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) = 3y(0.5) = ?

Solve y″ + 6y′ + 5y = 0 with y(0) = 3 and y′(0) = 4. Find y(0.5).

y″ + 6y′ + 5y = 0y(0) = 3y′(0) = 4
y(0.5) =
2.Differential equationsHard
tyy(0) = 3y(0.25) = ?

Solve y″ + y′ + 9.25y = 0 with y(0) = 3 and y′(0) = 0 (released from rest). Find y(0.25); angles in radians.

y″ + y′ + 9.25y = 0y(0) = 3y′(0) = 0
y(0.25) =
3.Matrices & determinantsMedium
A =−1−3−311−130−4

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

A = [−1 −3 −3; 1 1 −1; 3 0 −4]
det A =
4.Matrices & determinantsHard
A =−552−4b =−10−12

Solve the system −5x + 5y = −10 and 2x − 4y = −12. Find x.

−5x + 5y = −102x − 4y = −12
x =
5.Vectors: dot & cross productMedium
xyzab

Find the value of k for which the vectors a = (4, 1, −6) and b = (1, 3, k) are perpendicular.

a = (4, 1, −6)b = (1, 3, k)
k =
6.Vectors: dot & cross productHard
xyzabc

Find the volume V of the parallelepiped whose edges from one corner are a = (−4, −1, −4), b = (−3, −5, −1) and c = (−1, −2, −3).

a = (−4, −1, −4)b = (−3, −5, −1)c = (−1, −2, −3)
V =
7.IntegralsMedium
xy15

Evaluate I = ∫15 5/x dx.

f(x) = 5/x[1, 5]
I =
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
xy20.5∇fP

For f(x, y) = 3 sin(3x − y), find the maximum rate of change of f at the point (2, 0.5), that is |∇f|.

f(x, y) = 3 sin(3x − y)P = (2, 0.5)
|∇f| =
10.Multivariable calculusHard
xyx = 4y = 2x48

Evaluate I = ∬T (3x − y) dA over the triangle T bounded by y = 0, x = 4 and y = 2x.

f = 3x − y0 ≤ x ≤ 40 ≤ y ≤ 2x
I =
11.Sequences & seriesMedium
kSn​12345678910

Find the sum S = Σk=122 12/(k(k + 1)).

ak = 12/(k(k + 1))n = 22
S =
12.Sequences & seriesHard

Recognise the series and find its sum: S = Σk=1∞ k·0.5ᵏ.

ak = k·0.5ᵏ
S =
13.Laplace transformsMedium
t (s)f(t)t = 0.3f(0.3) = ?

Find f(t) for F(s) = (2s + 4)/(s² + 2s + 1) and evaluate f(0.3).

F(s) = (2s + 4)/(s² + 2s + 1)t = 0.3 s
f(0.3) =
14.Laplace transformsHard
t (s)y(t)t = 0.5y(0.5) = ?

A system obeys y″ + 6y′ + 8y = 16·u(t), with y(0) = 2 and y′(0) = 0. At t = 0 a step input u(t) = 10 is applied. Use the Laplace transform to find y(0.5).

y″ + 6y′ + 8y = 16·u(t)y(0) = 2y′(0) = 0u(t) = 10t = 0.5 s
y(0.5) =
15.Convolution & LTI systemsMedium
x(t)t5h(t)t1

The input x(t) = 5·e−4tu(t) is applied to a system with h(t) = e−5tu(t). Find the output y(0.5) at t = 0.5 s.

x(t) = 5·e−4tu(t)h(t) = e−5tu(t)t = 0.5 s
y(0.5) =
16.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
x(t)t (ms)24810−10

A triangle wave rises and falls linearly between −10 and +10 with period T = 4 ms. Find the amplitude c3 of its Fourier component at 750 Hz.

±10T = 4 msf = 750 Hz
c3 =

3Solutions

1.Differential equations

Answer: y(0.5) = 2.737

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 + 5) = 0 → r = −1, −5

Constants from the initial values

A + B = 3, −1A − 5B = 4
A = 4.75, B = −1.75

Evaluate

y(0.5) = 4.75·e−0.5 + (−1.75)·e−2.5 = 2.737

Answer

y(0.5) = 2.737
2.Differential equations

Answer: y(0.25) = 2.238

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.

Complex roots

r = −0.5 ± 3j

Constants

A = 3, B = 0.5·3/3 = 0.5

Evaluate

y(0.25) = e−0.125(3·cos 0.75 + 0.5·sin 0.75) = 2.238

Answer

y(0.25) = 2.238
3.Matrices & determinants

Answer: det A = 10

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 = −1, M₁₃ = −3

Cofactor expansion

det A = (−1)·(−4) − (−3)·(−1) + (−3)·(−3) = 10

Answer

det A = 10
4.Matrices & determinants

Answer: x = 10

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 = (−5)·(−4) − 5·2 = 10

Replace the x column

det Aₓ = (−10)·(−4) − 5·(−12) = 100
x = 100/10 = 10

Answer

x = 10
y = 8
5.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: k = 1.167

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 equals zero

a·b = 4·1 + 1·3 + (−6)·k = 0
7 + (−6)·k = 0

Solve for k

k = −7/(−6) = 1.167

Answer

k = 1.167
6.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: V = 48

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 = (−5)·(−3) − (−1)·(−2) = 13
(b × c)y = bzcx − bxcz = (−1)·(−1) − (−3)·(−3) = −8
(b × c)z = bxcy − bycx = (−3)·(−2) − (−5)·(−1) = 1

Dot product with a

a·(b × c) = (−4)·13 + (−1)·(−8) + (−4)·1 = −48
V = |−48| = 48

Answer

V = 48
7.Integrals

Answer: I = 8.047

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) = 5·ln x

Evaluate at the limits

I = 5·(ln 5 − ln 1) = 5·ln 5 = 8.047

Answer

I = 8.047
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: |∇f| = 6.723

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 = 9 cos(3x − y) → fx(2, 0.5) = 6.378
fy = −3 cos(3x − y) → fy(2, 0.5) = −2.126

Length of the gradient

|∇f| = √(6.378² + (−2.126)²) = 6.723

Answer

|∇f| = 6.723
10.Multivariable calculus

Answer: I = 85.33

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).

Limits

0 ≤ x ≤ 4, 0 ≤ y ≤ 2x

Inner integral

∫02x (3x − y) dy = 3x·2x − (2x)²/2 = 4x²

Outer integral

I = 4·4³/3 = 85.33

Answer

I = 85.33
11.Sequences & series

Answer: S = 11.48

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

12/(k(k + 1)) = 12·(1/k − 1/(k + 1))

Cancel

S = 12·(1 − 1/23) = 11.48

Answer

S = 11.48
12.Sequences & series

Answer: S = 2

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 = 2

Answer

S = 2
13.Laplace transforms

Answer: f(0.3) = 1.926

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 + 2s + 1 = (s + 1)²

Partial fractions

2s + 4 = 2(s + 1) + 2
F(s) = 2/(s + 1) + 2/(s + 1)²

Inverse transform

f(t) = 2·e−t + 2·t·e−t
f(0.3) = (2 + 2·0.3)·e−0.3 = 1.926

Answer

f(0.3) = 1.926
14.Laplace transforms

Answer: y(0.5) = 9.192

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 + 6s + 8)·Y(s) = 2s + 12 + 160/s
Y(s) = (2s² + 12s + 160)/(s(s + 2)(s + 4))

Partial fractions

A = 160/(2·4) = 20
B = 144/((−2)·2) = −36
C = 144/((−4)·(−2)) = 18

Result

y(t) = 20 − 36·e−2t + 18·e−4t
y(0.5) = 9.192

Answer

y(0.5) = 9.192

Check: y(0) = A + B + C = 2.

15.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: y(0.5) = 0.2663

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 integral

y(t) = 5e−5t∫₀ᵗ e−(4 − 5)τ dτ = 5(e−5t − e−4t)/(−1)

Evaluate

y(0.5) = 5·(0.08208 − 0.1353)/(−1) = 0.2663

Answer

y(0.5) = 0.2663
16.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: c3 = 0.9006

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)|.

Harmonic number

f₀ = 1/T = 250 Hz → k = 3

Amplitude

c3 = 8·10/(π²·3²) = 0.9006

Answer

c3 = 0.9006

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