01

NOTE
P H Y S I C S

MATHEMATICAL TOOLS
INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTIONS

What you already know What you will learn

• Vector addition • Introduction to function

• Dot product • Linear and quadratic functions
• Cross product • Trigonometric functions
• Applications of dot and cross product

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

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 𝒂𝒏≠𝟎 Polynomial of degree n

𝑎0,𝑎1,𝑎2,…𝑎𝑛 Coefficients
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 + 5x2y Degree = 4
Equation f(x) = 0 Example: 3x + 4x3 - 6 = 0

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Types of polynomial equations

Polynomial type Example Highest power (Degree)

Linear 2𝑥+1 1

Quadratic 𝑥2−𝑥+2 2

Cubic 2𝑥3−𝑥2+2𝑥−3 3

(1) D
 egree of a polynomial signifies the maximum number of solutions possible for that
polynomial.
(2) A function becomes an equation when we equate it to some other thing.

Graph of a Linear Function

y
• A graph is a diagram that shows 40
the relation between two variable
quantities.
• Each variable quantity is measured 30
Distance (km)

along one of the axes.

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

0 1 2 3 4 x
Time (h)
The general equation of a linear function is y = mx + c where, y = y coordinate
x = x coordinate
m = slope
c = y intercept
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. N
y

Coordinates of Rahul’s position W E

R
x – coordinate = 𝟒 𝒎 S
y – coordinate = 𝟓 𝒎
𝟓 𝒎
Rahul (𝒙, 𝐲) = (𝟒, 𝟓)

x
A
𝟒 𝒎

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 04

Shortest distance between two point in a plane

• Ashok has now moved 𝟏 𝒎 East and 𝟏 𝒎 North, while Rahul remains at his earlier
position (𝟒,𝟓). Calculate the shortest distance between Rahul and Ashok.
y - axis
x2 - x1
Ashok (𝒙 , 𝒚 ) = (𝟏,𝟏) R
𝟏 𝟏

Rahul (𝒙𝟐, 𝒚𝟐)= (𝟒, 𝟓) y2 - y1

y2
y1 A
𝑫= √(𝒙𝟐−𝒙𝟏 )𝟐+(𝒚𝟐−𝒚𝟏)𝟐
x - axis
= √(𝟒−𝟏)𝟐+(𝟓−𝟏)𝟐)=𝟓𝒎 O
x1
x2

Direction (Slope)

• Slope means inclination of the straight line with the positive direction of x-axis.
• Determine the direction of Rahul (𝟒,5) with respect to Ashok (𝟏,𝟏).
y - axis N
Slope = tan 𝜃 x2 - x1
𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 (Opposite) (𝒚𝟐−𝒚𝟏) R
W E
tan 𝜃 = =
𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆 (Adjacent) (𝒙𝟐−𝒙𝟏 ) y2 - y1 S
y2 𝜃
5-1 4 A
tan 𝜃 = = y1
4-1 3
x - axis
O
So, direction of Rahul with respect to Ashok is x1
53° counter-clockwise with x-axis (East)
x2

Slope and Intercept y

Equation of line is, y = 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒄

(0, c) 𝜃
Slope = m
Intercept on y axis = c c 𝑥

Nancy and Deepika are two friends. Deepika is 𝟒 𝒎 ahead of Nancy and she starts running
away from Nancy in a straight line with a constant speed of 𝟐 𝒎𝒔-1. If after a while Deepika
is 𝟏𝟔 𝒎 ahead of Nancy, find the time duration.

𝑥
Slope of x-t graph = velocity = 2 ms-1
Intercept on x axis (c) = 4 (0,4) 𝜃
𝒙 = 𝟐𝒕 + 𝟒 𝒕 = 𝟔 𝒔 4 t

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 05

Write the equation of a line passing through the points (0,2) and (4,6) in slope intercept form.

Solution
We know that general equation of a straight line in slope intercept form is given by
y = mx + c where, y = y coordinate
x = x coordinate
m = slope
c = y intercept
Also,
y -y 6-2
m= 2 1 = =1
x2 - x1 4-0
So, equation becomes y = x + c
Now, the line passes through the point (0, 2), so this point will satisfy the equation of the line.
2=0+c
c=2
Equation of the line is y = x + 2

BOARDS
Quadratic functions

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

• They are expressed as y = ax2 + bx + c, where a is not equal to zero, x is the independent
variable and y is the dependent variable.
• The solutions of the equation are known as roots of the equation.

− 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.

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𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥2 (𝑎 > 0)

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

Trigonometric Functions

• y = sin θ arc length l

θ= = r
• y = cos θ radius of circle
• y = tan θ θ is in ‘radians’.
• y = cosec θ
• y = sec θ
• y = cot θ r l

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 07

Units of θ

System I System II 1 ° = 60’

1’ = 60’’
Degree ( ° ) Radians (rad)
Minute ( ‘ ) Interconversion of units
Second ( ‘‘ ) 360 ° = 2π rad

Convert the following angles from degrees to radians.

(a) 540° (b) 210° (c) 270°

Solution
π
(a) 540° = 540 × rad = 3π rad
180
π 7π
(b) 210° = 210 × rad = rad
180 6
π
(c) 270° = 270 × rad = 3π rad
180 2

• Trigonometry is the branch of Mathematics that deals with the relations between sides and
angles of triangles, and their relevant functions.
• A trigonometric function expresses a dynamic system in terms of sine, cosine, or tangent
functions.

Hy opp
po tan θ = 1
te adj cosec θ =
nu sin θ
Opposite

opp se
sin θ = 1
hyp sec θ =
cos θ
1
cot θ =
tan θ
θ

Adjacent
adj
cos θ =
hyp

• Where sin θ, cos θ, tan θ, cosec θ, sec θ, and cot θ are trigonometric ratios.

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BOARDS
Special Values of Trigonometric Ratios

sin θ cos θ tan θ cosec θ sec θ cot θ

0° 0 1 0 ∞ 1 ∞
1 √3 1 2
30° 2 √3
2 2 √3 √3
1 1
45° √2 √2 1 √2 √2 1

√3 1 2 1
60° √3 √3 2 √3
2 2

90° 1 0 ∞ 1 ∞ 0

Special Right Triangles

60°
45°

2 √2
1 1

30° 45°
√3 1

NEET
Magic Triangle

3 4
53° sin 37° = sin 53° =
5 5
4 3
5 cos 37° = cos 53° =
5 5
3
3 4
tan 37° = tan 53° =
4 3

37°
4

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 09

NEET
Angles in Different Quadrants

Quadrant 1 Quadrant 2
(All Positive) (sin and cosec positive)

S A S A

T C T C

• sin(90° - θ) = cos θ • sin(90° + θ) = cos θ

• cos(90° - θ) = sin θ • cos(90° + θ) = -sin θ
• sec(90° - θ) = cosec θ • sin(180° - θ) = sin θ
• cosec(90° - θ) = sec θ • cos(180° - θ) = -cos θ
• tan(90° - θ) = cot θ • sec(180° - θ) = -sec θ
• cot(90° - θ) = tan θ • cosec(180° - θ) = cosec θ
• tan(180° - θ) = -tan θ
• cot(180° - θ) = -cot θ

Find the value of cos 127° and sin 127°.

Solution
4
cos 127° = cos(180 - 53)° = -cos 53° = - 3 sin 127° = sin(90 + 37)° = cos 37° =
5 5

cos 127° can also be found by writing as cos (90 + 37)°. cos 127° will be lying in 2nd
• 
quadrant where the value of cos is negative. At (90 + θ) or (90 - θ) we have to change
3
the ratio. So, cos 127° = -sin(37)° = -
5

Trigonometric Formulae

sin(A + B) = sin A cos B + cos A sinB cos(A + B) = cos A cos B + sin A sinB
tan A + tan B
tan(A + B) =
1 + tan A tan B

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