Calculus BC Formulas

Section 1: Limits

squeeze theorem

Conditions Conclusion

g(x) ≤ ƒ(x) ≤ h(x) for x ≠ c

lim ƒ(x) = L
x→c
lim g(x) = L and lim h(x) = L
x→c x→c
 Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT)
If a function ƒ is continuous on the interval [a, b] and k is a number between ƒ(a)
and ƒ(b), then there is at least one x-value c between a and b such that ƒ(c) = k.
y

ƒ(b)

ƒ(a) < k < ƒ(b)

k
c1 c2 c3
ƒ(a)

x
a b
a<c<b

Any continuous function connecting (a, �(a)) and (b, �(b)) must pass
through every y-value between �(a) and �(b) at least once.

A function ƒ(x) is continuous at x = c if all of the following conditions are met:

• ƒ(c) is defined
• xlim
→c
ƒ(x) exists
• lim ƒ(x) = ƒ(c)
x→c

The graph of a continuous function has no "gaps."

y y

Not continuous at x = c Continuous at x = c

lim ƒ(x) ≠ ƒ(c) lim ƒ(x) = ƒ(c)
x→c x→c

ƒ(c) ƒ(c)
ƒ(x)

ƒ(x)

x x
c c
 Section 2: Derivatives

average rate of change definition of

over [a, b] derivative of ƒ at x = a
ƒ(b) − ƒ(a)
ƒ(x) − ƒ(a)
b−a ƒ'(a) = lim
x→a x−a

definition of derivative of ƒ at x = a ƒ is differentiable at x = c

ƒ(x) − ƒ(c)
ƒ(a + h) − ƒ(a) lim exists and is equal to ƒ′(c)
x−c
ƒ' (a) = lim
x→c

h→0 h difference quotient

Derivatives of trigonometric functions

Differentiation rules
d
[sinx] = cosx
d dx
Constant [c] = 0
dx
d
Power
d n
[x ] = nx n − 1
[cosx] = −sinx
dx dx
d x d
Natural exponential [e ] = e x [tanx] = sec 2 x
dx
dx
d x
Exponential [a ] = (ln a)a x
dx d
[cot x] = −csc 2 x
d 1 dx
Natural log [ln(x ) ] =
dx x
d
d [csc x] = −csc(x) cot(x)
Constant multiple [cƒ(x )] = cƒ' (x) dx
dx
d d
Sum and difference [ƒ(x) ± g(x)] = ƒ'(x) ± g'(x) [secx] = sec(x) tan(x)
dx dx

product rule quotient rule

d d u vu' − uv'
[uv] = uv' + vu' =
dx dx v v2
 derivative of inverse
position x(t )
1
(ƒ −1)′(a) = velocity v(t) = x ′(t ) differentiate
ƒ′(b)

Where (b, a) is a point on acceleration a(t ) = x ″(t)

the graph of f, or a = f(b)

ƒ(x)
Use L'Hospital's Rule to find the limit of the ratio of two differentiable functions as x
g(x)
approaches c. If direct substitution produces one of the indeterminate forms 0 or ∞ , then
∞
0
differentiate the numerator ƒ and denominator g independently.

ƒ(x) ƒ'(x)
lim = lim
x→c g(x) x→c g'(x)

L'Hospital's Rule also applies to limits as x→∞ or x→−∞.

Mean Value Theorem

Conditions Conclusion

For some c in (a, b):

ƒ is continuous on [a, b]
ƒ(b) − ƒ(a)
ƒ′(c) =
b−a

ƒ is differentiable on (a, b) instantaneous rate average rate

of change at x = c of change on [a, b]
 Extreme Value Theorem (EVT)
If a function ƒ is continuous on the closed interval [a,b], then ƒ is guaranteed
to attain an absolute minimum and absolute maximum value on [a,b].
y
maximum

ƒ(x)

minimum

x
O
a b

second derivative test for critical point at x = c

If ƒ″(c) < 0 If ƒ″(c) = 0 If ƒ″(c) > 0

ƒ(c) is a test is ƒ(c) is a

relative maximum inconclusive relative minimum

 Section 3: Integrals and
Differential Equations

The base length bn of each rectangle is the distance between the endpoints n
of the subinterval, and the height hn is the function value at the left endpoint.

y
y
ƒ
ƒ

ƒ(m2)

ƒ(x2) ƒ(m1)

ƒ(x1) h2
h1
h2
h1 x
O a = x1 b1 x2 b2 x3
x
O a = x1 b1 x2 b2 x3

The base length bn of each rectangle is the distance between the endpoints The height hn of each trapezoid is the distance between the endpoints of the
of the subinterval, and the height hn is the function value at the right endpoint. subinterval, and the bases bn and bn + 1 are the function values at the endpoints.

y y

ƒ ƒ
ƒ(x3)
ƒ(x3) ƒ(x2)

ƒ(x1)
ƒ(x2)
h2 b2 b3
b1
h1

x x
O a = x1 b1 b2 O
x2 x3 a = x1 h1 x2 h2 x3
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus limit of right Riemann sum

b
a

a(t) acceleration Second FTC

integrate
v(t) velocity
integrate
s(t) position

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

(alternate form)

Integration rules

Constant

Power

Constant multiple

Sum and difference

Natural exponential

Natural log
The following are properties of definite integrals,
where functions f and g are continuous on the improper integral
closed interval [a, b] and a, b, and k are constants.

integration by parts

udv = uv − v du

Integrals of trigonometric functions logistic differential equation

dP P
= kP 1 −
dt a

logistic differential equation

dP
= kP(a − P)
dt

Euler's method equation

y n + 1 = yn + ƒ′(xn ) (Δx)

next derivative step

y-value at current size
xn-value
average value total distance
traveled
b
1 t2
ƒ(x)dx |v(t)| dt
b−a a t1

length of a curve
(arc length)

a
1 + (ƒ′(x))2 dx

area bounded by two

functions on [x1, x2]
x2
A= (top − bottom) dx
x1
Use the disk method to determine the volume of a solid of revolution formed
by rotating a region about a horizontal line y = c (axis of revolution) over the
interval a < x < b when y = c is a boundary of the region—there is no space
between the region and y = c.
b

y
ƒ(x)

y=c axis of
revolution

x
a b

When a region is revolved about an axis of revolution, a perpendicular cross

section of the solid is a disk where:
• r is the distance from the axis of revolution to the closest function ƒ(x)
• dx is the thickness of the disk
y
disk dx
ƒ(x)

y=c

x
a b
Use the washer method to determine the volume of a solid of revolution formed by
rotating a region bounded by ƒ(x) and g(x) about a horizontal line y = c (axis of revolution)
over the interval a < x < b when y = c is not a boundary of the region—there is space
between the region and y = c.
b

y ƒ(x)
g(x)

R
r
y=c

x
a b

When a region is revolved about an axis of revolution, a perpendicular cross section of the
resulting solid is a disk with a hole (washer) where:
• R is the distance from the axis of revolution to the farthest function ƒ(x)
• r is the distance from the axis of revolution to the closest function g(x)
• dx is the thickness of the washer
y y
dx
washer

radius of outer
circle = R
y=c axis of y=c
revolution
radius of inner
circle = r

x x
 Section 4: Polar Coordinates, Parametric,
Equations, and Vector-Valued Functions

derivative of parametric equations

parametric speed
dy y'(t)
= s(t) = (x'(t)) 2 + (y'(t)) 2
dx x'(t)

length of parametric curve vector differentiation

t2 ƒ(t) = 〈x(t), y(t)〉
x'(t) 2 + y'(t) 2 dt
t1

ƒ'(t) = 〈x'(t), y'(t)〉

vector total distance ƒ''(t) = 〈x''(t), y''(t)〉

t2

t1

speed
slope of a polar curve

d
polar to rectangular
[y ]
dy dθ
=
dx d
x = r cosθ [x ]
dθ
y = r sinθ
 Section 5: Infinite Series

The harmonic series is an infinite series given by

The harmonic series diverges by the p-series test.

nth term test

an

diverges inconclusive
lim an ≠ 0 lim an = 0
n→ n→

p-series converges if p > 1

p-series diverges if 0 < p ≤ 1

∞
1 1 1 1
If p = 1, the resulting series =1+ + + + ⋯ is called a
n=1
n 2 3 4
harmonic series, which diverges.
 sum of geometric series

a1
S=
1−r

geometric series

ar n

r <1 r ≥1

The series converges to

a1 The series diverges.
S = 1 − r , where a1 is the
first term of the series.

integral test

converges diverges

then,
∞
n=c
then,
n=c
and
n=c

alternating series test

(−1)nan converges if:

• lim an = 0 and
n→

• an is a positive, decreasing sequence

 nth-degree Taylor polynomial of ƒ about x = c

ƒ"(c) 2
ƒ(n)(c)
Pn(x) = ƒ(c) + ƒ'(c)(x − c) + (x − c) + … + (x − c)n
2! n!

Maclaurin polynomial

ƒ′′(0) 2 ƒ′′′(0) 3 ... ƒ (n)(0) n

Pn(x) = ƒ (0) + ƒ ′(0)x + x + x + x
2! 3! n!

Known power series

1
= 1 + x + x 2 + x 3 + ... + x n + ...
1−x

x2 x3 xn
e =1+x+
x
+ + ... + + ...
2! 3! n!

x3 x5 x7 x 2n + 1
sinx = x − + − + ... + (−1) n
+ ...
3! 5! 7! (2n + 1)!

x2 x4 x6 x 2n
cosx = 1 − + − + ... + (−1) n
+ ...
2! 4! 6! (2n)!