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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 = ∫02 e2x dx.
f(x) = e2x[0, 2]
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Evaluate I = ∫₀3 x²·eˣ dx.
∫₀3 x²eˣ dx
I =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
Exactly one of the four series diverges. Click it.
f(x) = eˣ is approximated at x = 0.5 by its Maclaurin polynomial of degree n. With the Lagrange bound M·|x|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)! and M = 2, find the smallest degree n that guarantees an error below 1 × 10⁻⁶.
f(x) = eˣx = 0.5M = 2ε = 1 × 10⁻⁶
n =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
The tangent plane to z = x²y² + 4y³ + 4xy at the point where (x, y) = (−2, 2) can be written as z = px + qy + c. Find c.
f(x, y) = x²y² + 4y³ + 4xy(a, b) = (−2, 2)
c =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
Use polar coordinates to evaluate I = ∬R e−(x² + y²) dA, where R is the upper half of the disc x² + y² ≤ 2.25 (y ≥ 0).
f = e−(x² + y²)0 ≤ r ≤ 1.50 ≤ θ ≤ π
I =
7.Differential equationsMedium
Solve y″ + 8y′ + 16y = 0 with y(0) = 5 and y′(0) = 4. Find y(0.5).
y″ + 8y′ + 16y = 0y(0) = 5y′(0) = 4
y(0.5) =
8.Differential equationsHard
A system obeys y″ + y′ + 9.25y = 46.25 for t ≥ 0, starting from rest: y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0. Find the peak value ymax of its step response.
y″ + y′ + 9.25y = 46.25y(0) = 0y′(0) = 0
ymax =
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 26.8
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) = e2x/2
Evaluate at the limits
I = (e4 − 1)/2 = (54.6 − 1)/2 = 26.8
Answer
I = 26.8
2.Integrals
Answer: I = 98.43
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.
First round
∫x²eˣ dx = x²eˣ − ∫2x eˣ dx
Second round
∫2x eˣ dx = 2x eˣ − 2eˣ
∫x²eˣ dx = eˣ(x² − 2x + 2)
Limits
20.09·(5) − 1·2 = 98.43
Answer
I = 98.43
3.Sequences & series
Answer: A: Σ 1/(2k + 3)
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/(2k + 3) → Behaves like 1/(2k) for large k; compared with the harmonic series it diverges.
B: Σ 10ᵏ/k! → Ratio test: L = lim 10/(k + 1) = 0 < 1, converges.
C: Σ (2/5)ᵏ → Geometric with r = 2/5, |r| < 1: converges.
D: Σ 1/(k² + 7) → Smaller than 1/k², a convergent p-series: converges by comparison.
The answer
A: Σ 1/(2k + 3)
Answer
A: Σ 1/(2k + 3)
4.Sequences & series
Answer: n = 7
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.
Bounds for increasing n
n = 6: 3.1 × 10⁻⁶ ≥ 1 × 10⁻⁶
n = 7: 1.938 × 10⁻⁷ < 1 × 10⁻⁶
Smallest degree
n = 7
Answer
n = 7
5.Multivariable calculus
Answer: c = −96
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(−2, 2) = 32
fx = 2xy² + 4y → fx(−2, 2) = −8
fy = 2x²y + 12y² + 4x → fy(−2, 2) = 56
Tangent plane
z = 32 − 8(x + 2) + 56(y − 2)
z = −8x + 56y − 96
Constant term
c = −96
Answer
c = −96
6.Multivariable calculus
Answer: I = 1.405
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).
Polar form
I = ∫0π ∫01.5 e−r²·r dr dθ
Integrate
∫ e−r²·r dr = [−e−r²/2]
I = 1.405
Answer
I = 1.405
7.Differential equations
Answer: y(0.5) = 2.301
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.
Double root
(r + 4)² = 0 → r = −4
Constants
A = y(0) = 5
y′(0) = B − 4A → B = 4 + 20 = 24
Evaluate
y(0.5) = (5 + 24·0.5)·e−2 = 2.301
Answer
y(0.5) = 2.301
8.Differential equations
Answer: ymax = 7.962
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.