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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)3 dx.
f(x) = 2x·(x² + 1)3[0, 2]
I =
2.IntegralsHard
Find the area A of the region enclosed by y = x2 and y = 4x.
y = x2y = 4x
A =
3.Sequences & seriesMedium
Exactly one of the four series converges. Click it.
Recognise the series and find its sum: S = Σk=1∞ k·(−0.5)ᵏ.
ak = k·(−0.5)ᵏ
S =
5.Multivariable calculusMedium
For f(x, y) = 3x³e0.5y, find the maximum rate of change of f at the point (−1, 0), that is |∇f|.
f(x, y) = 3x³e0.5yP = (−1, 0)
|∇f| =
6.Multivariable calculusHard
Use polar coordinates to evaluate I = ∬R (x² + y²) dA, where R is the disc x² + y² ≤ 4.
f = x² + y²0 ≤ r ≤ 20 ≤ θ ≤ 2π
I =
7.Differential equationsMedium
Solve y″ + 2y′ + y = 0 with y(0) = 3 and y′(0) = -2. Find y(1.5).
y″ + 2y′ + y = 0y(0) = 3y′(0) = -2
y(1.5) =
8.Differential equationsHard
Solve y″ + 3y′ + 11.25y = 0 with y(0) = 5 and y′(0) = 0 (released from rest). Find y(0.75); angles in radians.
y″ + 3y′ + 11.25y = 0y(0) = 5y′(0) = 0
y(0.75) =
3Solutions
1.Integrals
Answer: I = 156
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 u3 du
Integrate and evaluate
I = [u4/4]15 = (625 − 1)/4 = 156
Answer
I = 156
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.
Intersection points
x2 = 4x → x = 0, x = 4
Integrate upper minus lower
A = [2x2 − 0.3333x3]04 = 10.67
Answer
A = 10.67
3.Sequences & series
Answer: D: Σ 1/(k² + 9)
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 k!/10ᵏ → Ratio test: L = lim (k + 1)/10 = ∞, diverges.
B: Σ (1 + 1/k)ᵏ → The terms tend to e, not 0: diverges by the n-th term test.
C: Σ (3/2)ᵏ → Geometric with r = 3/2 > 1: the terms grow, so it diverges.
D: Σ 1/(k² + 9) → Smaller than 1/k², a convergent p-series: converges by comparison.
The answer
D: Σ 1/(k² + 9)
Answer
D: Σ 1/(k² + 9)
4.Sequences & series
Answer: S = −0.2222
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 k·xᵏ = x/(1 − x)²
Substitute
x = −0.5
S = −0.5/(1 − (−0.5))² = −0.2222
Answer
S = −0.2222
5.Multivariable calculus
Answer: |∇f| = 9.124
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.
Partial derivatives
fx = 9x²e0.5y → fx(−1, 0) = 9
fy = 1.5x³e0.5y → fy(−1, 0) = −1.5
Length of the gradient
|∇f| = √(9² + (−1.5)²) = 9.124
Answer
|∇f| = 9.124
6.Multivariable calculus
Answer: I = 25.13
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).
Polar form
I = ∫02π ∫02 r²·r dr dθ
Integrate
∫ r²·r dr = [r⁴/4]
I = 25.13
Answer
I = 25.13
7.Differential equations
Answer: y(1.5) = 1.004
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 + 1)² = 0 → r = −1
Constants
A = y(0) = 3
y′(0) = B − 1A → B = -2 + 3 = 1
Evaluate
y(1.5) = (3 + 1·1.5)·e−1.5 = 1.004
Answer
y(1.5) = 1.004
8.Differential equations
Answer: y(0.75) = −0.3882
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.