# Math Help - Engineering Mathematics, Need Help ASAP

1. ## Engineering Mathematics, Need Help ASAP

Hi there people, I have just joined looking for some math help at a rather late stage for my requirement and i will give a brief intro of the problem in the hope someone can help.

I am currently studying Electronic Engineering at University of Liverpool, I am a second year student required to complete 3 Math modules this year, all of which I have failed.

I have always been somewhat of a failure at mathematics, against all explaination and understanding since I am a top student at all other areas of my subject. I think my lack of understanding of this general sort of mathematics is down to a lack of interest or interest in learning the methods.

I have always found maths lectures and lessons boring, possibly the worst thing i have to sit through but either way it has to be done.

Now, to my present problem, in 2 days time i have to resit the first of 3 mathematics exams i failed. Followed a day later then three days later by the second and third.

These exams are not what i would call Adanced level as such, probably no higher than A level. (I don't know if people here understand the UK grading system, this is an American/Canadian site right?)

Anyway, I failed A level also, and pretty much any other maths exam I have been asked to do.

What I need if possible is some aid, not specific as such but general learning on specific types of questions and how best to tackle them. I have past papers I am attempting to work through and have various parts (most) which I am unable to do.

If nobody minds I would like to use this thread to post various questions, fairly fast paced, for replies on how to answer or a way to remember the method of answers such questions.

Maths does make me feel stupid and I apologise for the level of these questions, are probably quite simple to most, however I do have (excluding maths exams) a 94% average in my subject which is one of the most difficult my department has to offer. (Hence why nobody can understand why i am not capable of what should be simple maths).

Ok, on that note, I will begin with a couple of things that have me stuck at the moment starting with the first question of the paper.

1. State the maximal range and domain of the function:

$
f(x) = e^x - 1
$

Sketch the graph of y = f(x), indicating the co-ordinates of any points where the graph crossees the axis.

NOTE: I would like to stress that unless otherwise stated it is not the direct answer I require but an explanation of the method of solving such question. (The question i will be given should be the same form in each paper with nothing more different than a change of the function or the variables, the questions and layout should be the same.)

===========================================

2. This question has me both in terms of working it out and also the actual answer, I have the solutions sheet and i cannot for the life of me obtain the answer shown in the sheet nor see a way of possibly obtaining it.

2. Maclaurin series expansions

by evauating f(0), f'(0) and f''(0), obain the maclaurin series expansion of the function:

$
f(x) = 1/sqrt(1+3x)
$

Upto and including the term in X^2.

I will leave it there for now at those two questions which are the simplest in the paper until i receive a response and posible if you require me to format the questions differently. Thanks and i await a reply.

2. Originally Posted by Alias_NeO
If nobody minds I would like to use this thread to post various questions, fairly fast paced, for replies on how to answer or a way to remember the method of answers such questions.
Not a good idea. Instead post your questions in the Calculus subforum (that is what I assume most of them are). If you want to review them click on your username and click "find all post by this user". It will take you to a page of all post that you made and started. With that you will be able to find all your questions.

3. ## Hmm

Unfortunately not, the paper consists of various areas of mathematics, infact your assumption that most of them are Calculus is wrong infact most of them are not. Some however i do not know which category they should fit into (because i simply don't know what form of maths they are) and so do not know where to put them.

4. Originally Posted by Alias_NeO
1. State the maximal range and domain of the function:

$
f(x) = e^x - 1
$

Sketch the graph of y = f(x), indicating the co-ordinates of any points where the graph crossees the axis.
The domain in the sense you want it is the set of real numbers on which $f(x)$ is defined, and the range is the set of real numbers which are the values of $f(x)$ for some $x$ in the domain.

Now $e^x$ is defined for all real $x$ so the domain is the entire real line. As $x$ ranges over the real line $e^x$ ranges from $0$ to $+\infty$ so the range of $f(x)$ is $(-1, \infty)$.

RonL

5. ## Thanks

Thank you, that makes sense, so is the range, the values of y for which the function is valid?

6. Originally Posted by Alias_NeO
Thank you, that makes sense, so is the range, the values of y for which the function is valid?
The range is the set of y's that can occur as the value of the function fro some x in the domain.

RonL

7. ## Excellent

"Gotcha" - I see now. Thanks, Will start a new thread for the next question, maclaurin series expansion, not sure which section that should go under?

NOTE** I have sat the paper and so no longer require help with this one. Thank you.**