Engineering Mathematics Reference Guide (MATH 181 • MATH 182 • MATH 283)
This unified reference document provides a clean, formula-only reference manual for students across single-variable and multivariable engineering calculus.
1. Pre-Calculus, Algebra, & Geometry
1.1 Algebra & Factoring Formulas
- Difference of Squares:
- Difference of Cubes:
- Sum of Cubes:
- Binomial Expansions:
- Quadratic Formula: For ,
1.2 Exponents & Logarithms
- Change of Base:
1.3 Geometric Formulas
| Shape / Solid | Perimeter / Surface Area | Area / Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Circle (Radius ) | ||
| Triangle (Base , Height ) | ||
| Trapezoid (Bases , Height ) | ||
| Sphere (Radius ) | ||
| Right Circular Cylinder () | (total) | |
| Right Circular Cone () | ||
| Rectangular Box () |
1.4 Trigonometric Functions & The Unit Circle
Fundamental Identities
- Reciprocal & Quotient:
- Pythagorean Identities:
- Even/Odd Symmetries:
Sum, Difference, & Angle Formulas
- Sum & Difference:
- Double-Angle Identities:
- Half-Angle / Power-Reduction Identities:
- Product-to-Sum Identities:
2. Calculus I (Single-Variable Differential Calculus)
2.1 Limits & Continuity
- Definition of Derivative:
- Continuity at : is defined, exists, and .
- Special Limits:
- L'Hôpital's Rule: For indeterminate forms or ,
2.2 Differentiation Rules
- Constant Rule:
- Power Rule:
- Constant Multiple:
- Sum & Difference:
- Product Rule:
- Quotient Rule:
- Chain Rule:
2.3 Table of Derivatives
| Function | Derivative | Function | Derivative |
|---|---|---|---|
2.4 Applications of Derivatives
- Linearization / Tangent Line:
- Newton's Method:
- Mean Value Theorem: If is continuous on and differentiable on , then there exists such that .
- Extreme Value Analysis:
- Critical points occur where or is undefined.
- Second Derivative Test: If :
- Local Minimum (concave up)
- Local Maximum (concave down)
- Inconclusive
3. Calculus II (Integral Calculus, Techniques, Series, & Parametrics)
3.1 Fundamental Theorems & Basic Integrals
- FTC Part 1:
- FTC Part 2 (Evaluation): , where .
- Net Change Theorem:
- Average Value:
3.2 Table of Indefinite Integrals
| Integrand | Indefinite Integral |
|---|---|
3.3 Integration Techniques
- Substitution Method (-sub):
- Integration by Parts:
- Definite:
- Trigonometric Substitution:
- For : Substitute , , identity:
- For : Substitute , , identity:
- For : Substitute , , identity:
- Improper -Integrals: converges if and only if .
3.4 Applications of Integrals
- Area Between Curves:
- Volumes of Solids of Revolution:
- Disk Method (Axis -axis):
- Washer Method:
- Cylindrical Shells:
- Arc Length (2D):
- Cartesian:
- Parametric:
- Polar:
- Surface Area of Revolution:
- Physical Applications:
- Work: ; Hooke's Law:
- Hydrostatic Force:
- Centroid Coordinates:
3.5 Infinite Sequences & Series
Convergence Tests Flowchart
Power Series, Taylor & Maclaurin Expansions
- Taylor Series about :
- Maclaurin Series ():
- Standard Maclaurin Series:
4. Calculus III (Multivariable & Vector Calculus for Engineers)
4.1 3D Coordinate Geometry & Vectors
- 3D Distance Formula:
- Sphere Equation:
- Magnitude & Unit Vector:
- Dot Product:
- Orthogonality Condition:
- Angle:
- Scalar & Vector Projections:
- Cross Product:
- Magnitude:
- Parallel Condition:
- Geometric Area of Parallelogram ; Area of Triangle
- Torque:
- Triple Scalar Product & Volume:
- Parallelepiped Volume:
- Coplanarity Condition: are coplanar
4.2 Lines & Distances in 3D Space
- Equations of a Line through with Direction :
- Vector Equation:
- Parametric Equations:
- Symmetric Equations:
- Shortest Distance from Point to Line (Point , Direction ):
- Classification of Two 3D Lines and :
- Parallel: . (Coincident if points on satisfy , otherwise Distinct Parallel).
- Intersecting: and the linear system has a consistent unique solution .
- Skew: and the linear system is inconsistent (lines are non-parallel and non-intersecting).
4.3 Vector-Valued Functions, Curves, & Kinematics
- Kinematic Hierarchy:
- Position:
- Velocity:
- Acceleration:
- Scalar Speed:
- Arc Length & Intrinsic Parametrization:
- Arc Length Integral:
- Accumulated Arc Length Function:
- Unit Speed Property under :
- TNB Frame & Curvature:
- Unit Tangent Vector:
- Principal Unit Normal Vector:
- Binormal Vector:
- Curvature Formulas:
For planar curve :
- Radius of Curvature & Osculating Circle:
- Tangential & Normal Acceleration Decomposition:
4.4 Multivariable Differential Calculus
- Partial Derivatives:
- Clairaut's Theorem: If and are continuous, then .
- Tangent Plane to at :
- Linear Approximation & Total Differential:
- Multivariable Chain Rule:
- If where :
- If where :
- Gradient Vector & Directional Derivative:
- Maximum rate of increase is , occurring in the direction of .
- Tangent plane to level surface at : .
- Critical Points & Second Derivative Test:
- Critical points occur where or is undefined.
- Discriminant:
- Local Minimum
- Local Maximum
- Saddle Point
- Inconclusive
- Lagrange Multipliers: To optimize subject to constraint :
4.5 Multiple Integrals & Coordinate Transformations
- Double Integrals:
- Rectangular:
- Polar Coordinates ():
- Triple Integrals:
- Rectangular:
- Cylindrical ():
- Spherical ():
- Jacobian Transformation (2D & 3D):
- Physical Applications of Multiple Integrals:
- Mass:
- Center of Mass:
4.6 Vector Calculus (Fields, Integrals, & Big Theorems)
- Vector Field Operations:
- Gradient:
- Divergence:
- Curl:
- Conservative Criterion: (on simply connected domains).
- Line Integrals:
- Scalar:
- Vector Work / Circulation:
- Fundamental Theorem for Line Integrals:
- Green's Theorem (2D Plane):
- Surface Integrals:
- Scalar:
- Vector Flux:
- Stokes' Theorem:
- Divergence Theorem (Gauss's Theorem):