y = 2x2 and y = x.
y = 2x2y = x
A =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
Exactly one of the four series diverges. Click it.
Use the Maclaurin polynomial of degree 2 of f(x) = ln(1 + x) to approximate f(0.4). Give P₂(0.4).
f(x) = ln(1 + x)n = 2x = 0.4
P₂(0.4) =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
The tangent plane to z = 3 sin(x − y) at the point where (x, y) = (−1, 0.5) can be written as z = px + qy + c. Find c.
f(x, y) = 3 sin(x − y)(a, b) = (−1, 0.5)
c =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
The integral I = ∫02 ∫y2 1/(1 + x²)² dx dy cannot be done in this order. Reverse the order of integration and evaluate it.
f = 1/(1 + x²)²0 ≤ y ≤ x ≤ 2
I =
7.Differential equationsMedium
A forged steel part at 500 °C is left to cool in a workshop at 21 °C. After 48 min its temperature is 134 °C. It follows Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ). How long after the start, t, does it take to reach 83 °C?
T0 = 500 °CTa = 21 °CT(48) = 134 °CT = 83 °C
t = min
8.Differential equationsHard
Solve the initial value problem y′ + 3y/x = 5x for x > 0, with y(1) = −1. Find y(2).
y′ + 3y/x = 5xy(1) = −1
y(2) =
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 1.718
Definite integrals: ∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx is the signed area between the graph and the x-axis from a to b. Find an antiderivative F (with F′ = f) and evaluate F(b) − F(a). Power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1). The area between two curves is ∫(upper − lower) dx.
Antiderivative
F(x) = ex/1
Evaluate at the limits
I = (e1 − 1)/1 = (2.718 − 1)/1 = 1.718
Answer
I = 1.718
2.Integrals
Answer: A = 0.04167
Definite integrals: ∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx is the signed area between the graph and the x-axis from a to b. Find an antiderivative F (with F′ = f) and evaluate F(b) − F(a). Power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1). The area between two curves is ∫(upper − lower) dx.
Intersection points
2x2 = x → x = 0, x = 0.5
Integrate upper minus lower
A = [0.5x2 − 0.6667x3]00.5 = 0.04167
Answer
A = 0.04167
3.Sequences & series
Answer: A: Σ (1 + 1/k)ᵏ
Convergence: if the terms do not tend to 0 the series diverges (n-th term test). Σ1/kᵖ converges only for p > 1, and Σrᵏ only for |r| < 1. Compare a series with one of these when its terms behave like them for large k. Ratio test: L = lim |ak+1/ak|; root test: L = lim |ak|1/k. L < 1 converges, L > 1 diverges, L = 1 decides nothing. A power series Σck(x − x₀)ᵏ converges for |x − x₀| < R with R = lim |ck/ck+1|; an alternating series with terms decreasing to 0 converges.
Test each series
A: Σ (1 + 1/k)ᵏ → The terms tend to e, not 0: diverges by the n-th term test.
B: Σ (2/3)ᵏ → Geometric with r = 2/3, |r| < 1: converges.
C: Σ 5/k⁴ → p-series with p = 4 > 1: converges.
D: Σ 1/(k(k + 2)) → Smaller than 1/k²: converges by comparison.
The answer
A: Σ (1 + 1/k)ᵏ
Answer
A: Σ (1 + 1/k)ᵏ
4.Sequences & series
Answer: P₂(0.4) = 0.32
Taylor polynomials: near x = a a smooth function is approximated by Pₙ(x) = f(a) + f′(a)(x − a) + f″(a)(x − a)²/2! + … + f⁽ⁿ⁾(a)(x − a)ⁿ/n!; for a = 0 this is the Maclaurin polynomial. Standard series: eˣ = Σxᵏ/k!, sin x = x − x³/3! + x⁵/5! − …, cos x = 1 − x²/2! + x⁴/4! − …, ln(1 + x) = x − x²/2 + x³/3 − …, 1/(1 − x) = Σxᵏ. Lagrange error bound: |f(x) − Pₙ(x)| ≤ M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!, where M is the largest value of |f⁽ⁿ⁺¹⁾| between a and x.
Maclaurin polynomial
P₂(x) = x − 0.5x²
Substitute
P₂(0.4) = 0.4 − 0.08 = 0.32
Answer
P₂(0.4) = 0.32
The exact value is f(0.4) = 0.336472; the error 0.0164722 shrinks when you take more terms or a point closer to 0.
5.Multivariable calculus
Answer: c = −2.674
Gradient: ∇f = (fx, fy) points in the direction of steepest ascent, and |∇f| is the largest rate of change. The directional derivative along a direction v is Duf = ∇f·u with the unit vector u = v/|v|. The tangent plane at (a, b) is z = f(a, b) + fx(a, b)(x − a) + fy(a, b)(y − b); it gives the linear approximation of f near that point. Chain rule: dz/dt = fx·dx/dt + fy·dy/dt.
Value and slopes at the point
f(−1, 0.5) = −2.992
fx = 3 cos(x − y) → fx(−1, 0.5) = 0.2122
fy = −3 cos(x − y) → fy(−1, 0.5) = −0.2122
Tangent plane
z = −2.992 + 0.2122(x + 1) − 0.2122(y − 0.5)
z = 0.2122x − 0.2122y − 2.674
Constant term
c = −2.674
Answer
c = −2.674
6.Multivariable calculus
Answer: I = 0.4
Critical points and double integrals: a critical point has fx = fy = 0. Second-derivative test with D = fxxfyy − fxy²: D > 0 and fxx > 0 is a local minimum, D > 0 and fxx < 0 a local maximum, D < 0 a saddle point, and D = 0 decides nothing. For a double integral over a general region, let the inner limits be the curves that bound the region; for discs and sectors use polar coordinates, x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ and dA = r dr dθ (do not forget the factor r).
Region
0 ≤ y ≤ x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 2
Reversed order
I = ∫02 ∫0x 1/(1 + x²)² dy dx = ∫02 x·1/(1 + x²)² dx
Substitution u = x²
I = [−1/(2(1 + x²))]02 = 0.4
Answer
I = 0.4
7.Differential equations
Answer: t = 67.95 min
First-order differential equations: dy/dt = k·y has the solution y = y₀·ekt (growth for k > 0, decay for k < 0); a half-life T gives k = ln 2/T. Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ), gives T(t) = Tₐ + (T₀ − Tₐ)·e−kt. A linear equation y′ + p(x)·y = q(x) is solved with the integrating factor μ = e∫p dx: (μy)′ = μq, so μy = ∫μq dx + C.
Cooling constant
k = ln(479/113)/48 = 0.03009 min⁻¹
Time to reach the target
t = ln(479/62)/0.03009 = 67.95 min
Answer
t = 67.95 min
8.Differential equations
Answer: y(2) = 3.75
First-order differential equations: dy/dt = k·y has the solution y = y₀·ekt (growth for k > 0, decay for k < 0); a half-life T gives k = ln 2/T. Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ), gives T(t) = Tₐ + (T₀ − Tₐ)·e−kt. A linear equation y′ + p(x)·y = q(x) is solved with the integrating factor μ = e∫p dx: (μy)′ = μq, so μy = ∫μq dx + C.