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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 = ∫28 5/x dx.
f(x) = 5/x[2, 8]
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region between the parabola y = 1 − x² and the x-axis.
y = 1 − x²
A =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
The power series Σk=1∞ 5ᵏ·(x − 2)ᵏ/(k + 1) converges on an interval around x₀ = 2. Find the right end x of that interval.
Σ 5ᵏ·(x − 2)ᵏ/(k + 1)x₀ = 2
x =
4.Sequences & seriesHard
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
For f(x, y) = 4x²y³ + 2x³ + 3y³ + 4xy, find the directional derivative Duf at (1, 1) in the direction of v = (−4, 1).
Find the critical points of f(x, y) = x³ − 27x + y² + 4y, classify them, and give the value fmin of f at its local minimum.
f(x, y) = x³ − 27x + y² + 4y
fmin =
7.Differential equationsMedium
Solve y″ + 6y′ + 9y = 0 with y(0) = 5 and y′(0) = 4. Find y(0.5).
y″ + 6y′ + 9y = 0y(0) = 5y′(0) = 4
y(0.5) =
8.Differential equationsHard
Solve y″ + 2y′ + 5y = 0 with y(0) = 1 and y′(0) = 0 (released from rest). Find y(0.75); angles in radians.
y″ + 2y′ + 5y = 0y(0) = 1y′(0) = 0
y(0.75) =
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 6.931
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) = 5·ln x
Evaluate at the limits
I = 5·(ln 8 − ln 2) = 5·ln 4 = 6.931
Answer
I = 6.931
2.Integrals
Answer: A = 1.333
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
1 − x² = 0 → x = ±1
Integrate
A = [1x − x³/3]−11 = 0.6667 − (−0.6667) = 1.333
Answer
A = 1.333
3.Sequences & series
Answer: x = 2.2
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.
Coefficients
ck/ck+1 = (1/5)·(k + 2)/(k + 1) → 0.2
Radius
R = 0.2
Interval
1.8 < x < 2.2
x = 2.2
Answer
x = 2.2
The ratio test says nothing at the two end points; they have to be checked separately.
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: Duf = −11.4
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.
Gradient at the point
fx = 8xy³ + 6x² + 4y → fx(1, 1) = 18
fy = 12x²y² + 9y² + 4x → fy(1, 1) = 25
Unit vector
|v| = √((−4)² + 1²) = 4.123
u = (−0.9701, 0.2425)
Dot product
Duf = 18·(−0.9701) + 25·0.2425 = −11.4
Answer
Duf = −11.4
6.Multivariable calculus
Answer: fmin = −58
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 = (3x² − 27) = 0
fy = (2y + 4) = 0
(3, −2), (−3, −2)
Second-derivative test
(3, −2): fxx = 18, fyy = 2, fxy = 0, D = 36 → local minimum
(−3, −2): fxx = −18, fyy = 2, fxy = 0, D = −36 → saddle point
Value at the extremum
f(3, −2) = −58
Answer
fmin = −58
7.Differential equations
Answer: y(0.5) = 3.235
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 + 3)² = 0 → r = −3
Constants
A = y(0) = 5
y′(0) = B − 3A → B = 4 + 15 = 19
Evaluate
y(0.5) = (5 + 19·0.5)·e−1.5 = 3.235
Answer
y(0.5) = 3.235
8.Differential equations
Answer: y(0.75) = 0.269
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.