BASIC MATHEMATICS-1

INTRODUCTION: As we know that mathematics is the language of physics, so to solve

complex problems in Physics we require some mathematical tools. Here some handy
mathematical tools and techniques are given ,with which a student of physics must be
familiar with.
( A) Ratio and Proportion
RATIO PROPORTION
1/ n a c
a c a  c  a n  cn  ( a) If  then a, b, c, d are in proportion
( a)    n  b d
b d b  d  b  d  n
a b c
a ax ( b) If   then, a, b, c, d are in continued
( b) a > b,  ,x>0 b c d
b bx proportion
a ax a c ab cd
( c) a < b,  ,x>0 ( c) If  then,  (componendo)
b bx b d b d
1/ n
a c e  pa n  qc n  ...  a c ab cd
( d)    ...k  k   n  ( d) If  then,  (Divedendo)
b d f  pb  qd  ... 
n b d b d
 
a a a a c ab cd
(e) 1 , 2 ,  n be unequal fraction ( e) If b  d then, a  b  c  d (Compenendo
b1 b 2 bn
and Divedendo)
a1  a 2    a n
lies b/ greatest and least
b1  b2    bn
fraction.

( B) MENSURATION
Table-1: Three Dimensional Body
Body With diagram Surface area Volume Some special
Parameter

b

2  b  bh  h  bh  2  b 2  h2  Length
of body diagonal
h Cuboid

6a 2 a3 3 a  Length of
Cube of body diagonal
side a

h
2 R  R  h   R2 h 2 Rh  Curved
surface area
Cylinder

1
 h  R  R   1  R  Curved
 R2 h surface area, where
R 3
Cone   R 2  h 2 , known
as slant height

4 R 2 4
 R3
3
Sphere of radius R
Note: Volume of any regular prism = Base area X height
Table-2: Two Dimensional Body
Body With diagram Surface area Some special Parameter
b
Parallelogram Base  Height


Diagonals of rhombus are
Rhombus Base  Height perpendicular to each other
of side a
1
  Pr oduct of diagonals 
2

h 1
 Height  Sum of parallel sides
2
Trapezium

Note:
1
Area of any Quadrilateral =  Diagonal  Sum of pperpendicular from opposite vertices
2

( C) ALGEBRAIC FORMULAE
1  i , and 3
1  
There are some common formulae
x 3  y3  (x  y)(x  y)(x  2 y)
x 2  y 2  (x  iy)(x  iy)
Let a and b be the two variables
2 2 2
( i) (a  b) = a + b  2ab
2 2 2 2
( ii) (a  b  c) = a + b + c  2ab  2bc  2ca
2 2
( iii) (a  b ) = (a + b)(a b)
3 3 3
( iv) (a  b) = a  b  3ab(a  b)
(a  b ) = (a  b) (a  ab +b )
3 3 2 2
( v)
( vi) 
a n  bn   a  b  a n 1  a n  2 b  a n  3b 2  ..................  a 2 bn 3   ab n  2  b n 1 
( D) QUADRATIC EQUATION
2
A standard quadratic equation is given by ax + bx + c = 0, where ‘a’ is the coefficient of x
and c is the constant term. Any value of x which satisfies the above equation is called a
root of the equation. Every quadratic equation has only two roots, i.e.,  and 

2
 b  b2  4ac a>0
,  = a>0
2
b  4ac < 0
2a y 2
b  4ac = 0
a>0
b  b2  4ac 2
= and b  4ac > 0
2a
b  b2  4ac x
= .   b/2a
2a
b c
  ,  
a a y
2
If b – 4ac < 0, both roots are complex
2
If b – 4ac = 0, both roots real equal   b/2a
2
If b – 4ac > 0, both roots real, distinct x
a<0
2
b  4ac > 0 a<0
2
b  4ac = 0 a<0
2
b  4ac < 0
ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION
a, a + d, a + 2d, … can be the general form of A.P.
th
n term of A.P. Tn  a  (n  1)d
th n n
Sum of n term of A.P. Sn  [2a  (n  1)d]  (a  L)
2 2
ab
Arithmetic mean A.M. 
2

GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION
2
a, ar, ar , …, can be the general form of G.P.
n term of G.P. Tn  ar n 1
th

th a(1  r n )
Sum of n term of G.P. (r > 1) Sn 
1 r
a
For infinite GP (r < 1) S 
1 r
Geometric mean GM  ab

BINOMIAL THEOREM
A formula by which any power of a binomial expression can be expanded in the form of a
series is known as binomial theorem. For a positive integer n , the expansion is given by
n n n n n–1 n n-2 2 n n–r r n n
(a+x) = C0a + C1a x + C2 a x + . . . + Cr a x + . . . + Cnx
n n n n n
where C0 , C1 , C2 , . . . , Cn are called Binomial co-efficients. The value of Cr is
n! n  n  1  n  2  . . .  n  r  1 
defined as n
Cr  
r!  n  r  ! 1.2.3. . . . r

BINOMIAL THEOREM FOR ANY INDEX

n(n  1) 2 n(n  1) (n  r  1) r
x   terms upto 
n
(1+x) = 1+ nx + x + ..... +
2! r!
n
if |x| << 1  (1  x) = 1  nx
Important Series
( 1) Logarithmic Series
x2 x3 x 4
 a  n(1  x)  x    
2 3 4

3
  x 2 x3 x4 
( b) n(1  x)    x     
 2 3 4 
 
( 2) Exponential Series
x x2 x3
 a  ex  1   
1! 2! 3!
x x2 x3
 b  ex  1   
1! 2! 3!
( 3) Trigometric Series
x 3 x5 x9
( a) sin x  x    
3! 5! 7!
x 2 x4 x6
( b) cos x  x    
2! 4! 6!
x3 2 5
 c  tan x  x   x 
3 15
LOGARITHM
b
If ‘a’ is a positive real number other than 1 and a = c, then we can write loga c = b. Here, c is a
positive integer. For example, log10 1000 = 3
3
 10 = 1000
x
In general, N = a
loga N = m
0
If a = 1
loga1 = 0

STANDARD FORMULAE
( a) loga(mn) = loga m + logan
m
( b) loga = logam  loga n
n
n
( c) loga m = nloga m
1
( d) loga b = (b  1)
log b a
log e b
( e) log a b 
log e a
( f) log a m  log b m  log a b
1
( g) log ak N  log a N
k
FUNCTIONS
If the value of a variable quantity y depends upon the value of some other variable quantity say x,
through some relation, such that there exists only one finite value of y for each value of x, then y
is called function of x. Mathematically,
y = f(x)
2
like y = 2x + 3x + 4, if x = 0 then y = 4, if x = 2 y = 18 and so on.
2
Here, y = 2x + 3x + 4 represents a function of x.

BASIC ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS

( i) Constant function: y = c where 'c' is a constant, defined for all real values of x.
( ii) Power function: y = x
(a)  is a positive integer, the function is defined in the infinite interval  < x <.
(b)  is a negative integer, the function is defined for all values of x except for x = 0.

4
( iii) Trigonometric function: y = sin x, y = cos x are defined for all real x

y = tan x, y = sec x, defined for R – (2n + 1) .
2
y = cot x, y = coesec x, defined for (R – n), where n  I
It must be noted that in all these functions, the variable x is expressed in radians. All
these functions have a very important property that is Periodicity.
x
( iv) General exponential function: y= a , where a is positive integer not equal to unity.
This function is defined for all values of x.
( iv) Logarithmic function: y = logax, a > 0 but a  1. This function is defined for all x > 0.
( v) Modulus function: y = |x|,
then, y = x, if x > 0
y = x, if x < 0
y = 0, if x = 0

DIFFERENTIATION
The differential coefficient of derivative of variable y with respect to x is defined as the
instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x. It is denoted by dy/dx

GEOMETRICAL INTERPRETATION OF DERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

Let y = f(x) be a function represented by A & B y
and P(x, y) and Q[(x + x), (y + y)] are two
B
close points on this curve. PQ is chord. Let 
be the angle chord, PQ makes with positive x- Q
axis, PS is perpendicular to line OQ,
PS = P1Q1   x  x   x  x A
P
QS = y S

 x
O
QS y (y  y)  y f(x  x)  f  x 
Slope of chord = tan  =  = =
PS x x x
As point p approaches point Q both x and y decreases continuously. In limiting case Q
almost coincide with point P, PQ becomes tangent of curve at P. Let tangent at P makes
an angle  with the positive x-axis, then
y dy
Slope = tan  = lim or = tan 
x 0 x dx
Geometrically, the differential coefficient of y = f(x) w.r.t. x at any point is equal to slope of
the tangent to the curve representing, y = f(x) at that point.

FUNDAMENTAL FORMULAE OF DIFFERENTIATION

Here, c is a constant and u, v are functions of x.
d
( a) (c) = 0
dx
d du
( b) (cu) = c
dx dx
d du dv
( c) ( u + v) = +
dx dx dx
d du dv
( d) (u – v) = 
dx dx dx
d dv du
( e) (u.v) = u +v
dx dx dx

5
 du dv
v  u.
d u dx dx
( f)  
dx  v  v2
d  v du dv 
( g) (u v )  u v   lnu 
dx  u dx dx 

6
BASIC DIFFERENTIATION FORMULAE
dy dy 1
y = constant  0 y = tan1x  =
dx dx 1  x 2
dy dy 1
y = cot1x
n n–1
y=x  = nx  =
dx dx 1  x 2
dy –1 dy 1
y= sin x  = cosx y = cosec x  =
dx dx x x2  1
dy
y = cos x  = –sin x –1 dy 1
dx y = sec x  =
dx x x2  1
dy 2
y = tan x  = sec x dy
dx y=a
x

x
= a ln a
dy dx
2
y = cot x  = – cosec x dy
dx y=e
x
  ex
dy 1 dx
y= sin1x  = dy 1
dx 1  x2 y = logax  
dx x ln a
dy 1
y= cos1x  = dy 1
dx 1  x2 y = ln x  
dx x

MAXIMA OR MINIMA
If y = f(x) then for maximum or minimum value y
of y the first differential coefficient of y w.r.to x B
should be zero. y2
dy
i.e. 0
dx
Find value of x at this point and then find
d2 y y1
second derivative and put value of x A
2
dx
d2 y x
If  0 then y is maximum for given value
dx 2 O x1 x2
of x.
d2 y
If  0 then y is minimum for given value of x.
dx 2
dy d2 y
In above diagram for point A 0, 0
dx dx 2
dy d2 y
For point B 0, 0
dx dx 2

INTEGRAL CALCULUS: THE ANTIDERIVATIVE OF A FUNCTION

The process of integration is just reverse of differentiation, the symbol  is used for
integration. If f(x) is differential coefficient of F(x) then
dy d
 F  x   f(x)
dx dx
dy = f(x)dx = d[F(x)]
Taking summation on both sides, we get
 dy = f(x)dx = d[F(x)]
Y = F(x)
When dx approaches to zero, the summation is replaced by integral, so

7
 Y = f(x)dx = F(x)
Here, f(x)dx is read as integral of f(x)dx. F(x) is called integrate and F(x) is called
integral. Thus, integration of f(x) w.r.t. x is F(x).

STANDARD ELEMENTARY INTEGRALS

In the following integrals, C stands for an arbitrary constant.
e 
ax  b
x n 1  ax  b 
 x dx  n  1  c , (n 1)  e dx  a +c
n

dx = x tan  ax  b 
b x n 1  sec 2  ax  b  dx 
a
 bx dx  n  1  c
n

sec  ax  b 
f(x)n 1  sec  ax  b  tan  ax  b  dx 
 f(x) f (x)dx  n  1  c , (n 1) a
n

1  tan x dx = log|cos x|+c = log|sec x| + c

x dx  log|x|  c
 cot x dx = log|sin x| + c =  log|cosec x|+c
 e dx  e  c.
x x
sec xdx = log|sec x + tan x|+c
x dx 1 1 x
a  a2  x 2  a tan a  c
a
x
dx =
log e a
dx
 1  x 2  tan x  c
1
 sin x dx = cos x + c
 cos x dx = sin x +c dx 1 x
 a2  x 2  sin a  c or  cos1
x
c
a
 sec x dx= tan x+ c
2

dx
 cos ec x dx = cot x+c
2
 1x 2
 sin 1 x  c or  cos x 1  c

 s ec x tan x dx = sec x+c dx

  sec 1 x  c or  cos ec 1 x  c
 cos ecx cot xdx = cosec x + c x x2  1
 ax  b 
n 1

  ax  b  dx   n  1 a
n
dx
 x a
2 2
 log(x  x 2  a 2 )
dx 1 x a
 x 2  a2  2a log x  a , (x > a) dx 1  ax  
  log tan   
cos ax a  2 4
dx 1 ax
 a2  x 2  2a log a  x , (x > a) dx
 sin ax  a l og
1 ax
2
x a2  x 2 a2 x
 a 2  x 2 dx 
2
 sin 1
2 a
x a2  x 2 a2
 a 2  x 2 dx 
2
 log(x  x 2  a2 )
2
x x 2  a2 a2
 x 2  a2 dx 
2
 log(x  x 2  a2 )
2

INDEFINITE INTEGRAL
5
If a function y = x + c, where c is a constant of integration then

8
dy 5
 5x 4  0 , as integration is reverse of differentiation so  5x
4
dx must be x + c just using
dx
 5x dx  x 5 , here constant doesn’t appear. Such integration is called
4
standard integral formula
indefinite integration.

DEFINITE INTEGRAL
When a function is integrated with in a certain limit the integration is called definite integral. For
example
b

 f  x  dx  F  x 
b

a
= F(b)  F(a), here a is called lower limit and b is known as upper limit
a

DEFERENTIAL EQUATION

d2 y
( a) For DE 2
 2 y  0 , solution is y = A sin (x +)
dx

 P(x)dx
dy
( b) For DE
dx
 P(x)Y  Q(x) , solution is Ye  P(x)dx 
e
Q(x) dx  C

MISCELLANEOUS
n(n  1)
1 + 2 + 3 + ….+ n = n =
2

2 2 2 2 2 n(n  1)(2n  1)
1 + 2 + 3 + ….+ n = n =
6
2
3 3 3 3 3  n(n  1) 
1 + 2 + 3 + ….+ n = n =  
 2 
2 2
12 = 144 11 = 121
2 2
13 = 169 111 = 12321
2 2
14 = 196 1111 = 1234321
2 2
15 = 225 11111 = 123454321
2
16 = 256
 
n n
2
17 = 289 111  1 = 1234………n……….1
2
18 = 324
2
19 = 361
2
20 = 400
2
21 = 441 2
12 + 5 = 13
2 2
2
22 = 484 2
3 +4 =5
2 2
2
23 = 529 2
24 + 7 = 25
2 2
2
24 = 576 2
15 + 8 = 17
2 2
2
25 = 625 2
21 + 20 = 29
2 2
2
26 = 676 2
20 + 15 = 25
2 2
2
27 = 729
2
28 = 784
2
29 = 841
2
30 = 900
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