Engineering Mathematics Fundamentals
Sets and Basic Algebra
SET OPERATIONS:
Union A∪B: elements in A or B or both
Intersection A∩B: elements in both A and B
Complement A': elements not in A (with respect to universal set U)
Difference A-B: elements in A but not in B
Symmetric Difference A⊕B: (A-B)∪(B-A) = (A∪B)-(A∩B)
Power Set P(A): set of all subsets including empty set and A itself
If |A| = n, then |P(A)| = 2^n
Cartesian Product A×B: set of all ordered pairs (a,b) where a∈A, b∈B
|A×B| = |A| × |B|
DE MORGAN'S LAWS:
(A∪B)' = A' ∩ B' (complement of union = intersection of complements)
(A∩B)' = A' ∪ B' (complement of intersection = union of complements)
COUNTING PRINCIPLES:
Addition: if A and B disjoint, |A∪B| = |A| + |B|
Multiplication: if step 1 has m ways, step 2 has n ways → m×n total
Inclusion-Exclusion: |A∪B| = |A| + |B| - |A∩B|
Permutations: nPr = n!/(n-r)! — ordered selection
Combinations: nCr = n!/[r!(n-r)!] — unordered selection
nCr = nC(n-r) | nC0 = nCn = 1 | nC1 = n
Propositional Logic Basics
CONNECTIVES:
AND (∧): both true | OR (∨): at least one true
NOT (¬): opposite | Implication (→): false only when T→F
Biconditional (↔): same truth value
TRUTH TABLE — IMPLICATION (p → q):
T,T → T | T,F → F | F,T → T | F,F → T
"False implies anything" is considered true
LOGICAL EQUIVALENCES:
Double negation: ¬(¬p) ≡ p
De Morgan: ¬(p∧q) ≡ ¬p∨¬q | ¬(p∨q) ≡ ¬p∧¬q
Contrapositive: p→q ≡ ¬q→¬p (useful for proofs)
Implication: p→q ≡ ¬p∨q
TAUTOLOGIES:
Law of excluded middle: p ∨ ¬p
Law of non-contradiction: ¬(p ∧ ¬p)
Hypothetical syllogism: (p→q) ∧ (q→r) → (p→r)
Calculus Essentials
LIMITS:
L'Hopital: if f(a)/g(a) = 0/0 or ∞/∞, then lim f(x)/g(x) = lim f'(x)/g'(x)
DERIVATIVE RULES:
d/dx(xⁿ) = nxⁿ⁻¹ | d/dx(eˣ) = eˣ | d/dx(ln x) = 1/x
d/dx(sin x) = cos x | d/dx(cos x) = -sin x
Chain: d/dx[f(g(x))] = f'(g(x)) × g'(x)
Product: (uv)' = u'v + uv'
INTEGRATION:
∫xⁿdx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n+1) + C (n ≠ -1)
∫(1/x)dx = ln|x| + C
∫eˣdx = eˣ + C
Fundamental theorem: ∫[a to b] f(x)dx = F(b) - F(a) where F' = f
Study Resources
•NPTEL Engineering Mathematics — free IIT video lectures, all topics
•Kenneth Rosen Discrete Mathematics — gold standard for discrete maths
•Gilbert Strang Linear Algebra — MIT OCW free video series (best LA resource)
•GFG Mathematics for GATE — free, exam-oriented notes and practice