Engineering Mathematics 2: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 16 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

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

Matrices & determinants

2×2 determinant
det = ad − bc
2×2 inverse
A⁻¹ = (1/det)·[d −b; −c a]
Product
(AB)ij = Σk AikBkj
Eigenvalues
det(A − λI) = 0
Cramer’s rule
xi = det(Ai)/det(A)

Vectors: dot & cross product

Magnitude
|a| = √(ax² + ay² + az²)
Unit vector
û = a/|a|
Components from an angle
Fx = F·cos θ, Fy = F·sin θ
Dot product
a·b = axbx + ayby + azbz = |a||b|cos θ
Scalar projection of a onto b
a·b/|b|
Work
W = F·d
Cross product
a × b = (aybz − azby, azbx − axbz, axby − aybx)
Areas
parallelogram |a × b|, triangle ½|a × b|
Moment about O
MO = r × F, r = A − O
Volume of a parallelepiped
V = |a·(b × c)|

Method

  1. Write every vector in components; for a force given by a magnitude and an angle, use F·cos θ and F·sin θ.
  2. For lengths and directions use the magnitude √(x² + y² + z²) and the unit vector a/|a|.
  3. Use the dot product for angles, projections, perpendicularity and work: a·b = |a||b|cos θ.
  4. Use the cross product for perpendicular vectors, areas and moments: write the three components carefully, keeping the order a × b.

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).

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.

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)!.

Convolution & LTI systems

Discrete convolution
y[n] = Σ x[k]·h[n − k]
Continuous convolution
y(t) = ∫ x(τ)·h(t − τ) dτ
Length and sum
Ly = Lx + Lh − 1, Σy = Σx·Σh
Start, end and area
t1 + t3 … t2 + t4, ∫y = ∫x·∫h
Step into e^(−at)u(t)
y(t) = (A/a)(1 − e−at)
First-order system
y′ + a·y = b·x → h(t) = b·e−atu(t)
First-order recursion
y[n] = a·y[n − 1] + b·x[n] → h[n] = b·aⁿ
Sinusoid through h(t)
|H(jω)|, ∠H(jω); H(jω) = b/(a + jω)
Fourier series amplitudes
square ±A: 4A/(kπ), odd k; triangle ±A: 8A/(π²k²), odd k; pulse train: A·D and (2A/(kπ))|sin kπD|

Method

  1. Sketch both signals and note where each one is nonzero.
  2. Flip h and slide it: for each output time, find the range where both signals overlap.
  3. Multiply and add (discrete) or multiply and integrate (continuous) over that overlap only.
  4. Check the result: the output starts at the sum of the start times, ends at the sum of the end times, and its area or sum is the product of the input areas or sums.

2Practice problems

1.Differential equationsMedium
t (min)T (°C)29Ta​21 °C

A can of soda at 4 °C is taken out of the fridge into a room at 25 °C. After 29 min its temperature is 21 °C. It follows Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ). Find the constant k in min⁻¹.

T0 = 4 °CTa = 25 °CT(29) = 21 °C
k = min⁻¹
2.Differential equationsHard
t (min)m (kg)70 minm = ?

A tank holds 500 L of water in which 10 kg of salt is dissolved. Brine with 0.25 kg of salt per litre flows in at 4 L/min, and the well-mixed solution flows out at the same rate. How much salt m is in the tank after 70 min?

V = 500 Lm0 = 10 kgc = 0.25 kg/Lr = 4 L/min
m = kg
3.Matrices & determinantsMedium
A =−45−1−541−3−5−3

Find the determinant det A of the 3×3 matrix A shown.

A = [−4 5 −1; −5 4 1; −3 −5 −3]
det A =
4.Matrices & determinantsHard
A =−312−2

Find the larger eigenvalue λ of the matrix A shown.

A = [−3 1; 2 −2]
λ =
5.Vectors: dot & cross productMedium
xyzab

Find the dot product a·b of a = (3, 3, −4) and b = (7, −4, 0).

a = (3, 3, −4)b = (7, −4, 0)
a·b =
6.Vectors: dot & cross productHard
xyzabc

Find the volume V of the parallelepiped whose edges from one corner are a = (−5, 2, 0), b = (2, −2, 5) and c = (−3, −4, −4).

a = (−5, 2, 0)b = (2, −2, 5)c = (−3, −4, −4)
V =
7.IntegralsMedium
xy28

Evaluate I = ∫28 4/x dx.

f(x) = 4/x[2, 8]
I =
8.IntegralsHard
xy0.5y = x²eˣ

Evaluate I = ∫₀0.5 x²·eˣ dx.

∫₀0.5 x²eˣ dx
I =
9.Multivariable calculusMedium

z = −2x³y² + 4x² − 3y² with x = −t − 2 and y = −t² + 2. Use the chain rule to find dz/dt at t = 1.

z = −2x³y² + 4x² − 3y²x = −t − 2y = −t² + 2t = 1
dz/dt =
10.Multivariable calculusHard
xyx = 1y = x1

The integral I = ∫01 ∫y1 sin(x²) dx dy cannot be done in this order. Reverse the order of integration and evaluate it.

f = sin(x²)0 ≤ y ≤ x ≤ 1
I =
11.Sequences & seriesMedium
xx₀ = 0??R

Find the radius of convergence R of the power series Σk=1∞ 4ᵏx²ᵏ/k.

Σ 4ᵏx²ᵏ/kx₀ = 0
R =
12.Sequences & seriesHard

f(x) = cos x is approximated at x = 1 by its Maclaurin polynomial of degree n. With the Lagrange bound M·|x|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)! and M = 1, find the smallest degree n that guarantees an error below 0.001.

f(x) = cos xx = 1M = 1ε = 0.001
n =
13.Laplace transformsMedium
t (s)f(t)t = 0.2f(0.2) = ?

Find f(t) for F(s) = (5s + 23)/(s² + 10s + 25) and evaluate f(0.2).

F(s) = (5s + 23)/(s² + 10s + 25)t = 0.2 s
f(0.2) =
14.Laplace transformsHard
ReIm−0.5−1−1.5−20.51

A system is described by the differential equation y″ + 4y′ + 5y = 16u, with input u(t) and output y(t). Find its transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/U(s) (zero initial conditions) and evaluate the impulse response g(t) at t = 0.5 s. Find g(0.5).

y″ + 4y′ + 5y = 16ut = 0.5 s
g(0.5) =
15.Convolution & LTI systemsMedium
x(t)t5h(t)t11

A system has the impulse response h(t) = e−1tu(t). The input is a step x(t) = 5·u(t). Find the output y(0.5) at t = 0.5 s.

h(t) = e−1tu(t)x(t) = 5·u(t)t = 0.5 s
y(0.5) =
16.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
x(t)t (ms)1.2485

A pulse train has height 5, pulse width 1.2 ms and period 4 ms. Find the amplitude c1 of harmonic number 1, at 250 Hz.

A = 5τ = 1.2 msT = 4 ms
c1 =

3Solutions

1.Differential equations

Answer: k = 0.05718 min⁻¹

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.

Ratio of temperature differences

e−29k = -4/-21

Solve for k

k = ln(-21/-4)/29 = 0.05718 min⁻¹

Answer

k = 0.05718 min⁻¹
2.Differential equations

Answer: m = 59.31 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 = 4·0.25 − (4/500)·m = 1 − 0.008·m

Solve

The integrating factor is ert/V; the solution approaches the equilibrium c·V.

m(t) = 125 + (−115)·e−t/125

Substitute t

m(70) = 125 + (−115)·0.5712 = 59.31 kg

Answer

m = 59.31 kg
3.Matrices & determinants

Answer: det A = −99

Matrices: the determinant of a 2×2 matrix is ad − bc. For 3×3, expand along a row: each entry times the determinant of the 2×2 matrix left after removing its row and column, with alternating signs + − +. Eigenvalues λ solve det(A − λI) = 0; for 2×2 that is λ² − (trace)·λ + det = 0.

2×2 minors of the first row

M₁₁ = −7, M₁₂ = 18, M₁₃ = 37

Cofactor expansion

det A = (−4)·(−7) − 5·18 + (−1)·37 = −99

Answer

det A = −99
4.Matrices & determinants

Answer: λ = −1

Matrices: the determinant of a 2×2 matrix is ad − bc. For 3×3, expand along a row: each entry times the determinant of the 2×2 matrix left after removing its row and column, with alternating signs + − +. Eigenvalues λ solve det(A − λI) = 0; for 2×2 that is λ² − (trace)·λ + det = 0.

Characteristic equation

λ² − (−5)λ + (4) = 0

Solve

λ = (−5 ± √(9))/2 → λ = −4, −1
λ = −1

Answer

λ = −1
5.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: a·b = 9

Dot product: a·b = axbx + ayby + azbz = |a|·|b|·cos θ, a scalar. It gives the angle between two vectors, cos θ = a·b/(|a|·|b|), and it is zero when they are perpendicular. The scalar projection of a onto b is a·b/|b|, and a constant force F moving through a displacement d does work W = F·d.

Multiply matching components and add

a·b = 3·7 + 3·(−4) + (−4)·0 = 21 + (−12) + 0 = 9

Answer

a·b = 9

Positive: the angle between the vectors is less than 90°.

6.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: V = 154

Cross product: a × b = (aybz − azby, azbx − axbz, axby − aybx) is perpendicular to both vectors, and |a × b| = |a|·|b|·sin θ is the area of the parallelogram they span (the triangle has half of it). Order matters: b × a = −(a × b). The moment of a force F applied at point A about point O is MO = r × F, with r = A − O.

Cross product b × c

(b × c)x = bycz − bzcy = (−2)·(−4) − 5·(−4) = 28
(b × c)y = bzcx − bxcz = 5·(−3) − 2·(−4) = −7
(b × c)z = bxcy − bycx = 2·(−4) − (−2)·(−3) = −14

Dot product with a

a·(b × c) = (−5)·28 + 2·(−7) + 0·(−14) = −154
V = |−154| = 154

Answer

V = 154
7.Integrals

Answer: I = 5.545

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 8 − ln 2) = 4·ln 4 = 5.545

Answer

I = 5.545
8.Integrals

Answer: I = 0.0609

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

1.649·(1.25) − 1·2 = 0.0609

Answer

I = 0.0609
9.Multivariable calculus

Answer: dz/dt = −126

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) = 1
dx/dt = −1, dy/dt = −2t = −2

Partial derivatives

fx = −6x²y² + 8x = −78
fy = −4x³y − 6y = 102

Chain rule

dz/dt = (−78)·(−1) + 102·(−2) = −126

Answer

dz/dt = −126
10.Multivariable calculus

Answer: I = 0.2298

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).

Region

0 ≤ y ≤ x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1

Reversed order

I = ∫01 ∫0x sin(x²) dy dx = ∫01 x·sin(x²) dx

Substitution u = x²

I = [−cos(x²)/2]01 = 0.2298

Answer

I = 0.2298
11.Sequences & series

Answer: R = 0.5

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.

Coefficients

The series is in x²: it converges for 4·x² < 1, so |x| < 1/2.

Radius

R = 0.5

Answer

R = 0.5

The ratio test says nothing at the two end points; they have to be checked separately.

12.Sequences & series

Answer: n = 6

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.

n(n + 1)!bound011120.5260.16673240.0416741200.00833357200.001389650400.0001984

Bounds for increasing n

n = 5: 0.001389 ≥ 0.001
n = 6: 0.0001984 < 0.001

Smallest degree

n = 6

Answer

n = 6
13.Laplace transforms

Answer: f(0.2) = 1.692

Laplace transform: F(s) = ∫₀∞ f(t)·e−st dt turns derivatives into multiplications by s: ℒ{f′} = sF(s) − f(0), ℒ{f″} = s²F(s) − s·f(0) − f′(0). Standard pairs: 1 ↔ 1/s, e−at ↔ 1/(s + a), t·e−at ↔ 1/(s + a)², sin ωt ↔ ω/(s² + ω²), cos ωt ↔ s/(s² + ω²), and a shift s → s + σ multiplies the time function by e−σt. To invert a rational F(s), split it into partial fractions: the residue of a simple pole p is A = [(s − p)·F(s)] at s = p. Final value theorem: f(∞) = lims→0 s·F(s), valid only when all poles of s·F(s) lie in the left half-plane. Initial value theorem: f(0⁺) = lims→∞ s·F(s).

Factor the denominator

s² + 10s + 25 = (s + 5)²

Partial fractions

5s + 23 = 5(s + 5) + −2
F(s) = 5/(s + 5) − 2/(s + 5)²

Inverse transform

f(t) = 5·e−5t − 2·t·e−5t
f(0.2) = (5 − 2·0.2)·e−5·0.2 = 1.692

Answer

f(0.2) = 1.692
14.Laplace transforms

Answer: g(0.5) = 2.822

Laplace transform: F(s) = ∫₀∞ f(t)·e−st dt turns derivatives into multiplications by s: ℒ{f′} = sF(s) − f(0), ℒ{f″} = s²F(s) − s·f(0) − f′(0). Standard pairs: 1 ↔ 1/s, e−at ↔ 1/(s + a), t·e−at ↔ 1/(s + a)², sin ωt ↔ ω/(s² + ω²), cos ωt ↔ s/(s² + ω²), and a shift s → s + σ multiplies the time function by e−σt. To invert a rational F(s), split it into partial fractions: the residue of a simple pole p is A = [(s − p)·F(s)] at s = p. Final value theorem: f(∞) = lims→0 s·F(s), valid only when all poles of s·F(s) lie in the left half-plane. Initial value theorem: f(0⁺) = lims→∞ s·F(s).

Transfer function

G(s) = Y(s)/U(s) = 16/(s² + 4s + 5)

Partial fractions

s² + 4s + 5 = (s + 2)² + 1²
G(s) = (16/1)·1/((s + 2)² + 1²)

Impulse response

g(t) = e−2t·(16·sin 1t)
g(0.5) = 2.822

Answer

g(0.5) = 2.822
15.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: y(0.5) = 1.967

Continuous convolution: y(t) = ∫ x(τ)·h(t − τ) dτ. Flip h, slide it to position t and integrate the product of the overlapping parts. For causal signals the integral runs from 0 to t. Useful results: the area of y is the area of x times the area of h; if x lasts from t₁ to t₂ and h from t₃ to t₄, y lasts from t₁ + t₃ to t₂ + t₄. For h(t) = e−atu(t) and a step of height A, y(t) = (A/a)(1 − e−at).

Convolution with a step

y(t) = 5·∫₀ᵗ e−1τ dτ = (5/1)·(1 − e−1t)

Evaluate

y(0.5) = 5·(1 − e−0.5) = 1.967

Answer

y(0.5) = 1.967
16.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: c1 = 2.575

Impulse response and Fourier series: the impulse response h(t) describes an LTI system completely: for y′ + a·y = b·x it is h(t) = b·e−atu(t), and for y[n] = a·y[n − 1] + b·x[n] it is h[n] = b·aⁿu[n]. A sinusoid cos ωt passes through with gain |H(jω)| and phase ∠H(jω), where H is the Fourier transform of h. A periodic signal is a sum of harmonics at k/T: a square wave of ±A has only odd harmonics with amplitudes 4A/(kπ), a triangle wave of peak A has 8A/(π²k²), and a pulse train of height A and duty cycle D has the mean A·D and the harmonics (2A/(kπ))·|sin(kπD)|.

Duty cycle

D = 1.2/4 = 0.3

Harmonic amplitude

c1 = (2·5/(1π))·|sin(1π·0.3)| = 2.575

Answer

c1 = 2.575

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