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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 2x·(x² + 1)1 dx.
f(x) = 2x·(x² + 1)1[0, 2]
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region between the parabola y = 4 − x² and the x-axis.
y = 4 − x²
A =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
Exactly one of the four series converges. Click it.
A: Σ 5/k⁴B: Σ 1/√kC: Σ ln k / kD: Σ k!/3ᵏ
1A: Σ 5/k⁴
2B: Σ 1/√k
3C: Σ ln k / k
4D: Σ k!/3ᵏ
4.Sequences & seriesHard
Recognise the series and find its sum: S = Σk=0∞ 3ᵏ/k!.
ak = 3ᵏ/k!
S =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
z = 3x²y² − 5x² + y² with x = −3t and y = −2t² − 1. Use the chain rule to find dz/dt at t = 1.
z = 3x²y² − 5x² + y²x = −3ty = −2t² − 1t = 1
dz/dt =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
f(x, y) = −x³ + 3x − y² + 6y has a critical point at (−1, 3). Compute the discriminant D = fxxfyy − fxy² there.
f(x, y) = −x³ + 3x − y² + 6yP = (−1, 3)
D =
7.Differential equationsMedium
Solve y″ + 4y′ + 4y = 0 with y(0) = 3 and y′(0) = 2. Find y(0.5).
y″ + 4y′ + 4y = 0y(0) = 3y′(0) = 2
y(0.5) =
8.Differential equationsHard
A system obeys y″ + 4y′ + 20y = 40 for t ≥ 0, starting from rest: y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0. Find y(1); angles in radians.
y″ + 4y′ + 20y = 40y(0) = 0y′(0) = 0
y(1) =
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 12
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.
Substitution
u = x² + 1, du = 2x dx
I = ∫15 u1 du
Integrate and evaluate
I = [u2/2]15 = (25 − 1)/2 = 12
Answer
I = 12
2.Integrals
Answer: A = 10.67
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
4 − x² = 0 → x = ±2
Integrate
A = [4x − x³/3]−22 = 5.333 − (−5.333) = 10.67
Answer
A = 10.67
3.Sequences & series
Answer: A: Σ 5/k⁴
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 5/k⁴ → p-series with p = 4 > 1: converges.
B: Σ 1/√k → p-series with p = 1/2 ≤ 1: diverges.
C: Σ ln k / k → Larger than 1/k for k ≥ 3: diverges by comparison with the harmonic series.
D: Σ k!/3ᵏ → Ratio test: L = lim (k + 1)/3 = ∞, diverges.
The answer
A: Σ 5/k⁴
Answer
A: Σ 5/k⁴
4.Sequences & series
Answer: S = 20.09
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.
Standard series
Σ xᵏ/k! = eˣ
Substitute
x = 3
S = e3 = 20.09
Answer
S = 20.09
5.Multivariable calculus
Answer: dz/dt = 1068
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) = −3, y(1) = −3
dx/dt = −3, dy/dt = −4t = −4
Partial derivatives
fx = 6xy² − 10x = −132
fy = 6x²y + 2y = −168
Chain rule
dz/dt = (−132)·(−3) + (−168)·(−4) = 1068
Answer
dz/dt = 1068
6.Multivariable calculus
Answer: D = −12
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 = 6, fyy = −2, fxy = 0
Discriminant
D = 6·(−2) − 0² = −12
→ saddle point
Answer
D = −12
7.Differential equations
Answer: y(0.5) = 2.575
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 + 2)² = 0 → r = −2
Constants
A = y(0) = 3
y′(0) = B − 2A → B = 2 + 6 = 8
Evaluate
y(0.5) = (3 + 8·0.5)·e−1 = 2.575
Answer
y(0.5) = 2.575
8.Differential equations
Answer: y(1) = 2.279
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.