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
tyy(0) = 5y(2) = ?

Solve y″ + 3y′ + 2y = 0 with y(0) = 5 and y′(0) = 0. Find y(2).

y″ + 3y′ + 2y = 0y(0) = 5y′(0) = 0
y(2) =
2.Differential equationsHard
tyK = 1ymax​ = ?

A system obeys y″ + 4y′ + 8y = 8 for t ≥ 0, starting from rest: y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0. Find the peak value ymax of its step response.

y″ + 4y′ + 8y = 8y(0) = 0y′(0) = 0
ymax =
3.Matrices & determinantsMedium
A =01−14−4−3−4−4−2

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

A = [0 1 −1; 4 −4 −3; −4 −4 −2]
det A =
4.Matrices & determinantsHard
A =0−3−52

Find the larger eigenvalue λ of the matrix A shown.

A = [0 −3; −5 2]
λ =
5.Vectors: dot & cross productMedium
xyzab

Find the angle θ between the vectors a = (2, 3, −3) and b = (2, 6, −5), in degrees.

a = (2, 3, −3)b = (2, 6, −5)
θ = °
6.Vectors: dot & cross productHard
xyzabc

Find the volume V of the parallelepiped whose edges from one corner are a = (4, 1, −4), b = (1, 2, 4) and c = (−1, 0, −4).

a = (4, 1, −4)b = (1, 2, 4)c = (−1, 0, −4)
V =
7.IntegralsMedium
xy3y = 2x

The region under y = 2x from x = 0 to x = 3 is rotated about the x-axis. Find the volume V of the solid (a cone).

y = 2x0 ≤ x ≤ 3
V =
8.IntegralsHard
xy−33

Find the area A of the region between the parabola y = 9 − x² and the x-axis.

y = 9 − x²
A =
9.Multivariable calculusMedium

z = 3x²y³ + x³ + 4y³ − xy with x = −t and y = −2t² − 1. Use the chain rule to find dz/dt at t = −1.

z = 3x²y³ + x³ + 4y³ − xyx = −ty = −2t² − 1t = −1
dz/dt =
10.Multivariable calculusHard
xy−20−2−101(0, 0)(−1, −1)

Find the critical points of f(x, y) = x³ + y³ + 3xy, classify them, and give the value fmax of f at its local maximum.

f(x, y) = x³ + y³ + 3xy
fmax =
11.Sequences & seriesMedium
k|aₖ|¹ᐟᵏ123456789101112

Apply the root test to Σk=1∞ ((5k + 2)/(3k + 5))ᵏ. Find L = lim |ak|1/k.

ak = ((5k + 2)/(3k + 5))ᵏ
L =
12.Sequences & seriesHard

Recognise the series and find its sum: S = Σk=0∞ (−1)ᵏ/(2k + 1)!.

ak = (−1)ᵏ/(2k + 1)!
S =
13.Laplace transformsMedium
ReIm−1−2−3−4−5−6−7−81

F(s) = (3s + 16)/(s² + 12s + 35). Its inverse transform has the form f(t) = A·e−5t + B·e−7t. Find the coefficient A by partial fractions.

F(s) = (3s + 16)/(s² + 12s + 35)
A =
14.Laplace transformsHard
t (s)y(t)t = 0.5y(0.5) = ?

A system obeys y″ + 7y′ + 6y = 12·u(t), with y(0) = 3 and y′(0) = 0. At t = 0 a step input u(t) = 4 is applied. Use the Laplace transform to find y(0.5).

y″ + 7y′ + 6y = 12·u(t)y(0) = 3y′(0) = 0u(t) = 4t = 0.5 s
y(0.5) =
15.Convolution & LTI systemsMedium
x(t)t1h(t)t21

A system has the impulse response h(t) = e−0.5tu(t). The input is a step x(t) = 1·u(t). Find the output y(2) at t = 2 s.

h(t) = e−0.5tu(t)x(t) = 1·u(t)t = 2 s
y(2) =
16.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
10cos(3.75t)h(t) = 2e−5t​u(t)y(t)

The input x(t) = 10·cos(3.75t) is applied to a system with h(t) = 2·e−5tu(t). Find the amplitude Ym of the steady-state output.

h(t) = 2e−5tu(t)x(t) = 10cos(3.75t)
Ym =

3Solutions

1.Differential equations

Answer: y(2) = 1.262

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 + 1)(r + 2) = 0 → r = −1, −2

Constants from the initial values

A + B = 5, −1A − 2B = 0
A = 10, B = −5

Evaluate

y(2) = 10·e−2 + (−5)·e−4 = 1.262

Answer

y(2) = 1.262
2.Differential equations

Answer: ymax = 1.043

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.

Steady value and roots

yss = 1, r = −2 ± 2j

Constants from the initial values

y(0) = 1 + A = 0 → A = −1
y′(0) = −2A + 2B = 0 → B = −1

Peak

t = π/2 = 1.571
ymax = 1·(1 + e−2·π/2) = 1.043

Answer

ymax = 1.043
3.Matrices & determinants

Answer: det A = 52

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 = −4, M₁₂ = −20, M₁₃ = −32

Cofactor expansion

det A = 0·(−4) − 1·(−20) + (−1)·(−32) = 52

Answer

det A = 52
4.Matrices & determinants

Answer: λ = 5

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 − (2)λ + (−15) = 0

Solve

λ = (2 ± √(64))/2 → λ = −3, 5
λ = 5

Answer

λ = 5
5.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: θ = 11.92 °

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.

Dot product

a·b = 2·2 + 3·6 + (−3)·(−5) = 37

Magnitudes

|a| = √(2² + 3² + (−3)²) = 4.69
|b| = √(2² + 6² + (−5)²) = 8.062

Angle

cos θ = 37/(4.69·8.062) = 0.9784
θ = arccos(0.9784) = 11.92°

Answer

θ = 11.92°
6.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: V = 40

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) − 4·0 = −8
(b × c)y = bzcx − bxcz = 4·(−1) − 1·(−4) = 0
(b × c)z = bxcy − bycx = 1·0 − 2·(−1) = 2

Dot product with a

a·(b × c) = 4·(−8) + 1·0 + (−4)·2 = −40
V = |−40| = 40

Answer

V = 40
7.Integrals

Answer: V = 113.1

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.

Disc method

V = π∫₀3 4x² dx

Integrate

V = π·4·3³/3 = 113.1

Answer

V = 113.1

Check: a cone of radius 6 and height 3 has (1/3)πr²h = 113.1.

8.Integrals

Answer: A = 36

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

9 − x² = 0 → x = ±3

Integrate

A = [9x − x³/3]−33 = 18 − (−18) = 36

Answer

A = 36
9.Multivariable calculus

Answer: dz/dt = 908

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) = 1, y(−1) = −3
dx/dt = −1, dy/dt = −4t = 4

Partial derivatives

fx = 6xy³ + 3x² − y = −156
fy = 9x²y² + 12y² − x = 188

Chain rule

dz/dt = (−156)·(−1) + 188·4 = 908

Answer

dz/dt = 908
10.Multivariable calculus

Answer: fmax = 1

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 = 3x² + 3y = 0
fy = 3y² + 3x = 0
(0, 0), (−1, −1)

Second-derivative test

(0, 0): fxx = 0, fyy = 0, fxy = 3, D = −9 → saddle point
(−1, −1): fxx = −6, fyy = −6, fxy = 3, D = 27 → local maximum

Value at the extremum

f(−1, −1) = 1

Answer

fmax = 1
11.Sequences & series

Answer: L = 1.667

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.

Root of the terms

|ak|1/k = (5k + 2)/(3k + 5) → 5/3

Conclusion

L = 1.667 > 1

Answer

L = 1.667

L > 1, so the series diverges.

12.Sequences & series

Answer: S = 0.8415

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 (−1)ᵏx2k+1/(2k + 1)! = sin x

Substitute

x = 1
S = sin 1 = 0.8415

Answer

S = 0.8415
13.Laplace transforms

Answer: A = 0.5

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 + 12s + 35 = (s + 5)(s + 7)
F(s) = A/(s + 5) + B/(s + 7)

Cover-up rule

Multiply by (s + 5) and set s = −5: the B-term vanishes.

A = (3s + 16)/(s + 7) |s = −5 = 1/2 = 0.5

Answer

A = 0.5
(B = 2.5, so f(t) = 0.5·e−5t + 2.5·e−7t)
14.Laplace transforms

Answer: y(0.5) = 4.411

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).

Transform the equation

(s² + 7s + 6)·Y(s) = 3s + 21 + 48/s
Y(s) = (3s² + 21s + 48)/(s(s + 1)(s + 6))

Partial fractions

A = 48/(1·6) = 8
B = 30/((−1)·5) = −6
C = 30/((−6)·(−5)) = 1

Result

y(t) = 8 − 6·e−t + e−6t
y(0.5) = 4.411

Answer

y(0.5) = 4.411

Check: y(0) = A + B + C = 3.

15.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: y(2) = 1.264

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) = 1·∫₀ᵗ e−0.5τ dτ = (1/0.5)·(1 − e−0.5t)

Evaluate

y(2) = 2·(1 − e−1) = 1.264

Answer

y(2) = 1.264
16.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: Ym = 3.2

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)|.

Frequency response

H(jω) = 2/(5 + jω)

Gain at the input frequency

|H(j3.75)| = 2/√(5² + 3.75²) = 0.32
Ym = 10·0.32 = 3.2

Answer

Ym = 3.2

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