170

LESSON 7.1 SOLVING DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS, VERIFYING SOLUTIONS

Differential Equations are equations with derivatives in them. In this course, you will only learn
how to solve the simplest type of differential equations, in which you can separate variables. You
may be asked to find a general solution of the differential equation (which gives you a family of
curves) or a particular solution (which gives you a single curve).

Procedure for Solving Differential Equations

Rewrite y as
dy
1. (if necessary).
dx
2. Multiply both sides of the equation by dx (if necessary).
3. Separate variables. (This is the most crucial step.)
4. Integrate both sides of the equation. (Remember to add C to one side.)
5. Solve for y (if necessary).
6. Use an initial condition to solve for C (if an initial condition is given).
Steps 5 and 6 are interchangeable.

Example 1: Find a general solution of x + 2 yy = 0

dy
First, rewrite as x + 2 y = 0 . Then,
dx

Write your solution to Example 1 as a pair of possible functions (in the form y = f ( x ) ) for the
particular solutions to the differential equation. y = or y =

Example 2: Find an equation of a function which contains the point (0, −3) , and whose slope is
2
xe x
for each point (x, y) on the curve.
y
 171
Example 3:
dy
a. Find a general solution of y − 2 = x .
dx

dy 1
b. Find a particular solution of y − 2 = x if y (1) = .
dx 2

An algebra equation like x3 + x2 + 4 = 0 cannot be solved using techniques you have learned
without a calculator. However, you should be able to answer the following question.
Example 4: (algebra warm-up) Is x = -2 a solution of x3 + x2 + 4 = 0 ?

Example 5: Is y = e x + e − x a solution of the differential equation y = e x − y ?

1
2

ASSIGNMENT 7.1
For Problems 1-4, find a general solution of each differential equation.
x2 −1
1. y = 2 3. 2 xy = y + 1
dy dy
2. e x y = 1 4. ( x − 2) = 2 y
2y + 3 dx dx

Solve for y. Solve for y.

For Problems 5-7, find a particular solution of the differential equation with the given initial
condition. (Remember to write your solutions in the form y = f ( x ) .)

dy −2 x
5. = and y(2) = −4 6. y = −3 x
dy
and y (1) = e
dx y dx

dy
7. = ky (where k is some constant), and y(0) = 100 . Write y as a function of k and t.
dt
 172
x
8. Find an equation of a function which contains the point (−2,1) and whose slope is
2y
for each point on the graph of the function.
x dy
9. Find the solution in the form y = f ( x ) of the differential equation − 1 = y 2 if f (1) = 1 .
2 dx

Determine whether each of the following is a solution of the differential equation y − 9 y = 0 .
Show organized work.
10. y = sin ( 3x ) 11. y = e3x 12. y = cos ( 3x ) 13. y = e −3x

Differentiate in Problems 14-16.

e y
14. y = 32t −1 t 2 15. f ( y) = 16. f ( x) = e x ln x
y2
Antidifferentiate in Problems 17-19.
e− x 2x − 4 (ln t )3
17. y = 18. g ( x ) = 19. y =
1 + e− x x t

( ) , y = 0, x = −2, and x = 0 without using a

x
20. Find the area of the region bounded by y = 1
2
calculator.

21. Use a calculator to find the area between the curve y = 2 cos x + cos(2 x) and the
x-axis, from x = 0 to x =  . Show an integral set up and an answer.
−1.3t
22. For a particle moving along a straight path with velocity v(t) = e − t ln(.37t ), t  0 ,
use your calculator to find:
a. the time when the particle is at rest.
b. the speed of the particle at time t = 4.
c. the acceleration of the particle at time t = 5.
d. the total distance traveled by the particle on the interval [1, 5].
2
If a particle moves along the curve y = x , such that
dx
23. 3
= 3 for all x, find:
dt
dy dy
a. when x = −1 b. when x = 8
dt dt
dy dy
c. lim d. lim−
x → dt x →0 dt
2 2
24. a. Use a tangent line to the graph of y = x to approximate (8.1) 3 .
3

2 2
b. Why could a tangent line to y = x 3 at x = 0 not be used to approximate (.1) 3 ?
25. f and g are inverse functions. The graph of g passes through the points (−1, 2) , and (2, −1)
f (−1) = −2 and f (2) = −1 . Find:
a. g (−1) b. g(2)
 173
LESSON 7.2 EXPONENTIAL GROWTH AND DECAY AND OTHER MODELS

Mathematical models in which the rate of change of a variable is proportional to the variable itself
are common in both the business and scientific worlds.

Suppose that the rate of change of y (with respect to time) is proportional to y itself.
dy
= k • y
dt

Rate of change = constant • amount of substance

of y with of proportionality y present at time t
respect to time (y is a function of t)

Example 1: Separate variables and solve the differential equation above.

The equation from Example 1 is called the Basic Law of Exponential Growth or Decay:
y = Cekt

Constants:
C is the initial value (the amount of substance present at time t = 0 )
k is the constant of proportionality ( k  0 for growth and k  0 for decay)
Variables:
t is the variable for time
y is the amount of substance present at time t. ( y is a function of t.)

Example 2: What is the rate of growth of the population in a city whose population triples every
100 years? Assume that the population growth can be modeled by the Basic Law of Exponential
Growth, and express your answer as a percent (rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent).
 174
Example 3: Let y represent the mass, in pounds, of a radioactive element whose half-life is 4000
years. If there are 200 pounds of the element in an inactive mine, how much will still remain in 1000
years? Express your answer to 3 or more decimal place accuracy.

Example 4: Newton’s Law of Cooling states that the rate of change in the temperature of an
object is proportional to the difference between the temperature of the object and the temperature of
its surroundings. Suppose a metal figurine, heated to 150  F, is brought into a room having a
constant temperature of 72  F. If the figurine cools from 150  to 120  in 15 minutes, how long
will it take for the figurine to reach a temperature of 100  F? Let y = temperature, and express
your answers to the nearest minute.

ASSIGNMENT 7.2
y
1. Find the particular equation of the form
y = Ce kt which represents the exponential
(2,4)
growth graph shown at right. You must first
solve for C. Then, you must solve for k.
(0,2)
Finally, you can write the equation in the form
y = Ce kt using your values for C and k.
t

2. $1000 is placed into a certificate of deposit (CD) in which interest is compounded

continuously at a rate of 5 12 % per year (actual rate of return will be higher due to
compounding of interest). Use your calculator and the formula A = Pert to find:
a. the amount that the CD would be worth in 1 year. 5 years. 10 years.
b. the time it would take the CD to be worth $1,200.
c. the time it would take the CD to double in value.
 175
3. Suppose 200 bacteria are introduced into a culture to study their rate of growth. Two days
later, the culture is found to contain 300 bacteria. Assuming the rate of growth is proportional
to the number of bacteria present ( y =Cekt ), how many bacteria will be present in 3 more days
(5 days after the start)?

4. Find the half-life of a radioactive isotope if 4.92 grams out of an initial 5 grams of the isotope
remain after 10 years.

14
5. An isotope of carbon (C ) is used for estimating how long ago certain living organisms were
on earth. (The method is called carbon dating.) The half-life of C14 is approximately 5730
years. If the skull of an ancient primate contains 10% (.1) of the C14 present in the skull of a
modern primate of a similar species, estimate how long ago the ancient primate lived (to the
nearest thousand years).

6. A worker at a hazardous waste plant was accidentally exposed to toxic chemicals which were
absorbed into his bloodstream. Upon feeling ill, the worker went to a hospital and had some
blood drawn for testing. The concentration of chemical in the drawn blood was found to be
.0158 mg/ml. Expensive medication was administered to counter the effects of the chemical in
the blood, but the doctor on duty knew that the concentration of the chemical in the
bloodstream would have to decrease gradually over time according to the Basic Law of
Exponential Decay ( y =Cekt ). Medication would have to be administered every hour until the
concentration was below .0050 mg/ml. Two hours later, blood was again drawn, and it was
found to contain a chemical concentration of .0126 mg/ml. The doctor asked a lab technician
to do the following. (You do the same):
a. Write the particular solution for exponential decay for the chemical in the patient’s blood.
(Let t = 0 represent the time that blood was first drawn.)
b. Sketch a graph of the function from Part a.
c. Find out how long it will be before the patient can be taken off medication.
d. When the patient has only a negligible amount of chemical in his bloodstream (less than
.0001 mg/ml), he can be released from the hospital. Find out how long the patient has to
be hospitalized (from the time he first came to the hospital and had his blood drawn).
e. Occasionally, patients exposed to this chemical suffer damage to their central nervous
systems. A maximum concentration of .020 mg/ml requires a follow-up examination. The
doctor estimated that the maximum concentration of the chemical in the worker’s
bloodstream occurred 1 hour after exposure. The patient estimated 1 hour after exposure
would have been about 3 hours prior to his blood being drawn for the first time. Should the
patient be asked to return for a follow-up exam? Why or why not?
f. Find the half-life for the chemical in the bloodstream for the patient.

7. The rate of change in the temperature, y, of an object in a room with a constant temperature
of 70  F is proportional to the difference between y and 70, (that is, y − 70 ). (This is
Newton’s Law of Cooling.) If the object cools from 100  F to 80  F in 20 minutes, how long
would it take the object to cool from 100  F to 75  F?
 176
Evaluate in Problems 8-14 without using a calculator.

3 y3 + y 2 + 3 y + 2 2
 x x2
( )
2

 x3 + 10 dx
1
0 
1
8. dy 9. x2 − 5 dx 10. 3
tan   dx 11.
y2 +1 0 0
2

du cos ( 1x )
 u(ln u)3  5 dx 
2x
12. 13. 14. dx
x2

15. Find a general solution of 3 y y − 3 x = 0 .

16. Find the particular solution of 2 xy y  = ln x , if the graph of the particular solution
contains the point (e,1). Make sure that your answer expresses y as a function of x.
( y = f ( x) )

17. Show that y = sin x − cos x + e x is a solution of the differential equation y − y = cos x .
1 1
2 2

10 ft.
18. A conical tank, as shown at right, has a hole in its bottom and
is leaking water at the rate of 1 cubic foot per minute. Find the
rate of change in the height, h, of the water in the tank when
V =  r2h
1
h = 4 ft?
3
Write appropriate units for your answer.
Hint: Find a relationship between r and h. r = ___ h

Find the indicated limits in Problems 19-21.

x−a (3 x − 2)( x + 1) 2 1 − ex
19. lim 20. lim 21. lim
x →a a 2 − x 2 x → (2 x + 1) 2 ( x − 5) x → 0 sin ( 4 x )

t + h + t + h − (t + t )
22. If f (t ) = lim , find f (t ) .
h →0 h
 177
LESSON 7.3 SLOPE FIELDS

A slope field is a graphical representation of a set of slopes obtained from a differential equation.
Remember that a differential equation involves a derivative. That derivative represents the slopes
for a function. In Lesson 8-1, you learned to solve differential equations by separating variables.
Even if you cannot separate variables and integrate, you can still use a differential equation to plot
the slopes for a function.

dy −x
Example 1: Find the slopes given by the differential equation = at the following points:
dx y
a. (3, 2) b. (−1, 3) c. (−2, −1) d. (2, −2)

Why can’t you find slopes when y = 0 ?

Example 2: Find and plot the slopes given

dy − x
by = for each remaining marked 

dx y
point (dot) in the coordinate plane at the right.
− 

−

Example 3: In Example 2, you made what is known as a slope field. Starting at the point (0, 1),
follow the flow of the slopes to sketch the solution curve containing (0, 1). Your graph should be
“parallel” to the slope lines and be like an “average of slopes” whenever it goes between lines.
Your solution curve must represent a function whose domain is the largest possible open interval
containing the given point. Sketch a solution curve passing through (−1, 1) and one passing
through (0, −3) . What type of graph does this differential equation seem to be producing?

Note: The most common student error in sketching a particular solution to a differential equation is
to extend the sketch too far and create a graph which is not a function. It is important to set
appropriate “boundaries” for your sketch. Why is the x-axis a “boundary” for the differential
equation from Examples 1 and 2?
 178
dy − x
Example 4: Solve the differential equation = .
dx y

Note: Solving for y yields y = ________________ or y = ________________ .

dy −x
Find the particular solution for the differential equation = whose graph passes through the
dx y
point (0,1) .

Find the particular solution whose graph passes through the point (0, −3) .

y
1
Example 5: For the differential equation y = . . . . . . .
y . . . 2. . . .
a. Draw the slope field in the dot coordinate plane at right. . . . . . . .
b. Graph the particular solutions passing through the
−2 x. 2
points (−2, −1) and (2, 2) as functions of x. . . . . . .
. . . − 2. . . .
. . . . . . .
c. Solve the differential equation.

d. Write as functions the particular solutions for the differential equation

whose graphs pass through (−2, −1) and (2, 2) .
 179
Example 6: Which of the differential equations  y
below matches the slope field shown at right?

a. y = x b. y = y c. y = x − y
d. y = 1 + y
2
e. y = 1 + x 2 x
− −  

−

−

y
Example 7: The slope field for a certain differential
equation is shown at the right. Which of the following 

could be a specific solution to the differential equation?


−x
a. y = e b. y = e y = −e x
x
c.
d. y = − ln x e. y = ln x x
 

Using Lessons 7.3 and 7.1, you should be able to show graphically a particular solution of a
differential equation, and confirm that solution by solving the differential equation
(if it is possible to do so).

ASSIGNMENT 7.3 A tear-out sheet is provided on page 181 for your work.
x2
1. Find the slopes given by the differential equation y = at each of the following points:
y−2
a. (0,0) b. (1,1) c. (−2, 4) d. (4, −2) e. (−3, −3) f. (5,12)

2. For the differential equation in Problem 1, why are there no slopes when y = 2 ?

x
3. The slope field for y  = is shown at right.  y
y
a. Plot the following points on the slope field:

i. (1, 2) ii. (3, 1) iii. (0, 3)
iv. (0, −2) v. (−2, −1) x
b. Plot a separate solution curve through each of − −  
the points from Part a. Remember that the
curves have to be functions. −
c. What would a solution curve containing
(2, 2) look like?
−
x
d. Solve the differential equation y  = .
y
 180
dy
4. For the differential equation =y y
dx
a. Draw the slope field for the differential equation. . . . . . . . m=
b. Graph the particular solutions passing . . . 2. . . . m=
through the points (0,1) and (0, −1) . . . . . . . . m=
c. Solve the differential equation, and find x . . . . . . . m=
−2 2
the particular solutions that contain the . . . . . . . m=
points (0, 1) and (0, −1) . . . . −2 . . . . m=
dy x . . . . . . . m=
5. For the differential equation =
dx 2
a. Draw the slope field for the differential equation.
b. Graph the particular solution passing through the point (−1, 1) .
c. Solve the differential equation, and find the particular solution that contains
the point (−1, 1) .

1
6. Repeat the three parts of Problem 5 for the differential equation y = . For this problem,
2y
draw your graph as and write your solution as a function of x.

7. Repeat the three parts of Problem 5 for the differential equation yy 2 = 1 .

dy
8. Repeat the three parts of Problem 5 for the differential equation = 2 x ( y − 1) , but use the
dx
origin (instead of (−1, 1) ) for Parts b. and c.
 y
9. The slope field for a certain differential equation is
shown at right. Which of the following could be a 
specific solution to that differential equation. x

− −  
b. x + y = 4
1
x3 + y = 2
2 2
a. 3 −
4 y
c. x2 − y2 = 4 d. y = e. =4
x x −

 y
10. Which of the differential equations below
matches the slope field shown at right? 
x
dy dy
a. = x− y b. = y−x − −  
dx dx
dy x dy y dy −
c. = d. = e. = xy
dx y dx x dx
−
 181
Assignment 7.3 Tear-out Sheet Name _________________________

1. a. ____ b. ____ c. ____ d. ____ e. ____ f. ____ 2.

x
3. a, b, c  y
3. d. solve y =
y


− −  

−

−

y
4. a, b 4. c.
. . . . . . . m=
. . . 2. . . . m=
. . . . . . . m=
x . . . . . . . m=
−2 2
. . . . . . . m=
. . . −2 . . . . m=
. . . . . . . m=

5. a, b 5. c.


− 

−

6. a, b 6. c.


− 

−
 182
7. a, b 7. c.


− 

−

8. a, b 8. c.


− 

−

9. ____ 10. ____

 183
11. Use the acceleration graph at right to find the following  a(t)
for an object moving along a straight path. 

a. a(1) b. a(6) c. a(9) d. a(12)

acc. (in
Suppose v(0) = 2 m/sec. Find: 
e. v(3) f. v(7) g. v(10) h. v(12) m/sec) 
t
i. At what time on [0,12] was the object moving
     
the fastest? Justify your answer. −

j. At what time on [0,12] was the object moving −

the slowest? Justify your answer. −

k. When was the object slowing down (speed decreasing)? time ( in sec )
Find the x-value(s) where each of the functions in Problems 12-15 is not differentiable. Give a
reason why each function is not differentiable for those values of x. Do not use a calculator.
x 2 ( x − 2)
12. f ( x) = x 2 − 9 13. p ( x) =
x( x + 1)
1
 2 x + 1, x 1
14. q( x) = x − x 3 15. h( x ) =  1 2 3
x +x+ , x 1
2 2

16. The product of two positive numbers is 80. Find the numbers so that the sum of the first
number and five times the second number is a minimum. Do not use a calculator.

17. Use the f  and f  number lines below to sketch a possible graph of a continuous function f .

− + −
f  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ → + − −
f  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ →
0 2 −2 0

Evaluate the integrals in Problems 18-24 without using a calculator.

x +1 t−2 cos y
18. 
x −1
dx 19.  2
t − 4t − 5
dt 20.  (sec2  − 2) d 21.  sin
3
y
dy

csc 2 ( x ) cot 2 x − 1
22.  sec
5
x tan x dx 23.  dx 24.  dx
cot( x ) cot x

1
The velocity of a moving object is given by v ( t ) = t 3 − 2t + 1 .
4
25. If the position at t = 2 is given by x ( 2 ) = 3 , find x ( t ) .
26. Find the total distance traveled by the object on the interval  0, 4 .

x 1 − x2 2 x ( x 2 − 3)
27. f ( x) = 2 , f ( x) = , and f ( x) = .
x +1 ( x 2 + 1) ( x 2 + 1)
2 3

a. Without using a calculator, list the domain, asymptotes, and intercepts for f ( x) .
b. Find the relative extrema points of f ( x).
c. Find the points of inflection of f ( x).
d. Sketch f ( x) without using a calculator.
 184
ASSIGNMENT 7.4 REVIEW
1. Find the particular solution of 4 y = 3x 2 + 2 x, if y (2) = 5 .

dy x
2. Find the particular solution of = , if y(5) = 3 .
dx y
y
3. Find the particular solution of = y − 1, if y(0) = 5.
3x 2
4. Which of the following differential equations is y
represented by the slope field shown? 


= x( x − y) = x( x + y)
dy dy
A. B.
dx dx x
x
= y ( x + y)
dy dy
C. D. = − −  
dx dx ( x + y)
−
dy
E. = xy
dx
−

5. Sketch a slope field for the differential equation dx = x + y . Use  −2, 2 for
dy

both your x-interval and your y-interval.

6. For the differential equation from Problem 5, sketch a particular solution which
passes through the point (1, −1) .

7. Which of these differential equations corresponds

to the slope field shown? 
dy x2 dy x2
A. = B. = 
dx y + 2 dx y − 2
− −  
dy x3 dy x3
C. = D. = −
dx y − 2 dx y + 2
−

8. If ( 2, 6 ) is a point on the solution curve of the differential equation y + xy = 5 ,

determine the concavity of the solution curve at that point.

t2
to find an expression for H ( t ) if H ( −2 ) = 3.
dH
9. Solve the differential equation =
dt H 2

10. Which of the following is a solution of the differential equation y + y = e x ?

1 1
A. y = e x + 2e − x B. y = 2 e x − 2e − x C. y = e x − 3e − x D. y = 2 e − x + 3e x
 185
11. The rate of coal production, R(t), from a coal mine was 2,000,000 tons per year at the
beginning of the year 2000. By the beginning of the year 2006, the coal production had
decreased to 1,200,000 tons per year. The mine will be profitable until less than 200,000 tons
of coal are produced in a given year. Assuming that the decline in the amount of coal mined
per year closely models the equation for exponential decay ( y = Cekt ) , find the following:
a. the particular equation for the amount of coal mined per year. (Let t = 0 for the
beginning of the year 2000.)
b. the half-life for the production of coal (from your model in Part a.).
c. the year when it will no longer be profitable to mine coal.
6
12. Write a sentence telling what  0
R (t ) dt (from Problem 11) represents.

13. Approximate the value of the integral from Problem 12 t t R(t)

using the table at the right. (R values are to the nearest 0 2000
thousand tons per year.) 1 1837
a. Use a Midpoint Riemann Sum with 3 equal subdivisions. 2 1687
b. Use a Trapezoidal approximation with widths of 1,2, and 3 3 1549
in that order. 4 1423
6
5 1307
14. Use your calculator to find the actual value of  0
R (t ) dt 6 1200

from Problem 12 to the nearest thousand tons.

15. Which of the following shows a correct solution curve containing the point ( 0, −2 ) for
dy
the slope field represented by the differential equation = x 2 ( y − 1) ?
dx

A.  B. 

 

− −   − −  

−
−

−
−

C.  D. 

 

− −   − −  
− −

− −
 186

16. Which of the following shows a correct solution curve containing the point ( 3, 2 ) for
dy 2
the slope field represented by the differential equation = ?
dx y 2
A. B.

 

− −   − −  

− −

C. D.

 

− −   − −  

− −

Find the following limits.

2 − cos  3e x −2 ex − 3
17. lim 18. lim 19. lim
→
  x →2 4 x − 8 x→ x2 + x + 2
2

ln ( x + 1) 5 x 4 − 3x 2 + 5
20. lim 21. lim
x→ x+2 x →  x 4 + 3x − 7

3x

d
22. sin t 2 dt = ?
dx 2x

23. If f ( 2 ) = −15 and f  ( x ) = ln ( x + 2 ) + e x find f ( 6 ) . You may use a calculator.

24. Without using a calculator, find the x-values of all extrema and points of inflection
for the following functions. Show all number lines and analysis.
a. y = x 3 − 3x 2 − 9 x + 7 b. y = 3 x 5 − 5 x 3

25. If you build 3 identical adjacent rectangular pens with 600 feet of fence, what
dimensions of the total enclosure will maximize the total area? Show the equations
you use and proper calculus steps.
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26. Find y if 3xy − y 2 = 2 y − 4 x3 .

27. Integrate the following:

ex ln x + 3 x2 − 2 x −1
a.  x dx b.  dx c.  x −1 dx
e +5 x

28. In 1990, the population of a city was 123,580. In 2000, the city’s population was 152,918.
Assuming that the population is increasing at a rate proportional to the existing population,
use your calculator to estimate the city’s population in 2025. Express your answer to the
nearest person.

29. A radioactive element has a half-life of 1000 years. How much of 200 grams of the element
will remain after 750 years?

UNIT 7 SUMMARY

Differential Equations: (Equations involving derivatives.)

Procedure for Solving Differential Equations

Rewrite y as
dy
1. (if necessary).
dx
2. Multiply both sides of the equation by dx (if necessary).
3. Separate variables. (This is the most crucial step.)
4. Integrate both sides of the equation. (Remember to add C to one side.)
5. Solve for y (if necessary).
6. Use an initial condition to solve for C (if an initial condition is given).
Steps 5 and 6 are interchangeable.

Exponential Growth and Decay: y = Ce kt

Slope Fields: Be able to:

Sketch a slope field given: a differential equation.
Sketch a solution curve given: a differential equation and a starting point.
Match a slope field with: a differential equation.
Match a slope field with: the solution of a differential equation.