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46 Homework: Introduction to Differential Equations

  1. Describe as best you can at this point in your own words what a differential equation is.
  2. Following earnings example from the previous chapter, if the number of employees in a company is growing at a rate of 0.05 times the number of employees, what is a differential equation that describes this situation?
    E(t)=0.05E(t).

    ans
  3. Verify the function f(x)=exx1 solves the differential equation:

    f(x)=f(x)+x

    We see
    f(x)=f(x)+xex1=(exx1)+xex1=ex1
    as desired.

    ans
  4. Verify the function f(x)=2x satisfies the differential equation:

    f(x)=2f(x).

    We see
    f(x)=2f(x)x1/2=22x1x=1x
    as desired.

    ans
  5. For each differential equation, find f(t) for the given value of t, or state there is not enough information.
    1. Suppose f(t)=3f(t)+5 and f(3)=1. Find f(3).
      2

      ans
    2. Suppose f(t)=t+f(t), and f(7)=1. Find f(7).
      8

      ans
    3. Suppose f(t)=1f(t) and f(0)=9. Find f(0).
      13

      ans
    4. Suppose f(t)=ef(t) and f(0)=1. Find f(1).
      Not enough information.

      ans
  6. For each relationship between the value of a function and its derivative, write down a differential equation. For example, if I said “a function is growing at a rate equal to seven times the value of the function” you’d write down f(t)=7f(t).
    1. A function is growing at a rate equal to twice the function value.
      f(t)=2f(t)

      ans
    2. A function is growing at a rate equal to the square root of the function value.
      f(t)=f(t)

      ans
    3. A function is growing at a rate equal to t times the function value.
      f(t)=tf(t)

      ans
    4. A function is accelerating at a rate equal to the sum of the function value and how quickly the function is growing.
      f(t)=f(t)+f(t).

      ans
  7. Verify that the given solution to each differential equation is correct.
    1. Differential equation f(t)=f(t)+3, solution f(t)=3et3.
      f(t)=f(t)+3ddt(3et3)=(3et3)+33et=3et

      ans
    2. Differential equation f(t)=4f(t), solution f(t)=4t2.
      f(t)=4f(t)ddt(4t2)=44t28t=4(2t)8t=8t.

      ans
    3. Differential equation f(t)=(f(t))2, solution f(t)=t1.
      f(t)=(f(t))2ddt(t1)=(t1)2t2=t2

      ans
    4. Differential equation f(t)=ef(t), solution f(t)=ln(t).
      f(t)=ef(t)ddtln(t)=eln(t)1t=1eln(t)1t=1t

      ans

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