CALCULUS FLASH CARDS

Based on those prepared by Gertrude R. Battaly (http://www.battaly.com/), with her gracious permission.

Instructions for Using the Flash Cards:

1. Cut along the horizontal lines only.

2. Fold along the vertical lines. This will result in flash cards with
the term on one side and the definition or equivalent expression
on the other. You may choose to tape or glue this paper card to a
35 card.
3. Use the flash cards at least 10 minutes a day. If you know the
definition or formula, put it away for this session. If you dont
know it, put it at the back of the stack and do it again.
4. Work alone or with a partner.
5. You may work at school, at home, on the bus to a game, or any
place where you can pull the cards out. Every time you use them
you will be working towards a good grade on the AP Calculus
exam.
sin 0 0

1
sin
6 2

1 2
sin =
4 2 2

3
sin
3 2

sin 1
2
 sin 0

3
sin 1
2

sin 2 0

cos 0 1

3
cos
6 2
 1 2
cos =
4 2 2

1
cos
3 2

cos 0
2

cos 1

3
cos 0
2
 cos 2 1

tan sin
(in terms of sine and/or cosine) cos

cot cos
(in terms of sine and/or cosine) sin

csc 1
(in terms of sine and/or cosine) sin

sec 1
(in terms of sine and/or cosine) cos
 y
1
x

/2 /2 3/2 2
Graph of y = sin x
1

y
1
x

/2 /2 3/2 2
Graph of y = cos x
1

y
2

/2 /2 3/2 2 Graph of y = tan x

1

y
2

/2 /2 3/2 2 Graph of y = sec x

1

4 y

1 1
x
Graph of y =
4 3 2 1
1
1 2 3 4
x
2

4
 y

1
x Graph of y = x
2 1 1 2 3 4 5
1

x Graph of y = 1 x 2
1 1

4 y

Graph of y = x
x

4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4
1

4
y

4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4
x

5
Graph of y = ln x
1

3
y

Graph of y = ex
1
x

4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5
1

3
 symmetric with respect
Definition: to the y-axis, like y = x2,
An even function is y = cos x, or y = x .
f (x) = f (x)
symmetric with respect
Definition: to the origin, like y = x3,
An odd function is y = sin x, or y = tan x.
f (x) = f (x)
1
A = bh
Two formulas for 2
the area of a triangle 1
A = ab sin C
2

Formula for
A = r2
the area of a circle

Formula for
the circumference of a C = 2r
circle
 Formula for
V = r2h
the volume of a cylinder

Formula for 1
V = r 2h
the volume of a cone 3

Formula for 4
V = r3
the volume of a sphere 3

Formula for
the surface area of a A = 4r2
sphere

Point-slope form of a
y y1 = m(x x1)
linear equation
 sin x
lim 1
x 0 x

1 cos x
lim 0
x 0 x

the line through a point

Definition: on a curve with slope
A tangent line is equal to the slope of the
curve at that point.

Definition: the line connecting two

A secant line is points on a curve.

the line perpendicular

Definition:
to the tangent line at the
A normal line is
point of tangency.
 Definition: 1. f(c) exists;
f(x) is continuous at x = c 2. lim f ( x) exists; and
xc

when 3. lim f ( x) = f (c)

xc

Limit definition of the

f ( x + x ) f ( x )
derivative of f(x): lim
x 0 x
f (x) =

Alternate definition of
f ( x ) f (c )
derivative of f at x = c: lim
x c xc
f (c) =

slope of curve at a point

What f (x) tells you about slope of tangent line
a function instantaneous rate of
change

Definition:
y f ( b ) f ( a )
Average rate of change =
x ba
is
 Power rule for
derivatives:
nx n1
d n
dx
( x )=

Product rule for

derivatives: f (x)g(x) + g(x)f(x)
d = 1st d(2nd) + 2nd d(1st)
( f ( x) g ( x) ) =
dx
Quotient rule for g ( x) f ( x) f ( x) g ( x)
derivatives: 2
( g ( x ))
d f ( x) lo d hi hi d lo
= =
dx g ( x ) lo lo
f ( g ( x ) ) g ( x ) , or
Chain rule for derivatives:
d derivative of the outside
dx
(
f ( g ( x )) ) function times derivative
of the inside function

d
( sin x ) = cos x
dx
d
( cos x ) = sin x
dx

d
( tan x ) = sec2x
dx

d
( cot x ) = csc2x
dx

d
( sec x ) = sec x tan x
dx

d
( csc x ) = csc x cot x
dx
d 1
( arcsin x ) =
dx 1 x2

d 1
( arccos x ) =
dx 1 x2

d 1
( arctan x ) =
dx 1 + x2

d 1
( arccot x ) =
dx 1 + x2

d 1
( arcsec x ) =
dx x x2 1
 d 1
( arccsc x ) =
dx x x2 1

Derivative of natural log:

1
d
( ln x ) = x
dx

Derivative of log base a:

1
d
( log a x ) = x ln a
dx

Derivative of natural
exponential function:
ex
d x
dx
( e )=

Derivative of exponential
function of any base:
a x ln a
d x
dx
( a )=
Derivative of an inverse 1
;
function: f ( f ( x ))
1

d The derivatives of inverse

dx
( f 1 ( x ) ) =
functions are reciprocals.
Rolles Theorem:
f(a) = f(b), then there
If f is continuous on
exists c (a, b) such that
[a, b], differentiable on
f (c) = 0.
(a, b), and
Mean Value Theorem for there exists a value of
Derivatives: c (a, b) such that
If f is continuous on
f (b ) f ( a )
[a, b] and differentiable on f (c) = .
(a, b), then ba
f must have both an
Extreme Value Theorem:
absolute maximum and an
If f is continuous on a
absolute minimum on the
closed interval, then
interval.
Intermediate Value
f must take on every
Theorem:
y-value between
If f is continuous on
f (a) and f (b).
[a, b], then
 it must be continuous
If a function is
at that point.
differentiable at a point,
(Differentiability implies
then
continuity.)
Discontinuity
Four ways in which a
Corner
function can fail to be
Cusp
differentiable at a point
Vertical tangent line
Definition: a value of x in the
A critical number (a/k/a domain of f at which
critical point or critical either f (x) = 0 or
value) of f(x) is f (x) does not exist.

If f (x) > 0, then f(x) is increasing.

If f (x) < 0, then f(x) is decreasing.

 f(x) has a horizontal
If f (x) = 0, then
tangent.

Definition:
f (x) is increasing.
f(x) is concave up when

Definition:
f(x) is concave down f (x) is decreasing.
when

f (x) > 0 concave up

means that f(x) is (like a cup)

f (x) < 0 concave down

means that f(x) is (like a frown)
 Definition:
A point of inflection is a
concavity changes.
point on the curve
where
look for where f
To find a point of changes signs, or,
inflection, equivalently, where f
changes direction.

To find extreme values of

f is zero or undefined
a function, look for
(critical numbers).
where

f changes from
At a maximum, the value
positive to negative.
of the derivative
(First Derivative Test)

f changes from
At a minimum, the value
negative to positive.
of the derivative
(First Derivative Test)
The Second Derivative f (x) < 0, then f has a
Test: maximum; if f (x) > 0,
If f (x) = 0 and then f has a minimum.

Position function v ( t ) dt , the

s(t) = antiderivative of velocity

s(t), the derivative of

Velocity function position, as well as
v(t) = a ( t ) dt , antiderivative of
acceleration
v (t), the derivative of
Acceleration function velocity, as well as
a(t) = s(t), the second
derivative of position

A particle is moving to
v(t) < 0.
the left when
 A particle is moving to
v(t) > 0.
the right when

A particle is not moving

v(t) = 0.
(at rest) when

A particle changes
v(t) changes signs.
direction when

To find displacement of a
particle with velocity v(t) b

from t = a to t = b, v ( t ) dt
a

calculate this:
To find total distance
traveled by a particle with b

velocity v(t) from t = a to v ( t ) dt

a

t = b, calculate this:
 right
Area between curves ( top bottom ) dx
left

Volume of a solid with b

area of
cross-sections of a cross-section dx
specified shape a

Volume using discs a

r 2 dx
perpendiscular

Volume using washers b

( R r 2 ) dx
2
(discs with holes) a

Volume using shells a

2 rh dx
parashell
 1
Area of a trapezoid A= h ( b1 + b2 )
2

1
Trapezoidal rule for h ( y0 + 2 y1 + 2 y2 +

b 2
approximating
a
f ( x)dx
+2 yn1 + yn )

Average value of f(x) on 1 b

[a, b]
ba a
f ( x)dx

Power rule for x n+1

antiderivatives: +C
n +1
dx =
n
x (for n 1)

Constant multiple rule for k f ( x ) dx

antiderivatives:
(A constant coefficient
kf ( x ) dx = can be brought outside.)
 sin x dx = cos x + C

cos x dx = sin x + C

x dx =
2
sec tan x + C

x dx =
2
csc cot x + C

sec x tan x dx = sec x + C

 csc x cot x dx = csc x + C

dx = 1 dx =
ln x + C
x x

dx =
x
e ex + C

dx
= arcsin x + C
1 x 2

dx =
arctan x + C
1 + x2
 LHpitals rule for
f ( x) f ( x )
indeterminate limits then lim = lim
x c g ( x ) x c g ( x )
f ( x) 0
If lim = or , if the new limit exists.
x c g ( x ) 0
Mean Value Theorem for there exists a c [a, b]
Integration: such that
If f(x) is continuous 1 b
on [a, b], then
f(c) =
ba a f ( x ) dx

Fundamental Theorem of
Calculus (part 1)
f (x)
d x
dx a
f ( t ) dt =

Fundamental Theorem of
Calculus (part 2) F(b) F(a), where F is an
b antiderivative of f
( )
a
f x dx =

A differential equation an equation containing

is one or more derivatives.
 ...first separate the
To solve a differential variables (if needed) by
equation,... multiplying or dividing,
then integrate both sides.
Exponential Growth and y = Cekt, where C is the
Decay: quantity at t = 0, and k is
dy the constant of
If = ky , then
dt proportionality.

the amount which that

b
( rate of change ) dt =
a
quantity has changed from
t = a to t = b