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​87 °C61 °C

A forged steel part at 300 °C is left to cool in a workshop at 22 °C. After 29 min its temperature is 87 °C. It follows Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ). How long after the start, t, does it take to reach 61 °C?

T0 = 300 °CTa = 22 °CT(29) = 87 °CT = 61 °C
t = min
2.Differential equationsHard
t (min)m (kg)35 minm = ?

A tank holds 1000 L of water in which 10 kg of salt is dissolved. Brine with 0.25 kg of salt per litre flows in at 20 L/min, and the well-mixed solution flows out at the same rate. How much salt m is in the tank after 35 min?

V = 1000 Lm0 = 10 kgc = 0.25 kg/Lr = 20 L/min
m = kg
3.Matrices & determinantsMedium
A =555−5−3−2−302

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

A = [5 5 5; −5 −3 −2; −3 0 2]
det A =
4.Matrices & determinantsHard
A =6−532b =−66

Solve the system 6x − 5y = −6 and 3x + 2y = 6. Find x.

6x − 5y = −63x + 2y = 6
x =
5.Vectors: dot & cross productMedium
xyzab

Find the angle θ between the vectors a = (3, 4, 6) and b = (−3, −6, −6), in degrees.

a = (3, 4, 6)b = (−3, −6, −6)
θ = °
6.Vectors: dot & cross productHard
xyzab

The unit vector n̂ is perpendicular to both a = (−4, 4, 0) and b = (−5, −4, 5) and has a positive z-component. Find its y-component n̂y.

a = (−4, 4, 0)b = (−5, −4, 5)n̂z > 0
n̂y =
7.IntegralsMedium
xy01

Evaluate I = ∫01 2x·(x² + 1)3 dx.

f(x) = 2x·(x² + 1)3[0, 1]
I =
8.IntegralsHard
xy−11

Find the area A of the region between the parabola y = 1 − x² and the x-axis.

y = 1 − x²
A =
9.Multivariable calculusMedium
xy0505vP

For f(x, y) = 2x³y − 4x² − 5y³, find the directional derivative Duf at (3, 3) in the direction of v = (1, 4).

f(x, y) = 2x³y − 4x² − 5y³P = (3, 3)v = (1, 4)
Duf =
10.Multivariable calculusHard
xy1

Use polar coordinates to evaluate I = ∬R (x² + y²) dA, where R is the quarter of the disc x² + y² ≤ 1 in the first quadrant.

f = x² + y²0 ≤ r ≤ 10 ≤ θ ≤ π/2
I =
11.Sequences & seriesMedium
kSn​12345678910S = ?

Find the sum S = Σk=1∞ 1/(k(k + 1)).

ak = 1/(k(k + 1))
S =
12.Sequences & seriesHard

f(x) = cos x is approximated at x = 0.5 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 0.0001.

f(x) = cos xx = 0.5M = 1ε = 0.0001
n =
13.Laplace transformsMedium
ReIm−1−2−3−4−5−61

F(s) = (6s + 35)/(s² + 7s + 12). Its inverse transform has the form f(t) = A·e−3t + B·e−4t. Find the coefficient A by partial fractions.

F(s) = (6s + 35)/(s² + 7s + 12)
A =
14.Laplace transformsHard
t (s)y(t)t = 1.2y(1.2) = ?

A system obeys y″ + 5y′ + 4y = 16·u(t), with y(0) = 6 and y′(0) = 0. At t = 0 a step input u(t) = 1 is applied. Use the Laplace transform to find y(1.2).

y″ + 5y′ + 4y = 16·u(t)y(0) = 6y′(0) = 0u(t) = 1t = 1.2 s
y(1.2) =
15.Convolution & LTI systemsMedium
x(t)t35h(t)t42

The pulse x(t) = 5 for 0 ≤ t < 3 s is convolved with h(t), a triangle that falls linearly from 2 at t = 0 to 0 at t = 4 s. Find the area Ay under y(t) = x(t) ∗ h(t).

x(t) = 5, 0 ≤ t < 3 sh(0) = 2, h(4) = 0
Ay =
16.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
2cos(3.75t)h(t) = 5e−5t​u(t)y(t)

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

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

3Solutions

1.Differential equations

Answer: t = 39.19 min

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.

Cooling constant

k = ln(278/65)/29 = 0.05011 min⁻¹

Time to reach the target

t = ln(278/39)/0.05011 = 39.19 min

Answer

t = 39.19 min
2.Differential equations

Answer: m = 130.8 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 = 20·0.25 − (20/1000)·m = 5 − 0.02·m

Solve

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

m(t) = 250 + (−240)·e−t/50

Substitute t

m(35) = 250 + (−240)·0.4966 = 130.8 kg

Answer

m = 130.8 kg
3.Matrices & determinants

Answer: det A = 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.

2×2 minors of the first row

M₁₁ = −6, M₁₂ = −16, M₁₃ = −9

Cofactor expansion

det A = 5·(−6) − 5·(−16) + 5·(−9) = 5

Answer

det A = 5
4.Matrices & determinants

Answer: x = 0.6667

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.

Determinant of the coefficient matrix

det A = 6·2 − (−5)·3 = 27

Replace the x column

det Aₓ = (−6)·2 − (−5)·6 = 18
x = 18/27 = 0.6667

Answer

x = 0.6667
y = 2
5.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: θ = 169 °

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 = 3·(−3) + 4·(−6) + 6·(−6) = −69

Magnitudes

|a| = √(3² + 4² + 6²) = 7.81
|b| = √((−3)² + (−6)² + (−6)²) = 9

Angle

cos θ = −69/(7.81·9) = −0.9816
θ = arccos(−0.9816) = 169°

Answer

θ = 169°
6.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: n̂y = 0.4369

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

(a × b)x = aybz − azby = 4·5 − 0·(−4) = 20
(a × b)y = azbx − axbz = 0·(−5) − (−4)·5 = 20
(a × b)z = axby − aybx = (−4)·(−4) − 4·(−5) = 36

Normalise

The z-component of a × b is already positive.

|a × b| = √(20² + 20² + 36²) = 45.78
n̂ = (20, 20, 36)/45.78 = (0.4369, 0.4369, 0.7863)
n̂y = 0.4369

Answer

n̂y = 0.4369
7.Integrals

Answer: I = 3.75

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 = ∫12 u3 du

Integrate and evaluate

I = [u4/4]12 = (16 − 1)/4 = 3.75

Answer

I = 3.75
8.Integrals

Answer: A = 1.333

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

1 − x² = 0 → x = ±1

Integrate

A = [1x − x³/3]−11 = 0.6667 − (−0.6667) = 1.333

Answer

A = 1.333
9.Multivariable calculus

Answer: Duf = −45.11

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 = 6x²y − 8x → fx(3, 3) = 138
fy = 2x³ − 15y² → fy(3, 3) = −81

Unit vector

|v| = √(1² + 4²) = 4.123
u = (0.2425, 0.9701)

Dot product

Duf = 138·0.2425 + (−81)·0.9701 = −45.11

Answer

Duf = −45.11
10.Multivariable calculus

Answer: I = 0.3927

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 = ∫0π/2 ∫01 r²·r dr dθ

Integrate

∫ r²·r dr = [r⁴/4]
I = 0.3927

Answer

I = 0.3927
11.Sequences & series

Answer: S = 1

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.

Partial fractions

1/(k(k + 1)) = 1·(1/k − 1/(k + 1))

Cancel

S = 1·1 = 1

Answer

S = 1
12.Sequences & series

Answer: n = 5

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)!bound010.5120.125260.020833240.00260441200.000260457202.17 × 10⁻⁵

Bounds for increasing n

n = 4: 0.0002604 ≥ 0.0001
n = 5: 2.17 × 10⁻⁵ < 0.0001

Smallest degree

n = 5

Answer

n = 5
13.Laplace transforms

Answer: A = 17

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 + 7s + 12 = (s + 3)(s + 4)
F(s) = A/(s + 3) + B/(s + 4)

Cover-up rule

Multiply by (s + 3) and set s = −3: the B-term vanishes.

A = (6s + 35)/(s + 4) |s = −3 = 17/1 = 17

Answer

A = 17
(B = −11, so f(t) = 17·e−3t − 11·e−4t)
14.Laplace transforms

Answer: y(1.2) = 4.798

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 + 5s + 4)·Y(s) = 6s + 30 + 16/s
Y(s) = (6s² + 30s + 16)/(s(s + 1)(s + 4))

Partial fractions

A = 16/(1·4) = 4
B = −8/((−1)·3) = 2.667
C = −8/((−4)·(−3)) = −0.6667

Result

y(t) = 4 + 2.667·e−t − 0.6667·e−4t
y(1.2) = 4.798

Answer

y(1.2) = 4.798

Check: y(0) = A + B + C = 6.

15.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: Ay = 60

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).

Areas of the inputs

∫x dt = 5·3 = 15
∫h dt = ½·4·2 = 4

Area of the output

Ay = 15·4 = 60

Answer

Ay = 60
16.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: Ym = 1.6

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) = 5/(5 + jω)

Gain at the input frequency

|H(j3.75)| = 5/√(5² + 3.75²) = 0.8
Ym = 2·0.8 = 1.6

Answer

Ym = 1.6

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