Scribd
Upload
15K views

Calculus Notes

The document provides tips for solving calculus problems involving finding inverses of functions, solving polynomials, and calculating limits. It explains that to find the inverse of a function, swap the input and output variables and solve for the output. It introduces the rational root theorem for solving polynomials, which states possible rational roots are factors of the constant and leading terms. Examples are given of using the theorem and factoring to solve polynomials. Rules for evaluating limits as the variable approaches infinity or other values are also outlined.

Uploaded by

they12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
15K views

Calculus Notes

The document provides tips for solving calculus problems involving finding inverses of functions, solving polynomials, and calculating limits. It explains that to find the inverse of a function, swap the input and output variables and solve for the output. It introduces the rational root theorem for solving polynomials, which states possible rational roots are factors of the constant and leading terms. Examples are given of using the theorem and factoring to solve polynomials. Rules for evaluating limits as the variable approaches infinity or other values are also outlined.

Uploaded by

they12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Some calculus stuff that you better make sure you know

Finding the inverse of a function Most functions are given in the form f (x) =with the right hand side being made up of x. These are among the easiest problems to solve. When asked to nd the inverse of a function, simply replace everything that says f (x) or y with x and everything with x put f (x) or y . Basically, exchange the input and the output. Then, solve for the output in terms of x. Lets look at a quick example. Suppose we are given f (x) = x2 + 3 We want to nd the inverse of this function. Lets call f (x) the variable y. Exchanging inputs and outputs, we obtain x = y2 + 3 x2 = y 2 + 3 x2 3 = y 2 y= x2 3

Very simple stuff. Solving polynomials Im going to be honest with you- sometimes these can be a real pain in the neck. However, Im going to assume one thing- the teacher wont give you a problem involving a polynomial that would take a fucking hour to solve. So Im going to offer some tips. Lets start with the rational root theorem. Im going to put this in the simplest possible terms that I can. If you have a polynomial a1 xn + a2 xn1 + a3 xn2 + ... + a0 = 0 the rational root theorem says that every rational solution (non-complex solution and without radicals) must be among the possible values from the fraction of the integer values that can be factored from a1 and a0 , where these are the leading coefcient and the constant term, respectively. Thus, solutions are of the form x = p q , where p are values factored from a0 and q are values factored from a1 . This sounds complicated, so let me illustrate with an example. Suppose you have the polynomial x2 4 = 0 You and I both know (I hope) that the solutions here are x = 2, x = 2. However, lets use the rational root theorem. The constant term is -4. There are 6 possible factors from this: 1, 2, 4 (all of these can go into -4. Always include the negative of each term). The leading coefcient is 1. Obviously, the 2,4 only factors from it are 1. Then the possible rational solutions of the polynomial are from 1,1 which gives the possible answers as 1, 2, 4. We already know what the solutions are, proving that this works. Now, youre probably wondering... if you get a complicated polynomial and you use this theorem, are you supposed to try all the values? In short, yeah, you might have to do that. Im sorry. Put them in your calculator and be really careful. Let me do one more example to show how this theorem can be used to solve difcult polynomials. Suppose we have x3 + 12x2 3x 36 = 0 Obviously, this is tough to factor. But once you get one solution, the rest wont be hard. Heres the good news: The fact that the highest exponent is 3 means that there are only 3 solutions (and judging from the homework, the highest polynomial given was x4 .) Using the rational root theorem, we know that the numbers that go into 36 are 1,2,3,4,6,9,12,18,36. The possible solutions are x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36 Yeah, it could take all day to put all of those in I guess. But some are sort of obviously wrong. One of the solutions is x = 12. Now, since we have one solution, the rest will be easy (that is in fact the 1

ONLY rational solution). We know that now we can rewrite the above polynomial with (x + 12). Now we just have to think of how to factor the rest. This youll have to do on your own, but now that we have at least some of it done, it shouldnt be that hard. The full solution is (x + 12)(x2 3) = 0 Evidently, the remaining solutions are x = 3 and x = 3. Heres something to keep in mind: All of these solutions for x are the xintercepts of the graph. So that means when you are asked to graph the function, make sure you make the graph go through the xaxis at all of those points. Remember that if the leading term in the polynomial is raised to an EVEN power, the graph is a parabola. If it is an ODD power, then it is not a parabola (Ill show you how to sketch it). Whenever they say use the rational root test to nd solutions, do exactly as I showed you above. Find all the possible solutions, and test them. If none of them work, then that means you have complex solutions, or solutions involving a radical. Limits Here are my tips for solving limits problems. First of all, they arent hard (most of them). If youre given a limit problem, the rst thing you should try to do is actually substitute in the value that x is approaching. For example, if I have something stupid like lim x2 + 3 then there is no trick here, put
x2

the value in for x and solve and youre done. The answer to that is 7. Remember that if there is a limit of x approaching some number and there are no xs in the function, then nothing happens. Of course, most of them arent this easy. If you have a limit where theres a fraction and it appears that the denominator is going to be zero, you must do everything you can to prevent that from happening. If there is nothing you can do, then you 1 . As x goes to zero, the function blows up must write that the limit is undened. For example, lim x
x0

and appears to go to innity. This limit is undened. If you have a limit as x approaches innity, here are the rules. If the largest exponent for x in the numerator is greater than the denominator, then the limit is innity. If the largest exponent for x in the denominator is greater than the numerator, then the limit is zero. If the exponents are the same, 3 x3 +x2 then the answer will depend on the coefcients. For example, lim 35 x 3 3 = 5 .
x

Sometimes, you gotta multiply the top and bottom by the conjugate of the top (this is a big deal and Ill bet it will be on your test). Let me show you an example 4 x + 16 lim x0 x Obviously, if we let this go then the limit will be undened. Multiply top and bottom by the conjugate of the top (and dont do anything with the bottom) 4 x + 16 (4 + x + 16) lim x0 x (4 + x + 16) 16 x 16 + x + 16) x lim x0 x(4 + x + 16) lim
x0 x(4

lim

x 0 4

1 1 1 = = 4+4 16 x + 16

Not too hard. If youre asked to calculate the limit as x approaches a value from the right and from the left, you might get different values depending on which direction you go. If that happens, then the entire limit is undened. 2

You might also like