FE Other Mathematics Workshop Problems & Solutions

FE OTHER DISCIPLINES
Mathematics
2021 Workshop Solutions
This copy is given to the following student as part of School of PE course. Not allowed to distribute to others.
Tony Kebbe (abdallah.kebbe@gmail.com)
www.schoolofpe.com
ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS WORKSHOP
Mathematics Workshop Solutions
Table of Contents
BASICS: STRAIGHT LINES, QUADRATIC EQUATION, LOGARITHMS, AREA, VOLUME ......... 2
CONIC SECTIONS .................................................................................................................................... 9
TRIGONOMETRY................................................................................................................................... 12
VECTORS ................................................................................................................................................ 16
LINEAR ALGEBREA.............................................................................................................................. 19
NUMERICAL METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 26
CALCULUS ............................................................................................................................................. 28
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS .............................................................................................................. 46
Page 1 of 57
y
C (200,900)
BASICS: STRAIGHT LINES, QUADRATIC EQUATION,
LOGARITHMS, AREA, VOLUME B
(500,750)
BAS 1. Straight Lines. Given the figure at right and the

coordinates of points A, B, C, and D, determine the
following: A (100,500) D (300,500)
x
a.) The slope of Line AB.
A. -0.625 B. +0.625 C. -1.60 D. 4.00
b.) The distance between points A and B?
A. 412.31 B. 471.07 C. 471.70 D. 421.31
c.) The slope of Line CD.
A. -0.625 B. +0.625 C. -1.60 D. -4.00
d.) The slope of a Line A’B’ (not shown) which is perpendicular to Line AB.
A -1.60 B. +0.25 C. +1.60 D. -0.25
e.) The slope of a Line C’D’ (not shown) which is perpendicular to Line CD.
A -1.60 B. +0.25 C. +1.60 D. -0.25
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 35
Page 2 of 57
y 750  500 250
a.) Slope of Line AB= m AB  = =  0.625; B
x 500  100 400
 500  100    750  500   = 222,500 = 471.70; C

2 2
b.) Length AB = B
y 500  900 400

c.) Slope of Line CD = m CD  = =  4.00; D
x 300  200 100
1 1
d.) The slope of line A'B' is m A ' B '    1.60; A
mAB 0.625
1 1
e.) The slope of line C'D' is m C ' D '    0.25; B
mCD 4.00
Page 3 of 57
BAS 2. Determine the roots of the following equation by using the quadratic equation to
solve for x.
3x 2 - 1,400x - 160,000 = 0
A B C D
516.63 & 94.96 561.63 & -163.22 -1,400 & -94.96 561.63 & -94.96

-b ± b 2 - 4ac
x= ; W here: a = 3; b = -1,400; c = -160,000
2a
-(-1,400) ± (-1,400) 2 - 4(3)(-160,000)
x=
2(3)
1,400 ± 1,960,000+1,920,000
x= = 561.63 and -94.96
6
The correct answer is D.
BAS 3. Determine the roots of the following equation by using the quadratic equation to
solve for z.
z 2 - 17z - 60 = 0
A B C D
-20 and 3 -12 and 5 20 and -3 12 and 5

-b ±b 2 - 4ac
z= ; Where: a = 1; b = -17; c = -60
2a
-(-17) ± (-17) 2 - 4(1)(-60)
z=
2(1)
17 ± 289+240 17 ± 23
z= =  20 and -3
2 2
The correct answer is C.
Page 4 of 57
BAS 4. Solve for a: given that 2a = 1.587(a+4)
A. B. C. D.
3 6.69 1.28 8

ln 2a = ln (1.587 (a+4)); a(ln 2) = (a+4) ln 1.587; a(0.693) = (a+4)0.462;
solving for a, a = 8 and the correct answer is D.
BAS 5. Given that log a = 12, log b = 10; log c = 13, k = 3, and x = 5, solve the
following:
A. B. C. D.
a) log a/b 2 0.08 -2 0.182
b) logcc 0 -1 1 2
c) log ab -4.79 4.79 2.08 22
d) log 1 0 1 2 3
e) log ak 5.73 36 1728 4.79
f) log 1/b -1 1 -10 10
g) log cx 65 18 5.57 12.82
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1

page 35
Correct Answers
a) log a/b log a – log b = 12 – 10 = 2 A
b) logcc 1 C
c) log ab log a + log b = 12 + 10 = 22 D
d) log 1 0 A
e) log ak k(log a) = 3(12) = 36 B
f) log 1/b log 1 – log b = 0 – 10 = -10 C
g) log cx x(log c) = 5(13) = 65 A
Page 5 of 57
BAS 6. Sphere The spherical steel enclosure shown here

has an inside diameter of 10.0 feet. Determine :
a.) the volume of the inside of the enclosure in cubic
yards and
b.) the surface area in square yards.
A. B. C. D.
a.) volume 174.42 19.38 34.91 3.88
b.) area 34.91 6.98 104.72 11.64

4 r 3 4(3.14)53
a.) V   19.38 yd 3
3(27 cf/cy) 81
Therefore the correct answer is B.
4(3.14)52
b.) A  4 r  2
 34.91 yd 2
9 sf/sy
Therefore the correct answer is A.
BAS 7. Circular Segment

Water is flowing in a pipe with an inside diameter of 24 inches. The
maximum depth of flow is 4 inches. Determine the flow area.
A. B. C. D.
54.35 49.38 34.91 38.88
Page 6 of 57

Calculate the angle  using the equation,
 r  d    12  4  
 =2  arccos     2  arccos     96.38
0
  r    12  
To convert from degrees to radians, multiply degrees by  pi rad  / 1800  .
 =96.380  
3.1416 1 1
0 
 1.68 radians; A= r 2   sin   = 122 1.68  sin1.68   49.38 in 2 ;
 180  2 2
BAS 8. Right Circular Cone
A pile of sand, the shape of a right circular cone,

is 18 feet high and 30 feet in diamter at its base.
a.) What is the volume of the pile (to the closest cubic yard)?
b.) Determine the side area of the pile (to the closest square yard)?
A. B. C. D.
a.) volume 16,956 157 4239 471
b.) area 123 1104 271 11.64
Page 7 of 57
r h 2
(3.14)15 (18)2
a.) V   4,239 ft 3  157 yd 3
3 3
b.) Ar  
r 2  h 2  3.14(15)  
152  182  47.1(23.43)  1103.59 ft 2
= 1103.59 ft 2  9 ft 2 /yd 2  122.62 yd 2

Note: The formula in NCEES FERM includes the area of the cone’s base, which is a
circle with area 𝜋𝑟 . Here the problem only asks for the side area.
Page 8 of 57
CONIC SECTIONS
CON 1. Equation of Circle. Find the equation of the circle passing through the
following three points: (0, -16), (0, 0), and (10, 4)?
A. ( x - 9)2  ( y - (-8))2  12.04 2
B. ( x - 9)2  ( y - (8))2  10.02
C. ( x  9)2  ( y  8)2  144
D. ( x  9)2  ( y  8)2  12

The center-radius form of the equation of a circle
( x  h) 2  ( y  k ) 2  r 2 where the circle’s center point is at (h,k).
Substitute the first two points, (0,-16), (0,0) into the equation.
(0  h) 2  (0  k ) 2  r 2 ; (0  h) 2  (16  k ) 2  r 2
Since both equations are equal to the unknown r2, set the left sides equal to each other.
h 2  k 2  h2  256  32k  k 2 Simplify.  0  256  32k ,
256
and solve for k  k   8
32
Substitute the third point, (10, 4), into the center-radius form to create the third equation.
Set the third equation equal to the first equation. Simplify and solve for h.
(10  h) 2  (4  (8)) 2  (0  h)2  (0  (8)) 2
Simplify  100  20h  h 2  144  h 2  64
Simplify  180  20h; and solve for h  h = 9
Since h and k are known, substitute them into the first equation to solve for r.
h2  k 2  r 2  92  (8)2  81  64  145  r 2 ;
r  145  12.04
Substitute the known values of h, k, and r into the center-radius form:
( x  9)2  ( y  (8))2  12.042 and the correct answer is A.
Page 9 of 57
CON 2. Ellipse Find the equation of an ellipse with foci at (  25,0) and major axis of
length 70.
A. B. D. C.
2
 x   y
2 2
 x   y 
2
 x   y   x   y 
2 2
     =1      =1      =1      = -1
 25   35   35   24.49   50   49.24   35   25 

Draw a rough sketch of the ellipse. Given the coordinates of the two foci, we see that the
center of this ellipse, (h,k) is at (0,0), and that the major axis runs horizontally from
vertex to vertex, through the two foci. The length of the major axis is given as 70, and is
equal to 2a. Based on the coordinates of the foci, the distance between foci is 2c = 50.
The dimension b is needed for the equation of the ellipse, and can be found using the
dimensions a and c, and the Pythagorean Theorem.
b2  a2  c2  352  252 ; b  352  252  24.49
 x  h
2
( y  k )2
  1; when the center is at the origin (h  k  0)
a2 b2
2 2
x  y 
Therefore the equation of the ellipse is:      1
 35   24.49 
The correct answer is B.
Page 10 of 57
CON 3. Parabola Find the equation of a

parabola with vertex at (0, 0) and focus at (6, 0) 8
A. 4
y  4x
2
2
VERTEX FOCUS
B. (h, k ) 0 ( 6, 0 )
( y  4)  (12)(x  6)
2 - 0.4 0.1 0.6 1. 1 1. 6
-2
C.
( y  6)2  2(12)(x  4) -4
D. -6
y  24x
2
-8

The standard form of the equation of a parabola is (y-k)2 = 2p(x-h). But with the vertex,
(h,k) located at (0,0), and the focus at (h + p/2, k) = (6,0); p = 12, the standard form of
the equation reduces to:
y2  2 px  2(12)x  24x
CON 4. Sphere (Quadric Surface) What is the radius of a sphere with center at
(10,10,10) that passes through the point (0,0,0)?
A. B. C. D.
10.00 6.69 17.32 12.00

r 2  ( x  h)2  ( y  k )2  ( z  l )2
r  (0 10)2  (0  10)2  (0  10)2  300  17.32
Page 11 of 57
TRIGONOMETRY
TRG 1. Triangles A 6 foot tall man is standing in the exact center of a rectangular
room that measures 400 ft long by 100 ft wide by 15 feet high. He is facing one of the
short sides of the room. Imagine the triangle created on the floor by the man and the two
corners of the wall he is facing.
a) What is the angle of the triangle at the vertex at which he is standing?
A. 14.0350 B. 28.070 C. 151.930 D. 75.960
b) What is the distance from the man’s feet to the floor/wall corners of the room?
A. 205.38’ B. 412.31’ C. 211’ D. 206.16’
c) What is the distance from the top of the man’s head to the ceiling/wall corners?
A. 206.36’ B. 206.18’ C. 206.50’ D. 9’
d) What is the greatest distance in the room between floor and ceiling /wall corners?
A. 412.99’ B. 412.58’ C. 291.94’ D. 411.34’

 50 
a.) Angle of triangle at the man:  = 2tan 1  0
 =28.07 ;
 200 
Correct answer: B
b.) Distance, man's feet to floor corners: 200 2  50 2  42,500  206.16 ft;
Correct answer: D
c.) Distance, man's head to ceiling corners: 206.16 2  (15  6) 2  42,582.9
 206.36 ft; Correct answer: A
d.) Farthest distance ceiling corner to floor corner: (2  206.16) 2  15 2
 42,582.9  412.58 ft ; Correct answer: B
Page 12 of 57
TRG 2. Triangle The following is known about a triangle with vertices X, Y, and Z:
XY = 300 ft, Angle Y = 750; and YZ = 200 ft. (Hint: this is not a right triangle)
A. B. C. D.
a.) Length XZ 310.12’ 314.55’ 19389.8’ 490.52’
b.) Angle X 39. 870 87. 390 37. 890 37. 890
c.) Area of Triangle 0.665 28,977 23,977.5 5,000
XYZ (in acres).
Page 13 of 57
a.) Length ZX = b; by the Law of Cosines, b = a +c  2ac cos B 2 2 2
b = 200 2 +300 2  2(200)(300) cos 750 = 40,000+90,000-120,000(0.2588)

= 98,941.71  314.55 ft; Therefore the correct answer is B.
a b a sin B 200sin 750
b.) By the Law of Sines,  ;  sin A  ;
sin A sin B b 314.55
Angle X  Angle A = sin 1 0.614  37.890 ; Therefore the correct answer is C.
c.) Area of triangle: Divide the triangle into two right triangles by passing a vertical
line through Vertex Z.
Use the formula Area = base x height x 1/2, twice, once for each of the two right triangles.
The triangle on the left has a hypotanuse of 314.55' and Angle X = 37.89 0
Therefore it's base is: 314.55'(cos 37.89 0 )  314.55'(0.789)  248.24',
and the triangle on the right has a base of 300' - 248.24' = 51.76'.
The vertical sides of the two triangles is common to both triangles, and is equal to:
314.55'(sin 37.890 )  314.55'(0.614)  193.18'
Therefore the areas are:
Area (left) = 1/2(248.24')(193.18') = 23,977.50 sf
Area (right) = 1/2(51.76')(193.18') = 4,999.50 sf
Total area = 28,977.00 sf
28,977.00 sf
Don't forget to convert sf to acres: Area XYZ =  0.665 acres;
43,560 sf/ac
Page 14 of 57
TRG 3. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to sin2θ?

A. sinθcosθ
B. 2cos2θ - 2sin2θ
C. 2sinθcosθ
D. 1- 2sin2θ
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 38, The Correct answer C.
TRG 4. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to sinα cosβ?

A. ½ [cos(α - β) - cos(α + β)]
B. ½ [cos(α - β) + cos(α + β)]
C. ½ [sin(α + β) + sin(α - β)]
D. ½ [sin(α + β) + cos(α + β)]
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 38, The Correct answer C.
TRG 5. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to sin (α – β)?

A. sin  cos  - cos  sin 
B. cos  cos  + sin  sin 
C. cos  cos  - sin  sin 
D. sin  cos  + cos  sin 
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 38, The Correct answer A.
TRG 6. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to cos (α – β)?

A. sin  cos  - cos  sin 
B. cos  cos  + sin  sin 
C. cos  cos  - sin  sin 
D. sin  cos  + cos  sin 
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 38, The Correct answer B.
Page 15 of 57
VECTORS
VEC 1. Vector Addition and Subtraction Perform the indicated operations on the
following vectors:
X =  2 3 1 6, Y = 5 1 12 1, Z  1 0 4 3
A. B. C. D.
a.) X Y 8 4 13 7 7 4 13 7  7 4 11 7  7 4 13 9
b.) YX 5 1 12 1 3 -2 13 -7  3 -2 11 -5 3 2 11 -5
c.) X Z 3 2 5 9 3 3 5 9 3 3 4 9 3 3 5 6

a.) X  Y   2  5 3  1 1  12 6  1  7 4 13 7 ; The correct answer is B.
b.) Y  X  5  2 1  3 12  1 1  6  3 2 11 5; The correct answer is C.
c.) X  Z   2  1 3  0 1  4 6  3  3 3 5 9; The correct answer is B.
Page 16 of 57
VEC 2. Resultant of Multiple Vectors

For vectors X  3i  0 j  16k , Y  2i  2 j  2k , Z  1i  8 j  6k
A. B. C. D.
X  Y +Z 4i  6 j  20k 4i  6 j  20k 4i  6 j  20k 4i  6 j  20k

X  Y +Z
X  3i  0 j  16k
Y  2i  2 j  2k
Z  1i  8 j  6k
X  Y + Z  4i  6 j  20k
The correct answer is A.
VEC 3. Vector Cross Product

Find A  B using the following vectors, A  (1i  2 j  1k ); B  (0i  1 j  5k );
A. B. C. D.
11i, 5 j , 1k 11i,  5 j , 1k 11i,  5 j , +1k 11i,  5 j , +1k

A  B  A B n sin   ( a2b3  a3b2 , a3b1  a1b3 , a1b2  a2 b1 )
 (2  5  ( 1)  1,  1  0  1  5, 1  1  2  0)
 [(10  1)i, (5  0) j, (1  0) k ]  (11i, 5 j,1k );
Page 17 of 57
VEC 4. Area of Parallelogram What is the area of the parallelogram made by the
following vectors?
A  (1i  2 j  1k ); B  (0i  1 j  5k ); All lengths are in meters.
A. B. C. D.
147 m2 3.60 m2 11 m2 12.12 m2
A  B  (10  1)i  (0  5) j  (1  0)k  11i, 5 j , k

Area  112  (5)2  12  121  25  1  147  12.12 m 2
VEC 5. Volume of Parallelepiped What is the volume of the parallelepiped made by

vectors.
A  (2i  2 j  1k ); B  (4i  2 j  2k ); C  (i  5 j  4k ); All lengths are in meters.

A. B. C. D.
62 52 42 24
V1x V1 y V1z   2 2 1 
 
Volume A( B  C )  V  V2 x V2 y V2 z    4 2 2  ;
 
V3 x V3 y V3 z  1 5 4 
 
Expand this determinant by the first column.
(2)[(2)(4)  (5)(2)]  (4)[(2)(4)  (5)(1)]  (1)[( 2)(2)  (2)(1)]
 (2)( 2)  (4)( 13)  (1)(6)   4 + 52  6 = 42m3 Therefore the correct answer is C.
Page 18 of 57
LINEAR ALGEBREA
LAL 1. Transpose Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1

page 57
1 2 3 1 4 7 
Given X   4 5 6  ; X   2 5 8  The correct answer is B.
T
   
7 8 9   3 6 9 
T
Find the second row of X ;
A. B. C. D.
4 5 6 2 5 8 1 5 9 3 5 7
LAL 2. Determinants Find the determinants of the following matrices:
4 3 0  1 1 2 
3 1
a.) X =  ; b.) Y =  2 2 2  ; c.) Z   0 6 3 
 2 2  1 1 3  4 7 5
   
A. B. C. D.
a.) det X 4 8 -4 -8
b.) det Y 40 8 4 56
c.) det Z 45 -87 -45 -9
Solutions: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 58

a.) det X   3  2) - (2  1  6 - 2  4; The correct answer is A.
b.) det Y  (4  2  3)  (3  2  1)  (0  2  1) - [(1  2  0)  (1  2  4)  (3  2  3)]

 (24  6  0) - [(0  8  18)]  (30) - [(26)]  4;
c.) det Z  (-1  6  5)  (1  3  4)  (2  0  7) - [(4  6  2)  (7  3  -1)  (5  0  1)]

 (-30  12  0) - [(48 - 21  0)]  (-18) - [(27)]  -45;
Page 19 of 57
LAL 3. Cofactor Matrix

 3 2 1
Given X  1 6 3  ; Find the third row of X
COFACTOR
;
 
 2 4 0 
A. B. C. D.
-12 10 -16 12 -10 16 12 6 -16 12 10 16

The entries in the cofactor matrix are the determinants of submatrices resulting from the
elimination of the row i and column j of the entry a ij . The entry is multiplied by +1 or -1
depending on its position. X is the coefficient matrix.
12 6 16
4 16 
COFACTOR
The cofactor matrix of X is X 2
 
12 10 16 
LAL 4. Cofactor Matrix Solution: See NCEES FERM

V10.0.1 page 58
10 3 10   11 152 24 
Given K   8 2 9  ;  40 180 14 

COFACTOR
K
   
 8 1 10  47 10 44 
Find the second row of K

COFACTOR
A. B. C. D.
40 -180 14 40 180 14 -40 -180 14 -40 -180 -14
Page 20 of 57
LAL 5. Classical Adjoint Find the second row of the classical adjoint of Matrix K and
the third row of the classical adjoint of Matrix X.
10 3 10   3 2 1
a.) K   8 2 9  b.) X  1 6 3 
   
 8 1 10   2 4 0 
A. B. C. D.
a.) 152 -180 -44 152 -180 10 152 -180 -10 -152 180 10
b.) -16 -16 16 16 -16 -16 -16 16 16 -16 16 -16
The classical adjoint is the transpose of the cofactor matrix.

 11 152 24   11 40 47 
a.) K 
COFACTOR 
 40 180 14 therefore K
ADJOINT
 152 180 10 

   
 47 10 44   24 14 44 
Therefore the correct answer is C.
12 6 16   12 4 12 
b.) X 
COFACTOR
 4 2 
16 therefore X
ADJOINT
 6 2 10 
   
12 10 16   16 16 16 
Page 21 of 57
LAL 6. Inverse Matrices Find the first row of the inverse matrix of the given matrix.
3 2  1
Given A    , Find A .
7 10 
A. B. C. D.
10/16 -2/16 10/16 -7/16 -2/16 10/16 10/16 3/16
 d b  10 2 
 c a   7 3  10 2 
a b  1       16 16 
For the 2x2 matrix   , Therefore, A  ;
c d   A 16  7 3 
 16 16 
LAL 7. Inverse Matrices Find the third row of the inverse matrix of the given matrix.
 1 3 1
Given G   1 0 1 , Find G .
1
 
 0 1 1
A. B. C. D.
1 1 1 3 -2 3 -1 -1 -3 -1 -1 3
The classical adjoint is the transpose of the cofactor matrix. For the 3x3 matrix the inverse is
determined by dividing every entry in the classical adjoint by the determinant of the original matrix.
 1 1 1  1  2 3 
G   2 1 1 ; adj G 
COFACTOR
G COFACTOR T
   1 1 2 
 3 2 3   1 1 3 
 1  2 3 
 1 1 2 
   1 2 3 
adj G    1  1 3  
1 2  ;
1
G  =  1 The correct answer is D.
G (1)  
 1 1 3 
Page 22 of 57
LAL 8. Inverse Matrices Find the

second row of the inverse matrix of the  1 1 2 
Given H   0 6 3  , Find H .
1
given matrix.  
 4 7 5 
A. B. C. D.
-4/15 13/15 1/15 -4/15 13/45 1/15 -4/15 13/45 -1/15 -4/15 -13/15 -1/15
Solution:  9 9 9 

adj H  12 13 3  ; H  45;
See NCEES FERM  
V10.0.1 page 57  24 11 6 
 9 9 9 
 12 13 3 
   1 / 5 1 / 5 1 / 5 
adj H  24 11 6  
 4 / 15 13 / 45 1 / 15 
1
H  =
H 45  
 8 / 15 11 / 45 2 / 15
Page 23 of 57
LAL 9. Simultaneous Equations by Cramer’s Rule Find the values of x1, x2, and x3 in
the following system of simultaneous equations.
 x1   2 x3  6 
 
 3 x1  4 x2  6 x3  30 
  x  2 x  3x  8 
 1 2 3 
A. B. C. D.
-12 18 38 10 18 38 18 38 10 10 18 38
11 11 11 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11
Solution:
A1 det( A1 ) A2 det( A ) A3 det( A )
x1   ; x2   2
; x3   3
;
A det( A) A det( A) A det( A)
 1 0 2  6 0 2  1 6 2 1 0 6
A  3 4 6 ; A1  30 4 6 ; A2  3 30 6 ; A3  3 4 30  ;
      
       
 1 2 3   8 2 3  1 8 3   1 2 8 
A1 det( A1 ) 40 10 A2 det( A ) 72 18
 x1     ; x2   2
  ;
A det( A) 44 11 A det( A) 44 11
A3 det( A3 ) 152 38
x3     ; The correct answer is D.
A det( A) 44 11
Page 24 of 57
LAL 10. Simultaneous Equations by Cramer’s Rule.

Find the values of x1, x2, and x3 in the following system of  4 x1  x2  2
simultaneous equations. 11x  x  2 x  3
 1 2 3 
 x1  5 x2  2 x3  1 
A. B. C. D.
−20 −24 44 −20 −24 44 20 24 44 −20 −24 44
, , , , , , , ,
−52 −52 −52 50 50 50 52 52 52 −26 −26 −26
Solution:
−20 −24 44
𝑥 = ; 𝑥 = ; 𝑥 = ; The correct answer is A.
−52 −52 −52
Page 25 of 57
NUMERICAL METHODS
NUM 1. Find the closest root to x = 3 for f(x) = 4 + 8x2 – x4 with an error smaller than
0.01

We apply Newton’s method starting at x = 3. For that we first need f(x) derivative
f’(x) = 16x – 4x3
Then we apply the algorithm.
Step 1: In x0 = 3
x1 = x0 – f(x0)/f’(x0) = 3 – (-5)/(-60) = 3 - 0.083 = 2.917
Step 2: In x1 = 2.917
x2 = x1 – f(x1)/f’(x1) = 2.917 – (-0.3125)/(-52.58) = 2.917 - 0.006 = 2.911
At this point, we know the algorithm is converging and next step will be smaller than
0.006
Page 26 of 57
NUM 2. Find the root in the range between x=0 and x=5 of f(x) = 4 + 8x 2 – x4 using the
bisection method, with an error smaller than 0.5

We first must calculate the values of the function at the two extremes of the given range.
f(0) = 4
f(5) = 4 + 200 – 3125 = -2921
The values that we found have opposite signs, therefore there is a root in the given range
We apply bisection method and evaluate the function in the middle point x = 2.5.
f(2.5) = 14.9375
The result has opposite sign with respect to f(5), therefore the root must be between
x=2.5 and x=5, meaning that the best approximation is error is x=3.75 ± 1.25. This error
is bigger than allowed by the problem, thus we need at least one more iteration.
f(3.75) = -81.234
Because the number is negative, the new approximation range must be between x = 2.5
and x=3.75. The current approximation of the root is then x=3.125 ± 0.625. We must
bisect again.
f(3.125) = -13.242
Now the new approximation range is between x=2.5 and x=3.125. The current
approximation of the root is then x=2.8125 ± 0.3125. And since the approximation error
is below 0.5, this is the final answer.
Page 27 of 57
CALCULUS
3
CAL 1. Find the slope of the graph g(x) = x when
A. B. C. D.
a.) g(x) = 3 x at x = 2 -21.0 -0.21 0.21 0.12
1 0.125 -0.25 +0.25 -0.125
b.) f(x) = 2 at x = 2
x
Note: these are two separate practice problems, with (possibly) different answers from
the A, B, C and D choices.

1
1  32 1 1
a.) g(x) = x = x ; differentiate: x  2 ;g(2) =
3 3
2
 0.21
3 3x 3
3(2) 3

1
b.) f(x) = 2 = x 2 ; differentiate: (-2)x 3; f(2) = (-2)2 3  0.25
x
Page 28 of 57
CAL 2. Find the derivative of the following function.

g(x) = (x 5  3 x 4  7)1/3
A. B.
1 5 1 5
(x  3 x 4  7) 2/3 (5 x  12) x 4 (x  3 x 4  7) 2/3 (5 x  12) x 3
3 3
C. D.
1 5 1 5
(x  3 x 4  7) 2/3 (5 x  12) x3 (x  3 x 4  7) 2/3 (5 x  12) x 3
3 3
dk
g(x) = (x 5  3 x 4  7)1/3 ; let k = x 5  3 x 4  7. Then  5 x 4  12 x3
dx
1 5
g'(x) = (x  3 x 4  7) 2/3 (5 x  12) x3
3
Page 29 of 57
CAL 3. Find the derivatives of the following functions.
 3 7
a) y  x  2 x 

 
(sin x)
b) ye
c) ysin(x 2 )
 
d) y  ln sin( x 2 )
 

These problems practice the Chain Rule, dy/dx = dy/du * du/dx.
a) Let u = x^3 + 2x, so that y = u^7. Then dy / dx  7 x 3  2 x (3x  2)  6 2
b) Let u = sin x, so that y = e^u. Then dy / dx  (cos x)e (sin x)
c) Let u = x^2, so that y = sin u. Then dy / dx  2 x cos(x 2 )
d) Eeek! Well, first, let u = sin(x^2), so that y = ln u. Then using part (c), we can
say that dydx  2 x cos(x 2 ) *1 /sin(x 2 ) .
Page 30 of 57
CAL 4. Find f / y if f ( x, y) ( x 2  cos y)3

Solution. : See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 45
We want the y-partial, so treat x as though it were a constant. This involves a Chain
Rule, too, so let u = x^2 + cos y, so that f(x,y) = u^3. So
f / y  ( sin y) * 3 * ( x^ 2  cos y) 2
CAL 5. Find the maximum and minimum values of the following function on the
indicated interval
f ( x)  x3  10 x  8 (-2 < x < 2); find Radius of Curvature at x =  0.60 (in feet).
A. B. C. D.
252 48 201 248
Solutions: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1

pages 45 y=x^3-10x+8
23
f’(x)
y'=3x^2-10 = 3x2-10
18
f '( x)  3x 2  10  0; 13
8
-b ± b 2 - 4ac
x= ; 3
2a
-6 -4 -2 -2 0 2 4 6
Where: a = 3; b = 0; c = -10 -7
-12
0 ± 0 - 4(3)(-10) ± 120 ± 10.95445

x=  = = -1.8257 and 1.8257
2(3) 6 6
Therefore, local max point = (-1.8, 20.2); and local min point = (1.8, -4.2)
3
1  ( y ') 2  2
Radius of Curvature, R = ( y "  0);
y"
3 3 Therefore
1  (3x  10) 
2
1  (3(.60)  10) 
2 2 2 2 2 the answer is
R(x)=     200.876' C.
6x 6(0.60)
Page 31 of 57
CAL 6. What is a / c for the following equation?

c
a  7b2  12bc   cos(d 2  b)
ln(d )
A. B. C. D.
1 c
14b  12b
2 12b  2d sin(d  b) 2
14b  12c 
ln(d ) ln(d )

 2 c  1 1
 7b  12bc   cos(d 2  b)   0  12b   0  12b 
c  ln(d )  ln(d ) ln(d )
CAL 7. Find the antiderivatives.
a)  xsin x dx
2
b)  5 x sin( x ) dx
2 3 8
c)  3x ( x  7) dx
How can we tell whether to use substitution, integration by parts (IBP), or another
method?
a) Here we have a product of two factors, x and sin x. Plus, if we consider IBP, we can
imagine taking the derivative of x, to get simply "1", while taking the antiderivative of
sin x, to get "- cos x", which is not worse than sin x (still basically a trig function).
So let u = x, dv = sin x dx, and then du = 1 dx, v = - cos x. So we get
Page 32 of 57
 x sin x dx   x cos x   ( cos x) dx   x cos x  sin x  C

b) Here we also have a product, but in this case the sin(x^2) looks complicated. What
would be the antiderivative, v, if we set dv = sin (x^2) dx ?? It's not clear.
On the other hand, we notice that with the substitution method, if we consider u = x^2,
then we would have du/dx = 2x, which is the same as "5x" except for a constant
multiple. Green light!
Solving for dx, we have the substitutions dx = du/2x and u = x^2:
 5x sin(x ) dx   (5x) sin(u )(du / 2 x)  (5 / 2)  sin u du

2
Much nicer integral. Note how all "x"s cancelled out or were substituted away, and the
new integral consists of only "u". Finally,
(5 / 2)  sin u du  (5 / 2)( cos u ) C  (5 / 2) cos(x ^2)  C
c) Here is a great chance to use the substitution method: if u = x^3 + 7, then du/dx = 3x^2, exactly
what we have sitting there for one factor. This would mean dx = du/(3x^2), so we get
 3x ( x 3  7) 8 dx   u 8 du  (1 / 9)u ^9  C  (1 / 9)( x ^3  7)^9  C

2
CAL 8. Find the area of the region bounded by x  2, y  x3, x 7 and y x 2 .

Make a sketch!
For values 2 < x < 7, we can check that x^2 < x^3, so the area is
rght 7
 (upper  lower ) dx   ( x ^3  x ^ 2) dx  ((1 / 4) x ^ 4  (1 / 3) x ^3) |2  484.6

7
left 2
Page 33 of 57
CAL 9. Find the maximum and minimum of y x 2 on the interval 2 x5.
Here we should worry about any critical points where the derivative is zero, as well as,
the left and right boundaries, x = -2 and x = 5. The derivative is y' = 2x, so there is one
critical point at x = 0. Checking the function at these three points gives us
the results f(-2) = 4, f(0) = 0 and f(5) = 25. So the MAX is y = 25, at x = 5, and the
MIN is y = 0, at x = 0.
If you draw a quick parabola you can see the idea here. Only x = 0 is a "natural"
extreme point, a minimum. But the added restrictions -2 <= x <= 5 create an "artificial"
maximum at x = 5.
CAL 10. A particle traveled in a straight line in such a way that its distance S from a
given point on that line after time t was S = 5t^4 - 7. What is the rate of change of
acceleration, at time t = 3?

The velocity is S' = dS/dt = 20t^3; the acceleration is S'' = 60t^2. So the rate of change
of acceleration would be S''' = 120t, and at time t = 3, it is 360.
A strange exercise; the take-away seems to be to read questions carefully.
Page 34 of 57
CAL 11. What is the approximate area bounded by the curves y1 = 30 - x2

and y2 = -40 + x2?
A. B. C. D.
543 552 564 532
FIND THE AREA BETWEEN THE CURVES
40
30
20
 35 10 35
0
Y AXIS
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
-10
-20
-30
-40
y1=30-x^2
-50
X AXIS y2 = -40+x^2

Find the values of x where the two curves intersect
30  x 2  40  x 2  70  2 x 2  they intersect at x   35.
Find the area between the curves with limits x   35 .

 (30  x )-(-40  x )  dx
x2 35
A
x1
 f1 ( x)  f 2 ( x)  dx  
 35
2 2
1 1 35 2 35
 30 x  x3  40 x  x 3  70 x  x 3
3 3  35 3  35
 2  
  2 
   
3 3
  70 35  35   70  35   35    414.125  138.04    414.125  138.04 
 3   3 
 [276.08]  [276.08]  552.16
Page 35 of 57
CAL 12. What is the approximate area bounded by the curves:

y1 = 1/2x +2, y2 = -1/3x + 3, y = 0, and x = 0?
A. B. C. D.
11.4 13.5 27 12.9

Draw a rough sketch to help visualize the boundaries that define the area.
y1=1/2(x)+2
y2=-1/3(x)+3
-10 -5 0 5 10 15
1
 
x3 9
Find the area under the dashed line: Adashed  y2 (x) dx   x  3 dx
x1 0
3
1 9 81
Adashed   x 2  3x    27  13.5
6 0 6
Determine x 2 , the x-coordinate of the point where the two curves intersect
1 1 1 1 5 6
x2  2   x2  3 simplify  x2  x  2  3; x2  1;  x2   1.20
2 3 2 3 6 5
1 1
A'dashed  A'solid   y2 (x) dx   y1 (x)dx    x  3 dx - 
x x 1.2 1.2
x  2 dx
2 2
x1 x1 0
3 0
2
1.2
1 1.2 1
A'
dashed
  x 2  3x ; Asolid  x 2  2x ;
6 0 4 0
1 1 1.2 1.44 1.44

A'dashed  A'solid   x 2  3x  x 2  2x    3(1.2)   2(1.2)
6 4 0 6 4
 0.6 1.2  0.6
 
Total Area = Adashed  A'dashed  A'solid  13.5 0.6  12.9
Page 36 of 57
t 2  25
CAL 13. Simplify the following: lim
t 5 t  5
A. B. C. D.
10 0 5 -5

t 2  25 (t  5)(t  5)
lim  lim  lim(t  5)  5  5  10
t 5 t  5 t 5 t 5 t 5
The correct answer is A.
ln x
CAL 14. Evaluate the following: lim
x  x
A. B. C. D.
 1  0
 

Because direct substitution would result in the indeterminate form   , apply
L’Hopital’s Rule:
“Let f and g be functions that are differentiable on an open interval (a,b) containing c,
except possibly at c itself. Assume that g’(x) ≠ 0 for all x in (a,b), except possibly at c
itself. If the limit of f(x)/g(x) as x approaches c produces the indeterminate form 0/0,
then
f ( x) f '( x)
lim  lim provided the limit on the right exists (or is infinite). This result
x c g ( x ) x c g '( x )
also applies if the limit of f(x)/g(x) as x approaches c produces one of the indeterminate
forms  ,( ) ,  ( ),(   ).
d
ln x ln x 1
lim  lim dx  lim  0
x x d x  x
 x
x 
dx
Page 37 of 57
x2
CAL 15. Evaluate the following: lim  x
x  e
A. B. C. D.
2   0


Because direct substitution would result in the indeterminate form,   ,
apply L’Hopital’s Rule to obtain:
d 2
2  x 
x dx 2x
lim  x  lim  lim  x    ,
x  e x  d x   e
e  x 
dx
which is indeterminate, so apply L'Hopital's Rule a second time to obtain:
d
2x 2 x 2
lim  x  lim dx  lim  x  0 Therefore the correct answer is D.
x  e x  d x  e
 e 
x
dx 
sin 3x
CAL 16. Find lim
x0 x
As x --> 0, the top and bottom both approach 0. So we have the "0/0" case, and a good
time for L'Hopitals rule.
The derivative of the top is (Chain Rule!) 3 cos (3x); the derivative of the bottom is
simply 1. Thus the new limit is
sin 3 x 3 cos(3 x )
lim  lim 3
x 0 x x 0 1
Page 38 of 57
xy
CAL 17. Find the partial derivative of z e with respect to x.

Let u = xy,so that z = e^u, and use the Chain Rule:
z / x  z / u * u / x  e^ u * ( y)  ye xy
CAL 18. Find d(sec t)/dx
A. sec2t dt/dx B. sec t tan t dt/dx

C. tan2t dt/dx D. –csc t cot t dt/dx
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 48. The correct answer is B.
CAL 19. Find d(tan z)/dx
A. sec2z dz/dx B. -cot2z dz/dx

C. sec z tan z dz/dx D. –csc z cot z dz/dx
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 48. The correct answer is A.
CAL 20. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to  sin 2 xdx ?
x sin 2 x x sin 2 x
A.  B. 
2 4 2 4
2cos x
C. D. sin x  x sin x
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 49. The correct answer is B.
Page 39 of 57
CAL 21. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to  eax dx ?
A.  a
1 eax B.  eax
a2   ax  1
C.  1a  ln ax
D.  1 xe a
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 49. The correct answer is A.
CAL 22. A function y  f (t ) has a derivative f ' (t ) which is positive on the interval
2  t  5 . Which of the following is true?
a) The value of the function f(t) at t = 5 is greater than at t = 2.

b) The value of f(2) must be positive.
c) The second derivative f ''(t) must be greater at t = 5 than at t = 2.
Solution. (a) is true: the derivative is the rate of change of the function, so, if the
derivative is positive over an interval, then this indicates that the function is increasing.
CAL 23. What is the area of the region in the first quadrant that is bounded by the line y
= 5, the curve x = y^2 + 6y, and the y-axis.

Make a sketch! Here we will calculate area, using "y" as the variable. We'll go bottom to
top, for limits of integration, and then left to right:
5
 y 
 6 y dy  (1 / 3) y ^3  3 y ^ 20  (1 / 3)(125)  3(25)  117.3
2 5
Page 40 of 57
CAL 24. What value of x maximizes y if y^2 + 6y + x^2 – 4x = 12?
(A) -3
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4/5
Solution. The correct answer is (B). There are two ways to solve this problem.
Calculus method: Using implicit differentiation, taking the derivative of both sides with
respect to x, you can determine that
(2y)y’ + 6y’ + 2x – 4 = 0
Thus (2y+6)y’ = -- ( 2x – 4), and so y’ = -- (2x – 4) / ( 2y + 6). Therefore y’ = 0 when

2x – 4 = 0, or x = 2.
Conic sections method: By completing the squares, you can rewrite the equation as
(y^2 + 6y + 9) + (x^2 – 4x + 4) = 12 + 9 + 4
Or (y+3)^2 + (x – 2)^2 = 25
Now you can tell that it is a circle, with center at (2, -3) and radius of 5. The maximum
value of y on the circle will be at the top, at (2, -3+5) = (2, 2); the x-coordination is x=2.
Page 41 of 57
CAL 25. What is most nearly the area bounded by y = 0, y = e^x, x = 2 and x = 5?
(A) 5.4
(B) 73.6
(C) 141.0
(D) 385.4

(C) You can compute this on the calculator, or work through it using Calculus. Either
way, first set it up as the definite integral:
5
 e^ x dx  e^ x |  e^5  e^ 2  148.4  7.4  141.0

5
2
2
CAL 26. What is the area below the curve y = 5x + 3, above the x-axis, and between x
= 0 and x = 2?
(A) 17
(B) 13
(C) 16
(D) 28

(C) Again a definite integral, and then either use Calculus or use the calculator to
compute the integral:
2
 (5x  3) dx  ((5 / 2) x^2 3x) |  16  0  16

2
0
0
Page 42 of 57
x^2 25
CAL 27. Find lim
x5 x 5

As x --> 5, the top and bottom both approach 0. So we have the "0/0" case, and a good
time for L'Hopitals rule.
The derivative of the top is 2x; the derivative of the bottom is simply 1. Thus the new
limit is
2x
 lim  2(5)  10
x 5 1
CAL 28. Evaluate the definite integral
 1
 2 dx
3x
(A) 1/10
(B) 1/3
(C) 1/5
(D) 2


1
(B) x
3
2
dx  (1 / x) |3  0  (1 / 3)  1 / 3
Page 43 of 57
CAL 29. What is the slope of the line which is tangent to the parabola
Y = X^2 + 7X + 2 at a point on the parabola where X = 5?
(A) 15
(B) 17
(C) 19
(D) 21

(B) The slope of the tangent line is equal to the derivative of the function, evaluated at
the given value of X.
Here dY/dX = 2X + 7, and at X = 5, dY/dX = 2(5) + 7 = 17.
CAL 30. What is the integral  2 x( x 3) dx ?
(A) x^2 (x^2/2 + 3x) + C

(B) 2x^2 + 6x + C
(C) 2x^3 + 6x^2 + C
(D) 2x^3/3 + 3x^2 + C

(D) First rewrite the function, as 2x^2 + 6x. You can then use the basic power rule, that
INT x^k dx = x^(k+1)/k + C. Thus
INT (2x^2 + 6x) dx = 2(x^3/3) + 6(x^2/2) + C = (2/3)x^3 + 3x^2 + C.
Page 44 of 57
7 x^211x 13
CAL 31. Find lim
x (2x 5)(x  4)
(A) 7/2
(B) The limit does not exist
(C) 1
(D) 3

(A) This is an “oo/oo” type limit, as the top and bottom both go to infinity. Thus it is a
good chance to use L’Hopital’s rule.
The derivative of the top is 14x + 11; if you rewrite the bottom as 2x^2 -3x – 20, then
you can easily determine that the derivative is 4x – 3.
Thus the limit becomes (14x+11)/(4x-3). This is again an “oo/oo” type limit, and you
can quickly determine that the derivatives are 14 and 4. Thus the final answer is 14/4, or
7/2.
CAL 32. The partial derivative z / x of z = 3yx^2 -- 2(x+3y) is
(A)6xy – 2 – 6y
(B) 6x – 2
(C) 6x
(D)6xy – 2

(D) Treat y as though it were a constant. You can even rewrite the expression, just for
clarity:
z = (3y)(x^2) – 2x + 6y
So we want to see the “x” as the “hot” variable, and perceive everything else as constants,
just as though it said
z = Ax^2 – 2x + B
Thus the x-partial is A(2x) – 2 + 0 = (3y)(2x) – 2 = 6xy – 2 .
Page 45 of 57
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEQ 1. Solve the following differential equations:
a) y' 2 x
b) y' cos x 0
c) y'4 y 0
d) y / t 3t 2  2 x
Hopefully at this stage of preparation, these look like softball questions.
a) This is so simple, it's actually confusing when you first look at it. It says, just, "the
derivative of some function is 2x." So the answer is y = x^2 + C
b) Likewise here, if we rewrite it a bit (!) it just says y' = cos x, so that's nothing
fancy. The general solution is y = sin x + C
c) This is different, with a "y" in the equation. But it's also our most standard and
common type of differential equation: first order and linear. If it looks more familiar,
you can rewrite it to say y' = -4y. Then you can tell, the solution is an exponential
function, y = C*e^(-4t).
d) This takes a little thought. What function y = f(x,t) of two variables, x and t,
would have a t-partial of 3t^2 + 2x? It'd have to be y = t^3 + 2xt + C, or actually if we
are careful (!), it'd have to be y = t^3 + 2xt + g(x), where instead of "C", it could really
be any function of x, as long as there's no "t" in it. The t-partial of an expression with
only x's in it will be zero, since we treat x as a constant.
Page 46 of 57
DEQ 2. Select the first-order differential equation from the following options:
dy 9  t
A.   y2 B. ( z ") 4  3 z '  6
dt t
2
d y A A
C.  t  y D.   22
dt t s
By definition, a first-order differential equation contains only first derivatives.

So the correct answers are A and D (sorry! two right answers).
Good job if you recognized B and C as being second-order (they have second-derivatives
in them).
If you are curious, A and B are nonlinear, because of the y^2 and (z'')^4 terms.
DEQ 3. The following differential equation has the initial condition y(0) = 14. What is
the value of y(3)?
dy
 6y  0
dk
A. B. C. D.
14  103 5.44 2.13  107 0.0498

The characteristic equation is r + 6 =0
y’ + 6y = 0
y = y0e-6k
y(0) = y0e-6(0) = 14 General Form: y(x) = Ce-ax
y0 = 14 = C e0 = 1
y = 14e-6k
y(3) = 14e-6(3) = 14e-18 = 14 = 2.13 x 10-7
Therefore, the correct answer is C.\
Page 47 of 57
DEQ 4. Solve the following differential equations.
a) y'5 y, y(0)12
b) y'2 y  0, y(5) 6e10
c) 2 y' y, y(0)3

These are all variations on our favorite, the first-order linear differential equation. If you
think of them in the form y' = ky, then (a) has k = 5, (b) has k = 2 and (c) has k =
(1/2).
Then they have initial conditions; in general the solution is y = C*e^(kt), with C = y(0),
so in (a) that will be C = 12 and in (c) it will be C = 3. But in (b) we have to notice, it
says y(5), not y(0). So here it turns out we have C = 6. Final answers:
(a) y = 12*e^(5t)
(b) y = 6*e^(2t)
(c) y = 3*e^((1/2)t)
Note: It's okay if you use the variable "x" instead of "t". [You can't tell from the
question.]
Page 48 of 57
DEQ 5. A function y = f(x) is a solution to the differential equation y' = ky, and f(0) =
C, for some real numbers k and C. Which of the following statements is not true?
a) If k > 0, then the solution to the differential equation is an exponential growth

function.
b) If k < 0, then the solution to the differential equation is an exponential decay

function.
c) The solution is y  C  e kt
d) There are infinitely many solutions to the general differential equation y' = ky, and
they all look like e kt multiplied by some constant. Only one of these satisfies f(0) = C:
the solution is y  Cekt .

The (c) statement is not true. It should say y = C*e^(kt).
DEQ 6. If D is the differential operator, then what is the general solution to

( D 3) y 0 ?
Solution. This just means Dy - 3y = 0, or y' - 3y = 0. So the solution is y = C*e^(3t).
DEQ 7. Determine the constant of integration for the differential equation: xdx + 6y5dy
= 0. It is known that x = 0 when y = 2.
A. B. C. D.
12 16 24 64
Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 51. Since the DE is already separated,
integrate to find the solution.
 xdx   6 y dy   0  x2  y6  C
5 1
2
0    2 
2 6
Use the initials given to solve for C.  1
2  C; C = 64
Therefore, the correc t answer is D.
Page 49 of 57
DEQ 8. Solve the differential equation dy / dx (2 y 5)(cos(3x))

Separable! We get dy / (2y+5) = (cos(3x))*dx . If you integrate carefully (substitute u
= 2y+5, and u = 3x), you will get the implicit solution
(1 / 2) ln 2 y  5  (1 / 3) sin( 3 x)  C
Can we solve for y here, to get an explicit solution? Note that 2y + 5 = 0 is a problem.
It gives ln (0), which is meaningless. If we could assume that 2y + 5 > 0, then we can
say 2y+5 = e^[(2/3)sin(3x)+C] = e^C * e^[(2/3)*sin(3x)] = A * e^[(2/3)*sin(3x)], for
some A = e^C. Then solving for y, we have y = (1/2)[ A * e^[(2/3)*sin(3x)] - 5 ].
Whew! Good job if you sorted all that out.
DEQ 9. What is the general solution of the following differential equation:

d2y
 4 y  0.
dx 2
A. y  C1* cos(2 x)  C 2 * sin(2 x) B. y  e x  2e  x  C
C. y  2 x2  x  C D. y  sin x  2 tan x  C

This is second-order, linear, homogeneous (our other favorite thing). The characteristic
polynomial is r^2 + 4 = 0, so that has two complex roots, r = +- 2i. This leads to the
third case, and the correct answer is A.
DEQ 10. Solve the differential equation y''7 y'30 y 0 .

This is the classic second-order linear homogeneous, with a = 7 and b = -30. If you
look at the characteristic equation, it is r^2 + 7r - 30 = 0, which actually factors into two
clear solutions: (r+10)(r-3) = 0, so r = -10 and r = 3. The general solution is
y = C1*e^(-10t) + C2*(e^(3t))
Page 50 of 57
DEQ 11. What is the approximate solution to the initial value problem,
y' + 2y = 0, y(1) = 20
(A)y = 2x + 18
(B) y = 2.71*e^(2x)
(C) y = 23.54*e^(-2x)
(D)y = 147.78*e^(-2x)

(D) This is an example of a first-order linear differential equation, of the form
y’ + ay = 0,
where a = 2 here. The general solution is y = C*e^(-at) = C*e^(-2t).
To achieve the initial value condition, y(1) = 20, we can plug in t = 1 and y = 20 and
solve for “C”: 20 = C*e^(-2(t)). This gives C = 147.78, approximately.
DEQ 12. What type of differential equation is x y’ + x^2 – 7 = 0?
(A)first-order separable
(B) second-order linear
(C) homogeneous
(D)nonlinear

(A) The equation can be rewritten (!) as x y’ = -- (x^2 – 7), and then,
as y’ = -- (x^2 – 7) / x. With y’ = dy/dx, this becomes dy = -- ((x^2 – 7) / x) dx.
Thus it is in the form g(y) dy = f(x) dx, with g(y) = 1 and f(x) = -- ((x^2 – 7) / x).
Page 51 of 57
DEQ 13. Solve the differential equation x y’ + x^2 – 7 = 0.
(A)y = ((1/3)*x^3 – 7x)/x + C

(B) y = ln (x^2 – 7) + C
(C) y = C*e^(-7x)
(D)y = -x^2/2 + 7 ln(x) + C

(D) This equation can be separated, to dy/dx = -- (x^2 – 7)/x, or
1 dy = -- (x – 7/x) dx
Taking the antiderivative of each side, we get
y = -- (x^2/2 – 7ln (x)) + C
Not so bad!
DEQ 14. The solution of the differential equation dy/dx – 5y = 0, y(0) = 3 is
(A)y = C*e^(5x)
(B) y = C*e^(-5x)
(C) y = 3*e^(5x)
(D)y = 3*e^(-5x)

(C) This is first-order linear, y’ + ay = 0, so the answer should be of the form y =
C*e^(-at), where C = y(0). Here a = -5 (careful!), so the solution is y = 3*e^(5x).
Page 52 of 57
DEQ 15. The general solution of y’’ + 6y’ + 9y = 0 is
(A)y = C*e^(3x)
(B) y = e^(-3x)(C1 + C2*x)
(C) y = C1*e^(3x) + C2*x*e^(3x)
(D)y = C1*e^(-3x) + C2

(B) This is second-order linear, of the form y’’ + ay’ + by = 0. The associated
quadratic equation is r^2 + 6r + 9 = 0, or in other words, a = 6 and b = 9. You can see
that the roots of this equation are (r+3)(r+3) = 0, or r = -3, with a double root. Or you
can follow the formulas in the reference manual, to obtain r1 = r2 = -3.
Since a^2 = 6^2 = 36 = 4*9 = 4b, we have the “critically damped” case, with the general
solution being in the form
Y = (C1 + C2*x)*e^(r *x)
DEQ 16. The general solution of y’’ - 9y = 0 for y(0) = 3 and y’(0) = 3 is
(A)y = C1 e^(-3x) + C2e^(3x)

(B) y = 2e^(-3x) + e^(3x)
(C) y = (1+2x)*e^(3x)
(D)y = e^(-3x) + 2e^(3x)

(D) The characteristic equation is r2 – 9 = 0, whose roots are r1 = 3 and r2 = -3.
The differential equation is therefore overdamped with general solution
y(x) = C1 e3x + C2 e-3x
However, we also have two initial conditions, which make for two equations:
y(0) = C1 + C2 = 3
y’(0) = 3C1 - 3C2 = 3
We can combine the two identities as:
3C1 - 3C2 – (C1 + C2) = 3 -3
Page 53 of 57
Which leads to
2C1 - 4C2 = 0  2C2 = C1
By substituting in one of the equations above we get: 2C2+ C2= 3  C2=1  C1=2
Therefore, the final solution is y(x) = 2 e3x + e-3x
DEQ 17. The general solution of y’’ – 2y’ + 4y = 0 for y(0) = 3 and y’(0) = 3 is
(A)y = e^(x) (3cosx+ sinx)

(B) y = 3e^(x) cos(√3x)
(C) y = (1+2x)*e^(√3x)
(D)y = e^(-√3x) + 2e^(√3x)

(B) The characteristic equation is r2 – 2r + 4 = 0, whose roots are r1,2 = 1±j√3
The differential equation is therefore underdamped with general solution
y(x) = eαx (C1cosβx + C2 sinβx)
With α = 1 and β=√3  y(x) = ex (C1cos(√3x) + C2 sin(√3x))
However, we also have two initial conditions, which make for two equations:
y(0) = C1 = 3 ( since cos0 = 1 and sin0 = 0)

y’(0) = C1 + √3C2 = 3  C2 = 0
Note:
y’(x) = ex (C1cos(√3x) + C2 sin(√3x)) + ex (-√3C1sin(√3x)+ √3C2 cos(√3x))
= ex ((C1 + √3C2 ) cos(√3x) + (C2 - √3C1) sin(√3x))
Therefore, the final solution is y(x) = 3ex cos(√3x)
Page 54 of 57
DEQ 18. Find the solution of y’’ - 9y = x2 for y(0) = 0 and y’(0) = 0

This is a II order non-homogeneous DEQ. The full solution is by definition the sum of
the general solution yH(x) of the corresponding homogeneous DEQ plus the particular
solution yP(x).
From a previous problem:

yH(x) = C1 e3x + C2 e-3x
From NCEES Reference Handbook, the particular solution when f(x) = x2 is a

polynomial has the form of a polynomial of the same order
yP(x) = Ax2 + Bx + D
which must satisfy the original DEQ. We first derive
y’P(x) = 2Ax + B
y’’P(x) = 2A
And then plug it into the original DEQ
y’’P(x) - 9 yP(x) = x2 = 2A – 9(Ax2 + Bx + D)
Then we solve for A, B, D
B=0
2A – 9D = 0
-9A = 1
And obtain A = -1/9, B = 0, D = -2/81
By putting all together we obtain the whole solution
y(x) = yH(x) + yP(x) = C1 e3x + C2 e-3x - x2/9 – 2/81
Page 55 of 57
Only at this point we can bring in the initial conditions and solve for C1 and C2
y(0) = C1 + C2 – 2/81 = 0
y’(0) = 3C1 - 3C2 = 0
Note: y’(x) = 3C1 e3x - 3C2 e-3x - 2x/9
By solving the two simultaneous equations above we get:
C1 = C2= 1/81
Which makes the final solution
y(x) = 1/81 e3x + 1/81 e-3x - x2/9 – 2/81
DEQ 19. Find the solution of y’’ - 9y = 3e2x

This is a II order non-homogeneous DEQ. The full solution is by definition the sum of
the general solution yH(x) of the corresponding homogeneous DEQ plus the particular
solution yP(x).
From a previous problem:

yH(x) = C1 e3x + C2 e-3x
From NCEES Reference Handbook, the particular solution when f(x) = 3e2x is an
exponential function has the form of an exponential
yP(x) = Ae2x
which must satisfy the original DEQ. We first derive
y’P(x) = 2Ae2x
y’’P(x) = 4Ae2x
And then plug it into the original DEQ
y’’P(x) - 9 yP(x) = 3e2x = 4Ae2x – 9Ae2x
Page 56 of 57
Then we solve for A
-5A = 3  A = -3/5
By putting all together we obtain the whole solution
y(x) = yH(x) + yP(x) = C1 e3x + C2 e-3x - 3/5e2x
Page 57 of 57

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BASICS: STRAIGHT LINES, QUADRATIC EQUATION, LOGARITHMS, AREA, VOLUME ......... 2

CONIC SECTIONS .................................................................................................................................... 9

NUMERICAL METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 26

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS .............................................................................................................. 46

BAS 1. Straight Lines. Given the figure at right and the

b.) The distance between points A and B?

A. 412.31 B. 471.07 C. 471.70 D. 421.31

c.) The slope of Line CD.

A. -0.625 B. +0.625 C. -1.60 D. -4.00

A -1.60 B. +0.25 C. +1.60 D. -0.25

A -1.60 B. +0.25 C. +1.60 D. -0.25

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 35

 500  100    750  500   = 222,500 = 471.70; C

y 500  900 400

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 35

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 35

BAS 4. Solve for a: given that 2a = 1.587(a+4)

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 35

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1

BAS 6. Sphere The spherical steel enclosure shown here

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 40

BAS 7. Circular Segment

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 40

BAS 8. Right Circular Cone

A pile of sand, the shape of a right circular cone,

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 42

= 1103.59 ft 2  9 ft 2 /yd 2  122.62 yd 2

A. ( x - 9)2  ( y - (-8))2  12.04 2

B. ( x - 9)2  ( y - (8))2  10.02

C. ( x  9)2  ( y  8)2  144

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 44

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 43

The correct answer is B.

CON 3. Parabola Find the equation of a

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 43

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 40

The correct answer is C.

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 37

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 37

b = 200 2 +300 2  2(200)(300) cos 750 = 40,000+90,000-120,000(0.2588)

TRG 3. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to sin2θ?

TRG 4. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to sinα cosβ?

TRG 5. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to sin (α – β)?

TRG 6. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to cos (α – β)?

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 59

VEC 2. Resultant of Multiple Vectors

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 59

The correct answer is A.

VEC 3. Vector Cross Product

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 59

The correct answer is D.

A  (1i  2 j  1k ); B  (0i  1 j  5k ); All lengths are in meters.

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 59

A  B  (10  1)i  (0  5) j  (1  0)k  11i, 5 j , k

The correct answer is D.

VEC 5. Volume of Parallelepiped What is the volume of the parallelepiped made by

A  (2i  2 j  1k ); B  (4i  2 j  2k ); C  (i  5 j  4k ); All lengths are in meters.

Solution: See NCEES FERM V10.0.1 page 59