NOTES

P H Y S I C S

MATHEMATICAL TOOLS
INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTIONS

What you will learn

• What is a function • Quadratic functions

• Algebraic functions • Drawing graphs of quadratic equations
• Graphs and different forms of straight-line
equations

Mathematical Tools in Physics

• In order to study the properties of

an object (Example: temperature,
mass, speed, etc), we have to
Physics Maths Mathematics measure and express these
Physics is the tools used Mathematics is properties in terms of numbers.
study of energy in physics the science of • Physics continuously uses multiple
and matter and (Numerical study of numbers, mathematical tools to analyse
operators,
how they are structures, various phenomena around us.
Calculus,
related to each Trigono- shapes, and • Understanding these
other. metry) patterns. mathematical tools will help us
understand and solve physics
problems much better.

Functions

Trigonometry

Differentiation
Mathematical
Tools
Integration

Coordinate Geometry

Vector Algebra

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 02

Functions
Input
• Function is a relation between any two variable
quantities, such that, for every input, there is a
unique output.

Output
Function

Example: kinetic energy of a car.

M=100 kg velocity = 𝒗

K.E at any instant?

• Kinetic energy = Dependent variable

• Velocity = Independent variable

Input Output
Function
𝒗 m𝒗2
K.E =
2
𝐾.𝐸 depends on 𝒗
𝐾.𝐸 is a function of 𝒗
𝐾.𝐸 is f of 𝒗
𝐾.𝐸 = 𝒇(𝒗)

Range = All positive values Domain = All real numbers

Example

𝟏
𝒚= Domain = ?
𝒙 − 𝟑

Solution : x ≠ 3

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 03

Types of functions

Some Important Functions

Algebraic Trigonometric Exponential Logarithmic

Functions Functions Functions Functions

Polynomial functions

• It is an expression consisting of a combination of variables and constants. It involves

operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂𝟎+ 𝒂𝟏𝒙 + 𝒂𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒂𝟑𝒙𝟑 + … + 𝒂𝒏 𝒙 𝒏 Polynomial of degree n

𝑎0,𝑎1,𝑎2,…𝑎𝑛 Coefficients 𝒂𝒏≠𝟎
𝒙 Variable

• Degree of a polynomial = Highest power

• It signifies the maximum number of solutions possible.

Example

𝒇(𝒙)=𝟑𝒙+𝟒𝒙𝟑−𝟔 Degree = 3
𝒇(𝒙,𝒚)=𝒙𝟐+𝒚𝟐+𝟐𝒙𝒚𝟑+𝟓𝒙𝟐 𝒚 Degree = 4
Equation 𝒇(𝒙)=𝟎 Example: 𝟑𝒙+𝟒𝒙𝟑−𝟔=𝟎

Types of polynomial equations

Polynomial/Function type Example Highest power (Degree)

Linear 2𝑥+1 1

Quadratic 𝑥2−𝑥+2 2

Cubic 2𝑥3−𝑥2+2𝑥−3 3

Polynomial functions/equations in physics

Polynomial/ Example Formula

Function type

Linear Formula for distance s=v×t

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 04

Linear Formula for final speed v = u + at

Linear Formula for potential energy P.E. = m.g.h

Quadratic Formula for distance s = u.t + 1 a.t2

2

Quadratic Formula for kinetic energy K.E. = 1 m.v2

2
1 𝑔𝑥2
Quadratic Projectile motion equation y = x tan 𝛼 -
2 𝑢2 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝛼
Cubic Formula for volume of cube V = s3, where s is the length of
each side

Graph of a Linear Function

• A graph is a diagram that shows y

the relation between two variable
quantities.
• Each variable quantity is measured 40
Distance (km)

along one of the axes.

• The graph of a linear equation is a 30
straight line. This graph shows the 20
relation between distance and time.
s=v×t 10

0 1 2 3 4 x
Time (h)

Representation of point in a plane

• Rahul is standing 𝟒 𝒎 East and 𝟓 𝒎 North from Ashok. Taking Ashok’s position as origin,
represent Rahul’s position in coordinate axis.
y N
Coordinates of Rahul’s position
W E
x – coordinate = 𝟒 𝒎
y – coordinate = 𝟓 𝒎 S
Rahul (𝒙, 𝐲) = (𝟒, 𝟓) 𝟓 𝒎

x
𝟒 𝒎

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 05

Shortest distance between two point in a plane

• Ashok has now moved 𝟏 𝒎 East and y - axis N

𝟏 𝒎 North, while Rahul remains at his
earlier position (𝟒,𝟓). Calculate the x2 - x1 W E
shortest distance between Rahul and
Ashok. S
y2 - y1
y2
Ashok (𝒙𝟏, 𝒚𝟏) = (𝟏,𝟏)
Rahul (𝒙𝟐, 𝒚𝟐)= (𝟒, 𝟓) y1
x - axis
O
x1
𝑫= √(𝒙𝟐−𝒙𝟏 )𝟐+(𝒚𝟐−𝒚𝟏)𝟐
= √(𝟒−𝟏)𝟐+(𝟓−𝟏)𝟐)=𝟓𝒎 x2

Direction (Slope)

• Determine the direction of Rahul (𝟒,𝟒)

y - axis N
with respect to Ashok (𝟏,𝟏).
x2 - x1 W E
Slope = tan 𝜃
𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 (Opposite) (𝒚𝟐−𝒚𝟏) y2 - y1 S
tan 𝜃 = =
𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆 (Adjacent) (𝒙𝟐−𝒙𝟏 ) y2 𝜃
y1
5-1 3
tan 𝜃 = = =1 x - axis
4-1 3 O
x1

45° CCW with x-axis (East) x2

Different forms of straight line equation

MAIN ADVANCED

Slope and point Slope and Intercept Two point are given Intercept on both axis

Slope and point

Point = (𝒙𝟏, 𝒚𝟏) If an object moving in a straight line with

Slope = m constant velocity of 𝟏 𝒎/𝒔 covers 𝟒 𝒎 in 𝟑
y 𝒔. Find the time it will take to cover 𝟏𝟎 𝒎.
(𝒚−𝒚𝟏)=𝒎(𝒙−𝒙𝟏) P 𝑥 P
(𝑥1, y1) Slope = Velocity = 𝟏 𝒎/𝒔
𝜃 (3,4)
(𝒙−𝟒)=𝟏(𝒕−𝟑) 𝜃
𝑥 𝒙=𝒕+𝟏
𝐭 = 𝟗 𝐬 t

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Slope and Intercept

Slope = m Nancy and Deepika are two friends. Deepika is 𝟒 𝒎 ahead

Intercept on y axis = c of Nancy and she starts running away from Nancy in a
straight line with a constant speed of 𝟐 𝒎/𝒔. If after a while
y =𝒎𝒙+𝒄
Deepika is 𝟏𝟔 𝒎 ahead of Nancy, find the time duration.
y Slope of x-t graph = velocity = 2 m/s 𝑥

(0, c) Intercept on x axis (c) = 4 (0,4)

𝜃 𝜃
𝒙=𝟐𝒕+𝟒
c 𝑥 4 t
𝒕 =𝟔 𝒔

Two points on a line are given

Point (𝒙𝟏, 𝒚𝟏) Ram is running on a straight line track with a constant
Point (𝒙𝟐, 𝒚𝟐) speed. He starts from certain distance behind 𝟎 𝒎
mark. If the stopwatch shows 𝟑 𝒔 at 𝟏𝟎 𝒎 and 𝟔 𝒔 at 𝟐𝟓
(𝒚 −𝒚 ) 𝒎, find the distance between the 0 m mark and the
(𝒚−𝒚𝟏 )= 𝟐 𝟏 (𝒙−𝒙𝟏)
(𝒙𝟐−𝒙𝟏) point from which he started.
y Point (𝟑,𝟏𝟎) 𝑥
Point (𝟔, 𝟐𝟓)
𝟐𝟓−𝟏𝟎
𝑥2,y2 (𝒙−𝟏𝟎) = (𝒕−𝟑) (6,25)
𝟔−𝟑
𝑥1,y1 (𝒙−𝟏𝟎)=𝟓(𝒕−𝟑) (3,10) y
𝑥
𝒅=−𝟓 𝒎

Intercept on both axis

Intercept on x axis = a Geeta is running on a straight line track with a constant

Intercept on y axis = b speed. She starts from 𝟏𝟎 𝒎 behind 𝟎 𝒎 mark and
when she crosses 𝟎 𝒎 mark, the stopwatch shows 𝟐 𝒔.
𝒙 𝒚
+ =𝟏 Find the time which the stopwatch will show, when she
𝒂 𝒃 crosses 𝟑𝟎 𝒎 mark.
y
Intercept on t axis = 2
Intercept on x axis = -10
a=2, b=-10
𝒕 𝒙
-𝑥 b 𝑥 + =𝟏
2 -10
0 𝒕 =𝟖 𝒔
a

Quadratic functions

• They are polynomial functions with the highest power as 2.

• They are expressed as y = ax2 + bx + c, where x is the independent variable and y is the
dependent variable.
• The solutions of the equation are known as roots of the equation.

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− 𝑏 + √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏 - √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐

root1 (say α) = root2 (say β) =
2𝑎 2𝑎

• The roots of the equation have unique relations.

Discriminant : 𝐷 = 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑏
Sum of roots : 𝛼 + 𝛽 = −
𝑎
c
Products of roots : 𝛼𝛽 =
𝑎
√𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
Difference of roots : 𝛼 − 𝛽 =
𝑎
If sum of roots is 𝑺 and their product is 𝑷, such a quadratic equation is 𝒙𝟐−𝑺𝒙+𝑷.

Graphs of quadratic functions

• The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola.

• The shape of the parabola changes depending on the values of a, b, and c.

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 (𝑎 > 0)

(𝑎 > 0) (𝑎 < 0) a is smaller a is larger

𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦

-𝑥 𝑥 -𝑥 𝑥 -𝑥 𝑥 -𝑥 𝑥

-𝑦 -𝑦 -𝑦 -𝑦

• When the equation has a constant ‘c’, then the curve is offset from the x axis by ‘c’ units.

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 + 1
(𝑎 > 0) (𝑎 < 0)

𝑦 𝑦

-𝑥 𝑥 -𝑥 𝑥

-𝑦 -𝑦

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 8

Drawing the graph of a quadratic equation

• In order to draw the graph of a quadratic equation, we

need to find its roots or solutions. At these values of
x, the curve of the graph touches the X axis.
• In order to find the peak of the curve, we find the
average of the root,
𝑋+𝑋
A= 1 2 (A,0)
2
• We must then calculate the value of Y at the average (x2, o) (x1, o)
(X).
B = f(A)
(A,B)
• The peak of the curve is given by the coordinates (A,B).

Can we figure out graph of a quadratic function?

𝑦=𝑥2−6𝑥−7

Step 1 :

𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 6𝑥 − 7

0 = 𝑥2 − 6𝑥 − 7 (-1,0) (7,0)
𝑥2 − 7𝑥 + 𝑥 − 7 = 0
𝑥 ( 𝑥 − 7 ) + 1 ( 𝑥 − 7 ) = 0
𝑥 = 7; 𝑥 = −1
There are two possibilities to draw a
parabola with points (-1,0) and (7,0).

Step 2 :

From the equation; a = 1

This means the parabola
will be facing upwards as
(-1,0) (7,0)
shown here.

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 9

Step 3 :

-1 + 7
Average of roots is 𝑥 = = 3.
2
𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 6𝑥 − 7
(3,0)
= 9 - 6×3 - 7 = -16 (-1,0) (7,0)

(3,-16)

Step 4 :

Directly we can write P as

b D
- ,-
2a 4a

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