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
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 = ∫15 4/x dx.
f(x) = 4/x[1, 5]
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Evaluate I = ∫₀2.5 x²·eˣ dx.
∫₀2.5 x²eˣ dx
I =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
Exactly one of the four series converges. Click it.
A: Σ (2/5)ᵏB: Σ 2/kC: Σ (1 + 1/k)ᵏD: Σ (3/2)ᵏ
1A: Σ (2/5)ᵏ
2B: Σ 2/k
3C: Σ (1 + 1/k)ᵏ
4D: Σ (3/2)ᵏ
4.Sequences & seriesHard
Find the coefficient c₄ of (x − 2)⁴ in the Taylor series of f(x) = e2x about a = 2.
f(x) = e2xa = 2k = 4
c₄ =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
For f(x, y) = 3 sin(2x + 3y), find the directional derivative Duf at (2, 2) in the direction of v = (4, 3).
f(x, y) = 3 sin(2x + 3y)P = (2, 2)v = (4, 3)
Duf =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
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
Solve y″ + 7y′ + 12y = 0 with y(0) = 2 and y′(0) = 4. Find y(2).
y″ + 7y′ + 12y = 0y(0) = 2y′(0) = 4
y(2) =
8.Differential equationsHard
A system obeys y″ + 2y′ + 17y = 170 for t ≥ 0, starting from rest: y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0. Find y(0.5); angles in radians.
y″ + 2y′ + 17y = 170y(0) = 0y′(0) = 0
y(0.5) =
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 6.438
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) = 4·ln x
Evaluate at the limits
I = 4·(ln 5 − ln 1) = 4·ln 5 = 6.438
Answer
I = 6.438
2.Integrals
Answer: I = 37.59
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
12.18·(3.25) − 1·2 = 37.59
Answer
I = 37.59
3.Sequences & series
Answer: A: Σ (2/5)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 (2/5)ᵏ → Geometric with r = 2/5, |r| < 1: converges.
B: Σ 2/k → A multiple of the harmonic series (p = 1): diverges.
C: Σ (1 + 1/k)ᵏ → The terms tend to e, not 0: diverges by the n-th term test.
D: Σ (3/2)ᵏ → Geometric with r = 3/2 > 1: the terms grow, so it diverges.
The answer
A: Σ (2/5)ᵏ
Answer
A: Σ (2/5)ᵏ
4.Sequences & series
Answer: c₄ = 36.4
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⁽⁴⁾
f⁽⁴⁾(x) = 2⁴·e2x
Coefficient
c₄ = 2⁴·e4/4! = 36.4
c₄ = 36.4
Answer
c₄ = 36.4
5.Multivariable calculus
Answer: Duf = −8.559
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 = 6 cos(2x + 3y) → fx(2, 2) = −5.034
fy = 9 cos(2x + 3y) → fy(2, 2) = −7.552
Unit vector
|v| = √(4² + 3²) = 5
u = (0.8, 0.6)
Dot product
Duf = (−5.034)·0.8 + (−7.552)·0.6 = −8.559
Answer
Duf = −8.559
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(2) = 0.02639
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 + 4) = 0 → r = −3, −4
Constants from the initial values
A + B = 2, −3A − 4B = 4
A = 12, B = −10
Evaluate
y(2) = 12·e−6 + (−10)·e−8 = 0.02639
Answer
y(2) = 0.02639
8.Differential equations
Answer: y(0.5) = 11.15
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.