Edexcel GCE A Level Maths: C4 Summary Sheet

1. P1. Partial Fractions First set the fraction equal to variables (A, B, C...) over separate denominators that are factors of the original denominator. Repeated fractions need two factors one f(x) and one [f(x)]2. Algebraic division is sometimes necessary first, and then the answer can be written as some number + the partial fractions. 2. P2. Parametric Equations Parametric Cartesian, eliminate the parameter from two parametric equations. When trigonometry is involved this normally uses sin2t + cos2t = 1. Areas under parametric curves can be found by evaluating the integral of y times the value of dx/dt with respect to the parameter. That is y 5. Vectors Adding opposite vectors gives a zero vector. i, j, k are unit vectors in the directions x, y, z. The distance between (x1 y1 z1) and (x2 y2 z2) is d2 = (x1 - x2)2 + (y1 - y2)2 + (z1 - z2)2. As the origin is (0, 0, 0) the distance between any point and the origin is just: d2 = x2 + y2 + z2. a.b = |a||b|cos (angle between a and b) a and b are perpendicular iff (if and only if) the scalar product = 0 i.e. a.b = 0. If a and b are parallel cos = 1, so a.b = |a||b| and because of this a.a = |a|2 (a is obviously parallel to itself) If a = a1i + a2j + a3k, and b = b1i + b2j + b3k a.b = a1b1 + a2b2 + a3b3 (as all perp vectors = 0) The equation of the line can be given in vector form with the position vector (a) of any point on it and a multiple of its direction vector (b). So: r = a + tb (where t is a scalar parameter). Or using two position vectors (c and d): r = c + (d - c)t (as d -c = direction vector). The acute angle between two straight lines in vector form (when both are directed away from a point) is given by: cos = a.b
2 3

dx dt

dt where t is the parameter.

This is a form of the chain rule, imagine the dt cancelling with the dt divisor. 3. Binomial Expansion (1+ x)n = 1 + nx + n(n 1) x + n(n 1)(n 2)x + ... 2! 3! If n is a fraction or negative the expansion is infinite and approx, its valid when |x| < 1. It can be necessary to factorise to get a 1 in the expansion or to put into partial fractions first. Eg. (2 + x)n = [2(1 + x/2)]n = 2n(1 + x/2)n 4. Differentiation Finding dy/dx from parametric equations is done by dividing the derivatives of y and x with respect to t. So: dy/dx = (dy/dt)/(dx/dt). If the relationship is implicit differentiate y terms as if theyre x but then times by dy/dx. So: d(yn)/dx = nyn-1(dy/dx) The product and quotient rules can be used as well giving the result: d[f(x).g(x)]/dx = f(x).g(x).(dy/dx) + g(y).f(x) When y = ax, take ln on both side and then implicitly differentiate, giving the result: y = ax dy/dx = ax ln a (when x > 0, when x < 0 the derivative is negative, so it is better to work it out as and when required rather than just memorising the end result.

a b

where a and b are the direction vectors of the lines.

6. Integration xn xn+1/n+1 +C; ex ex +C; 1/x ln|x| +C cosx sinx +C; sinx -cosx +C (not given) sec2x tanx +C; cosecxcotx cosecx +C cosec2x -cotx +C; secxtanx secx +C f(ax + b)dx (1/a)f(ax + b) + C This can be applied to any of the integrals above. sin2xdx ( cos2x)dx (by C3 trig) f' (x ) d x ln |f(x)| +C Standard f( x ) Patterns 1 [f(x)]n+1 +C f(x)[f(x)]ndx These standard patterns and are fairly obvious when thought about with respect to differentiating the right hand side. u(dv/du)dx uv - v(du/dx)dx (Int. by parts) tanxdx ln|secx| +C; cotxdx ln|sinx| +C secxdx ln|secx + tanx| +C (these are given) cosecxdx ln|cosecx + cotx| +C Area = ydx (approx by trapz) Volume = y2dx If dy/dx = f(x)g(y), then [1/g(y)]dy = f(x)dx

n+1

Prepared by Sam Davyson in June 2005. For alternative formats see online.