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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 = ∫₁3 x·ln x dx.
∫₁3 x ln x dx
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region between the parabola y = 9 − x² and the x-axis.
y = 9 − x²
A =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
Find the sum S = Σk=1∞ 5/(k(k + 1)).
ak = 5/(k(k + 1))
S =
4.Sequences & seriesHard
Use the Maclaurin polynomial of degree 4 of f(x) = cos(2x) to approximate f(−1). Give P₄(−1).
f(x) = cos(2x)n = 4x = −1
P₄(−1) =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
For f(x, y) = 2x²y² + x³ + 3y³ + 3xy, find the maximum rate of change of f at the point (2, −1), that is |∇f|.
f(x, y) = 2x²y² + x³ + 3y³ + 3xyP = (2, −1)
|∇f| =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
The marked points are the critical points of f(x, y) = x⁴ + y⁴ − 4xy. Click the saddle point.
f(x, y) = x⁴ + y⁴ − 4xy
1A (1, 1)
2B (−1, −1)
3C (0, 0)
7.Differential equationsMedium
A cup of coffee at 82 °C is left in a room at 21 °C. After 17 min its temperature is 52 °C. It follows Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ). How long after the start, t, does it take to reach 67 °C?
T0 = 82 °CTa = 21 °CT(17) = 52 °CT = 67 °C
t = min
8.Differential equationsHard
A system obeys y″ + 3y′ + 11.25y = 22.5 for t ≥ 0, starting from rest: y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0. Find the peak value ymax of its step response.
y″ + 3y′ + 11.25y = 22.5y(0) = 0y′(0) = 0
ymax =
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 2.944
Integration by parts: ∫u·dv = u·v − ∫v·du, from the product rule. Choose u as the factor that gets simpler when you differentiate it (a power of x, or ln x), and dv as the factor you can integrate (eˣ, sin x, cos x, or x when u = ln x). For a definite integral, evaluate u·v at both limits: ∫ₐᵇ u dv = [u·v]ₐᵇ − ∫ₐᵇ v du. A factor x² needs two rounds.
Choose u and dv
u = ln x, du = dx/x; dv = x dx, v = x²/2
Antiderivative
∫x ln x dx = (x²/2)ln x − ∫(x/2) dx = (x²/2)ln x − x²/4
Limits
(4.5·ln 3 − 2.25) − (0 − 0.25) = 2.944
Answer
I = 2.944
2.Integrals
Answer: A = 36
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.
Zeros
9 − x² = 0 → x = ±3
Integrate
A = [9x − x³/3]−33 = 18 − (−18) = 36
Answer
A = 36
3.Sequences & series
Answer: S = 5
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.
Partial fractions
5/(k(k + 1)) = 5·(1/k − 1/(k + 1))
Cancel
S = 5·1 = 5
Answer
S = 5
4.Sequences & series
Answer: P₄(−1) = −0.3333
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
P₄(x) = 1 − 2x² + 0.6667x⁴
Substitute
P₄(−1) = 1 − 2 + 0.666667 = −0.3333
Answer
P₄(−1) = −0.3333
The exact value is f(−1) = −0.416147; the error −0.0828135 shrinks when you take more terms or a point closer to 0.
5.Multivariable calculus
Answer: |∇f| = 17.03
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.
Partial derivatives
fx = 4xy² + 3x² + 3y → fx(2, −1) = 17
fy = 4x²y + 9y² + 3x → fy(2, −1) = −1
Length of the gradient
|∇f| = √(17² + (−1)²) = 17.03
Answer
|∇f| = 17.03
6.Multivariable calculus
Answer: C (0, 0)
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).
Critical points
Solve fx = 0 and fy = 0 together.
fx = 4x³ − 4y = 0
fy = 4y³ − 4x = 0
(0, 0), (1, 1), (−1, −1)
Second-derivative test
(0, 0): fxx = 0, fyy = 0, fxy = −4, D = −16 → saddle point
(1, 1): fxx = 12, fyy = 12, fxy = −4, D = 128 → local minimum
(−1, −1): fxx = 12, fyy = 12, fxy = −4, D = 128 → local minimum
The point
C (0, 0): saddle point
Answer
C (0, 0)
7.Differential equations
Answer: t = 7.088 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(61/31)/17 = 0.03982 min⁻¹
Time to reach the target
t = ln(61/46)/0.03982 = 7.088 min
Answer
t = 7.088 min
8.Differential equations
Answer: ymax = 2.416
Second-order linear equations: for y″ + b·y′ + c·y = 0 try y = ert: this gives the characteristic equation r² + b·r + c = 0. Two real roots r₁ ≠ r₂ give y = A·er₁t + B·er₂t (overdamped); a double root r gives y = (A + Bt)·ert (critically damped); complex roots −α ± jω give y = e−αt(A cos ωt + B sin ωt) (underdamped, oscillating). The initial values y(0) and y′(0) fix A and B. Written as y″ + 2ζωny′ + ωn²y = 0, ωn is the natural frequency and ζ the damping ratio: ζ < 1 oscillates. With a constant input, y″ + by′ + cy = c·K, the solution is the steady value K plus the free response.