Math 1152 Midterm 1 AU24 Important Concepts

The following is a list of important concepts that may arise on the first
midterm, broken down by section.

1 A Review Of Integration

ˆ Know the connection

Z between antidifferentiation and differentiation, i.e.
know that if f (x) dx = F (x) + C then F ′ (x) = f (x).

ˆ Be comfortable with the basic techniques of integration in this section,

including u-substitution, splitting fractions, back substitution, etc.
ˆ Know when a linear change of variable followed by a back substitution is
helpful when finding an antiderivative:
√
Z
– ex: (x − 7) 2x + 1 dx can be evaluated by first letting u = 2x + 1.
x2
Z
– ex2 : dx can be evaluated by first letting u = 3x + 2.
3x + 2
ˆ Know when splitting fractions is helpful when finding an antiderivative.
Z Z Z
x+2 x 2
– ex: dx can be evaluated by writing as dx+ dx.
x2 + 4 x2 + 4 x2 + 4
The first integral can be evaluated using a u-substitution, whereas the
second can be evaluated using the formula:
Z
1 1 x
dx = arctan +C
x2 + a2 a a
This particular formula will arise again in later sections; you should
know it!
3 Z x3
3x2 + ex 3x2
Z Z
e
– ex2 : dx can be evaluated by writing as dx+ dx.
ex3 ex3 e x3
3x2 3
The first integral can be evaluated by writing x3 = 3x2 e−x then
e
using a u-substitution, whereas the second integral can be evaluated
easily.
ˆ Be able to evaluate integrals involving common functions whose arguments
are linear functions of x; e.g. you should be able to compute the antideriva-
tives of all of the following functions, and ones like them, without having
to write out all the steps of a u- substitution:
Z Z Z Z
x 1
e 4 dx, cos(5x) dx, sec(3x) tan(3x) dx, dx, etc.
2x + 1
2 Area Between Curves
ˆ Be able to find intersection points of two curves.

ˆ Be able to describe curves in the (x, y)-plane using function(s) in terms of

both x and y.
ˆ Be able to graph simple regions.

ˆ For a given region, know how to express its area as an integral or sum of
integrals with respect to both the variables x and y.
ˆ Be able to identify the minimum number of integrals with respect to x and
y that are necessary to find the area of a region.
ˆ Be able to identify if there is a preferred variable of integration to find the
area of a region.
ˆ Be able to compute the area of a given region.

3 Accumulated Cross-Sections
ˆ Know how to determine the variable of integration given the orientation
of the cross-section to the x-axis or y-axis.
ˆ Know how to set up and compute the volume of solids whose base is a given
region in the (x, y)-plane and whose cross-sections, taken perpendicular or
parallel to an axis, are given.
ˆ You are expected to know the formulas for areas of squares, rectangles,
isosceles right triangles, equilateral triangles, circles and semicircles. Any
other area formulas you need will be provided.
ˆ Be able to compare volumes using geometric reasoning without performing
calculations.
For example, the base of solids S1 and S2 is the region bounded by y = 1 −
x, x = 0, and y = 0. If cross-sections taken parallel to the x-axis through
S1 are squares and cross-sections taken parallel to the x-axis through S2
are isosceles right triangles, which region has greater volume? Can you
find an a-value so V ol(S1 ) = aV ol(S2 )?
4 Solids of Revolution
ˆ Be able to set up an integral or sum of integrals that represents the volume
of a solid of revolution using either the shell method or washer method.
ˆ Be able to choose the appropriate method if you are given the variable
of integration (i.e. be able to set up an integral or sum of integrals that
represents the volume of a solid of revolution as an integral or sum of
integrals with respect to x or y).
ˆ Be able to determine the minimum number of integrals necessary to express
the volume of a region using washer or shell method.
ˆ Be able to set up an integral or sum of integrals that gives the volumes
when regions are revolved about any line parallel to the x or y axis (e.g.
x = 3 or y = −2).
ˆ Be able to approximate the volume of a given solid using disks, washers,
or shell using an appropriate Riemann Sum.
ˆ Be able to compare volumes of solids of revolution using geometric rea-
soning without performing calculations.
For example, if the region R1 is bounded by y = x2 − 2 and y = 0 and the
region R2 is bounded by y = 2 − x2 and y = 0 are revolved about the line
y = 3, which resulting solid of revolution has a larger volume?

Common Ideas
ˆ Know how to set up any integral or sum of integrals given the variable
of integration. Note that you will not always be asked to perform a set
up using the more convenient choice of variable.
ˆ Be able to express curves as functions in terms of either x or y as appro-
priate. In particular, know when it is necessary to choose whether to use
a positive or negative square root.
ˆ Be able to find geometric quantities of interest from a given picture. You
should always try to think of these as vertical or horizontal distances,
and compute them from this observation rather than memorize specific
results.
ˆ Make sure you read what the problems ask you to find. Make sure you
understand when to use washer or shell method vs the accumulated cross
sections result.
5 Length Of Curves
ˆ Know how to set up an integral that represents the length of a given
segment of a curve in terms of either the variable x or y as appropriate.
ˆ Be able to recognize perfect squares that arise in arclength calculations.

ˆ Be able to find a function with a specific initial condition whose arclength

integral is given.
ˆ Be able to set up a sum of integrals that give the perimeter of a region R.

6 Physical Applications Of Integration

ˆ Know how to find the mass of a segment of a thin wire.

ˆ Know how to find work done by a variable force. In particular, know

Hooke’s Law for a spring and be comfortable solving spring problems.
ˆ Be able to compute integrals of piecewise functions.

ˆ Know how to find the work required to pump liquid out of a tank.

ˆ Be able to answer conceptual questions without performing calculations.

For example, if the density of a wire from x = 0 to x = 2 is given by
ρ(x) = x2 , does the half of the wire from x = 0 to x = 1 or the half from
x = 1 to x = 2 have more mass?

7 Integration by Parts
ˆ Know when to use integration by parts as a strategy to evaluate both
definite and indefinite integrals (as opposed to techniques in the Review
of Integration section).
ˆ Be able to use integration by parts more than once to evaluate an an-
tiderivative.
ˆ Be able to find antiderivatives of functions that involve integration by parts
and another integration technique or result.
8 Trigonometric Integrals
ˆ Know how to treat integrals involving combinations of sin(θ), cos(θ) and
tan(θ), sec(θ).
ˆ Know how to use the trigonometric identities (which will be provided on
the exam) in order to evaluate trigonometric integrals.
ˆ The integrals of the basic trigonometric functions (sin(x), cos(x), tan(x), cot(x))
will NOT be given. You should know them.
ˆ Make sure you can compute integrals
R involving only one of the trigono-
3
R 4
metric functions like sin (θ)dθ or tan (θ)dθ.
ˆ You do not need to memorize reduction formulas.

9 Trigonometric Substitutions
ˆ Know when each type of trigonometric substitution:

x = a sin(θ), x = a tan(θ), x = a sec(θ)

should be used. Know how to determine the appropriate value for a.

ˆ Know when trig substitution is the best method to determine an an-
tiderivative (as opposed to other methods like substitution, integration
by parts or algebraic manipulation).
ˆ Know how to carry out a trig substitution. In particular, don’t forget that
you need to express dx in terms of dθ!
ˆ Be able to draw the triangle suggested by your trigonometric substitution
and calculate the values of the other trigonometric functions from it.