Calculus 2: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 8 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

New problemsBack to the course

In the print window, choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy on your device.

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

  1. Rewrite the integrand as a sum of simple terms where possible.
  2. Apply the power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1), and standard integrals for ex, 1/x, sin and cos.
  3. Use substitution when you see a function and its derivative together.
  4. 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

  1. Identify the type: arithmetic (constant difference), geometric (constant ratio), a standard series, a power series or a Taylor polynomial.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

  1. For a partial derivative, treat the other variable as a constant and use the one-variable rules.
  2. 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.
  3. For extrema solve fx = 0 and fy = 0 together, then classify every point with D = fxx·fyy − fxy².
  4. 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
xy11.5y = x ln x

Evaluate I = ∫₁1.5 x·ln x dx.

∫₁1.5 x ln x dx
I =
2.IntegralsHard
xy1.667y = 5xy = 3x²

The region between the line y = 5x and the parabola y = 3x² is rotated about the x-axis. Find the volume V of the solid.

y = 5xy = 3x²
V =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
AΣ (−1)ᵏ/√kk = 1 … ∞BΣ k!/3ᵏk = 1 … ∞CΣ 5/kk = 1 … ∞DΣ (7/4)ᵏk = 1 … ∞

Exactly one of the four series converges. Click it.

A: Σ (−1)ᵏ/√kB: Σ k!/3ᵏC: Σ 5/kD: Σ (7/4)ᵏ
  1. 1A: Σ (−1)ᵏ/√k
  2. 2B: Σ k!/3ᵏ
  3. 3C: Σ 5/k
  4. 4D: Σ (7/4)ᵏ
4.Sequences & seriesHard

Find the coefficient c₂ of (x − 2)² in the Taylor series of f(x) = 1/x about a = 2.

f(x) = 1/xa = 2k = 2
c₂ =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
xy2−2P

The tangent plane to z = −3x²y³ + 5x² + y³ + xy at the point where (x, y) = (2, −2) can be written as z = px + qy + c. Find c.

f(x, y) = −3x²y³ + 5x² + y³ + xy(a, b) = (2, −2)
c =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
xy−202−202(0, 0)(2, 2)(−2, −2)

Find the critical points of f(x, y) = x⁴ + y⁴ − 16xy, classify them, and give the value fmin of f at its local minimum.

f(x, y) = x⁴ + y⁴ − 16xy
fmin =
7.Differential equationsMedium
tyy(0) = 3y(0.5) = ?

Solve y″ + 8y′ + 15y = 0 with y(0) = 3 and y′(0) = 1. Find y(0.5).

y″ + 8y′ + 15y = 0y(0) = 3y′(0) = 1
y(0.5) =
8.Differential equationsHard
tyy(0) = 2y(1.5) = ?

Solve y″ + 4y′ + 8y = 0 with y(0) = 2 and y′(0) = 0 (released from rest). Find y(1.5); angles in radians.

y″ + 4y′ + 8y = 0y(0) = 2y′(0) = 0
y(1.5) =

3Solutions

1.Integrals

Answer: I = 0.1436

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

(1.125·ln 1.5 − 0.5625) − (0 − 0.25) = 0.1436

Answer

I = 0.1436
2.Integrals

Answer: V = 48.48

Volumes of revolution: rotating the region under y = f(x) from x = a to x = b about the x-axis makes a solid whose cross-section at x is a disc of radius f(x). Adding the discs gives V = π∫ₐᵇ f(x)² dx. When the region lies between an outer curve R(x) and an inner curve r(x), each slice is a washer: V = π∫ₐᵇ (R(x)² − r(x)²) dx. Square the radii before you subtract them.

Intersection points

5x = 3x² → x = 0, x = 1.667

Washer method

V = π∫₀1.667 ((5x)² − (3x²)²) dx

Integrate

V = π(25·1.667³/3 − 9·1.667⁵/5) = π·15.43 = 48.48

Answer

V = 48.48
3.Sequences & series

Answer: A: Σ (−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)ᵏ/√k → Alternating, with 1/√k decreasing to 0: converges (conditionally).
B: Σ k!/3ᵏ → Ratio test: L = lim (k + 1)/3 = ∞, diverges.
C: Σ 5/k → A multiple of the harmonic series (p = 1): diverges.
D: Σ (7/4)ᵏ → Geometric with r = 7/4 > 1: the terms grow, so it diverges.

The answer

A: Σ (−1)ᵏ/√k

Answer

A: Σ (−1)ᵏ/√k
4.Sequences & series

Answer: c₂ = 0.125

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.

Derivative f⁽²⁾

f⁽²⁾(x) = 2/x³

Coefficient

c₂ = 2/(2³·2) = 0.125
c₂ = 0.125

Answer

c₂ = 0.125
5.Multivariable calculus

Answer: c = −384

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) = 104
fx = −6xy³ + 10x + y → fx(2, −2) = 114
fy = −9x²y² + 3y² + x → fy(2, −2) = −130

Tangent plane

z = 104 + 114(x − 2) − 130(y + 2)
z = 114x − 130y − 384

Constant term

c = −384

Answer

c = −384
6.Multivariable calculus

Answer: fmin = −32

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 − 16y = 0
fy = 4y³ − 16x = 0
(0, 0), (2, 2), (−2, −2)

Second-derivative test

(0, 0): fxx = 0, fyy = 0, fxy = −16, D = −256 → saddle point
(2, 2): fxx = 48, fyy = 48, fxy = −16, D = 2048 → local minimum
(−2, −2): fxx = 48, fyy = 48, fxy = −16, D = 2048 → local minimum

Value at the extremum

f(−2, −2) = −32

Answer

fmin = −32
7.Differential equations

Answer: y(0.5) = 1.375

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 + 3)(r + 5) = 0 → r = −3, −5

Constants from the initial values

A + B = 3, −3A − 5B = 1
A = 8, B = −5

Evaluate

y(0.5) = 8·e−1.5 + (−5)·e−2.5 = 1.375

Answer

y(0.5) = 1.375
8.Differential equations

Answer: y(1.5) = −0.08453

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.

Complex roots

r = −2 ± 2j

Constants

A = 2, B = 2·2/2 = 2

Evaluate

y(1.5) = e−3(2·cos 3 + 2·sin 3) = −0.08453

Answer

y(1.5) = −0.08453

ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/calculus-2