Prerequisites for Calculus

Lines
Increments:
If a particle moves from the point (x1, y1) to the point (x2, y2), the increments in its coordinates are:

x=x2-x1 and y=y2-y1

Slope of a line:
Let (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) be points on a nonvertical line, L. the slope of L is:

m=

rise
y
=
=
run
x

y 2 y 1
x 2x 1

Point-slope equation:
The equation
y = m(x-x1)+y1 is the point slope form equation of the line though the point (x1,y1)

with slope m.
Slope-intercept equation:
The equation y = mx+ b is the slope-intercept equation of the line with slope m and y-intercept b.

Functions and Graphs

Functions:
A function from a set D(domain) to a set R(range) is a rule that assigns a unique element in R to each
element in D.
- Domain= x values
- Range= y values
Note: every x value corresponds with only one y value. One y value may correspond with multiple x
values.
Use the vertical line test to determine if a graph represents a function:

Even/Odd Functions:
A function y=f(x) is an
Even function of x if f(-x)=f(x)
Odd function of x if f(-x)=-f(x)

The graph of an even function is symmetric about the y-axis.

The graph of an odd function is symmetric about the origin.

Graphs of Common Functions:

f(x)=x2

f(x)=x3

f(x)=sin(x)

f(x)=cos(x)

f(x)=ex

f(x)=ln(x)

f(x)=tan(x)

f(x)=cot(x)

Exponential Functions
Let a be a positive real number other than 1. The function

f(x)=ax

Is the exponential function with base a.

Rules for exponents:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

axay=ax+y
ax/ay=ax-y
(ax)=(ay)x=axy
axbx=(ab)x
(a/b)x= ax/bx

Parametric Equations
If x and y are given as functions:
x=f(t), y=g(t)
Over an interval of t-values, then the set of points (x,y) = (f(t), g(t)) defined by these equations is a
parametric curve. The equations are parametric equations for the curve.
The variable t is the parameter of the curve
The domain of the curve is the parameter interval
If a t b , the point (f(a),g(a)) is the initial point of the curve and the point (f(b),g(b)) is the
terminal point of the curve.

Functions and Logarithms

One-to-one function:
A function f(x) is one-to-one on a domain D if

f (a) f (b) whenever a b

In other words: a one-to-one function passes not only the vertical line test, but the horizontal line test as
well

Writing f -1 as a function of X:
1. Solve the equation y=f(x) for x in terms of y.
2. Interchange x and y. The resulting formula will be y=f -1(x)
Base a logarithm Function:
The base a logarithm function y=loga x is the inverse of the base a exponential function y=ax. (a>0,

a 1

In other words: If y=loga x, then ay=x

Rules for Logarithms:
1. Product Rule: loga xy=loga x+loga y
2. Quotient Rule: loga

x
=loga x - loga y
y

3. Power rule: loga xy = y loga x

Natural logarithmic function:
loge x=ln x
Common logarithmic function:
log10 x = log x
Change of base formula:
loga x =

ln x
ln a

Trigonometric Functions
Unit circle:

For angles ()

in a right triangle:

opposite
hypotenuse
adjacent
cos =
hypotenuse
opposite
tan =
adjacent
1
csc =
sin
1
sec =
cos
1
cot =
tan
sin =