Math Review and Problem Solving Technique

PHYS 2210, Spring 2012

I. Math Concepts
a. Vectors & Trigonometry
i. Components and addition/subtraction
1. Add components corresponding to the same directions in the coordinate
system.
2. Subtraction is just addition of (-) vector (reflection)
3. Add vectors tip to tail
4. Valid vector representation: V = (V
x
, V
y
, V
z
)
ii. Magnitude and Direction
1. Magnitude represented by vectors length V: V
2
= V
x
2
+ V
y
2
+ V
z
2

2. Direction represented by an angle in 2D: 0 = tan
-1
(I

I
x
)
(other representations also possible)
3. Valid vector representation: V = (V, )
iii. Projection
1. Components of V along x, y, and z axes are just special cases of
projection of V onto the dimensionless unit vectors, t, , k
`

2. Projection of one vector A onto an axis parallel to another vector B
follows the general rule: A
|
= Acos , where is the angle between the
two vectors
3. Projection of one vector A onto an axis perpendicular to another vector B
follows the general rule: A
J
= Asin, where is the angle between the
two vectors
4. These projections are closely related to the dot product:
A B = ABcos
iv. Vectors that represent physical quantities
1. Position vector always relative to origin.
2. Position & Displacement: vector length has units of length!
3. Force, velocity, acceleration, momentum, etc. vectors are carried with
the particle/object; length represents magnitude of quantity.
b. Plots and Graphs
i. What is being plotted vs. what?
ii. By convention, the vertical axis is used for the dependent variable. So, for
example, if the independent variable is time (t) and the dependent variable is
position along the x-axis (x), then we would plot x on the vertical axis!
iii. What are the units for each axis? Note that if you then compute a slope, the
slope will have different units then either axis alone.
iv. What does the slope of the graph at a particular point signify? For x vs. t, the
slope would represent velocity along the x direction, etc.
c. Calculus
i. Students should be facile with basic, single-variable differentiation and both
definite and indefinite integrals.
ii. In this class, the most commonly encountered functions that will need to be
differentiated/integrated are polynomials: A + Bx + Cx
2

iii. Physical quantities are often related to each other via integration and/or
differentiation: e.g., velocity is the 1
st
time derivative of the position, etc.

II. Example Problem
Car A leaves Wendover heading east on I-80 with a constant speed of 65 miles/hr.
Car B leaves Salt Lake City at the same time heading west on I-80 with a constant
speed of 85 miles/hr. Wendover and Salt Lake City are about 120 miles apart.

(a) How far west of Salt Lake City do the two cars pass each other?

(b) Make a graph of position vs. time and plot the trajectories of both cars on this
graph.

III. 12-Step Program for Good Problem Solving Technique
There is a methodology to doing physics problems that will help you to get to the
answer even when you can't see the answer when you start. It will also help you
avoid mistakes on those problems for which you can see the answer when you start.
1. Remember to answer the question that is being asked. Read the problem through
carefully two or three times and ask yourself what physical principles are
involved.
2. Make a diagram of the problem with all of the variables used in the solution
labeled on the diagram. The diagram should also define the spatial coordinate
system with axes (indicating positive and negative directions), where appropriate.
3. Imagine a movie, running in your mind, of what happens in the problem.
4. Write down, in complete English sentences, the ideas and principles that will be
applied in solving the problem. This can often provide vital information to the
grader as to how you are thinking about or approaching the problem.
5. Follow the diagram with a list of facts you know, usually in the form of a
variable followed by an equals sign and a number with units. For example, if the
problem says, the initial velocity is to the right at 5 m/s, you might write: v
0
= 5
m/s.
6. Write down and underline what (usually a variable) you are trying to find.
7. All numbers that are not dimensionless must always be written with units.
8. Select a basic relationship or equation that can be used to find the unknown.
9. Always work your problems algebraically all the way to the end, meaning
you have the variable whose value you want on one side of an equals sign,
and the algebraic expression in terms of things that you know on the other.
10. Substitute numbers and units into the algebraic formula before calculating the
final answer.
11. Box (or circle) the final solution of the problem. If a problem has more than one
part, box the solution of each part.
12. Check your result: Do the units match? Is the answer reasonable? Is the plus or
minus sign proper or meaningful