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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 e0.5x dx.
f(x) = e0.5x[0, 1]
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region enclosed by y = x2 and y = 3x.
y = x2y = 3x
A =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
Exactly one of the four series diverges. Click it.
A: Σ 3/k⁴B: Σ (2/5)ᵏC: Σ 1/(2ᵏ + k)D: Σ ln k / k
1A: Σ 3/k⁴
2B: Σ (2/5)ᵏ
3C: Σ 1/(2ᵏ + k)
4D: Σ ln k / k
4.Sequences & seriesHard
Use the Maclaurin polynomial of degree 2 of f(x) = e0.5x to approximate f(−1.5). Give P₂(−1.5).
f(x) = e0.5xn = 2x = −1.5
P₂(−1.5) =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
z = 2x³e2y with x = 2t + 1 and y = −t² + 1. Use the chain rule to find dz/dt at t = −1.
z = 2x³e2yx = 2t + 1y = −t² + 1t = −1
dz/dt =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
f(x, y) = x³ + y³ − 9xy has a critical point at (3, 3). Compute the discriminant D = fxxfyy − fxy² there.
f(x, y) = x³ + y³ − 9xyP = (3, 3)
D =
7.Differential equationsMedium
Solve y″ + 5y′ + 4y = 0 with y(0) = 4 and y′(0) = 0. Find y(1.5).
y″ + 5y′ + 4y = 0y(0) = 4y′(0) = 0
y(1.5) =
8.Differential equationsHard
A tank holds 400 L of water in which 10 kg of salt is dissolved. Brine with 0.2 kg of salt per litre flows in at 10 L/min, and the well-mixed solution flows out at the same rate. How much salt m is in the tank after 30 min?
V = 400 Lm0 = 10 kgc = 0.2 kg/Lr = 10 L/min
m = kg
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 1.297
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) = e0.5x/0.5
Evaluate at the limits
I = (e0.5 − 1)/0.5 = (1.649 − 1)/0.5 = 1.297
Answer
I = 1.297
2.Integrals
Answer: A = 4.5
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
x2 = 3x → x = 0, x = 3
Integrate upper minus lower
A = [1.5x2 − 0.3333x3]03 = 4.5
Answer
A = 4.5
3.Sequences & series
Answer: D: Σ ln 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 3/k⁴ → p-series with p = 4 > 1: converges.
B: Σ (2/5)ᵏ → Geometric with r = 2/5, |r| < 1: converges.
C: Σ 1/(2ᵏ + k) → Smaller than (1/2)ᵏ, a convergent geometric series: converges by comparison.
D: Σ ln k / k → Larger than 1/k for k ≥ 3: diverges by comparison with the harmonic series.
The answer
D: Σ ln k / k
Answer
D: Σ ln k / k
4.Sequences & series
Answer: P₂(−1.5) = 0.5313
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) = 1 + 0.5x + 0.125x²
Substitute
P₂(−1.5) = 1 − 0.75 + 0.28125 = 0.5313
Answer
P₂(−1.5) = 0.5313
The exact value is f(−1.5) = 0.472367; the error −0.0588834 shrinks when you take more terms or a point closer to 0.
5.Multivariable calculus
Answer: dz/dt = 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.
Point and rates
x(−1) = −1, y(−1) = 0
dx/dt = 2, dy/dt = −2t = 2
Partial derivatives
fx = 6x²e2y = 6
fy = 4x³e2y = −4
Chain rule
dz/dt = 6·2 + (−4)·2 = 4
Answer
dz/dt = 4
6.Multivariable calculus
Answer: D = 243
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).
Second derivatives
fxx = 18, fyy = 18, fxy = −9
Discriminant
D = 18·18 − (−9)² = 243
→ local minimum
Answer
D = 243
7.Differential equations
Answer: y(1.5) = 1.187
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.
Characteristic roots
(r + 1)(r + 4) = 0 → r = −1, −4
Constants from the initial values
A + B = 4, −1A − 4B = 0
A = 5.333, B = −1.333
Evaluate
y(1.5) = 5.333·e−1.5 + (−1.333)·e−6 = 1.187
Answer
y(1.5) = 1.187
8.Differential equations
Answer: m = 46.93 kg
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.
Set up the equation
dm/dt = 10·0.2 − (10/400)·m = 2 − 0.025·m
Solve
The integrating factor is ert/V; the solution approaches the equilibrium c·V.