UMEP Calculus Extension Studies

2020

Assignment 2
Due: Week of 7th September.

Q1. A function defines a probability density function if

(i) the area under the curve is 1 AND

(ii) the function is never less than zero.

Let fα : [0, 1] → R be defined by

π 
fα (x) = αe−πx cos x .
2
where α ∈ R is a constant.
Use the complex exponential to find the value of α such that fα is a probability
density function.

Q2. A tank initially contains 200 litres of pure water. Water containing salt at a
concentration of 0.1 kg/litre is pumped into the tank at a rate of 5 litres/min. The
mixture in the tank is pumped out at a rate of 10 litres/min. (Assume the water
is well mixed in the tank.)

(a) Show that the differential equation for the amount of salt (x kg) in the tank
at time t is
dx 10x
= 0.5 − , t ∈ [0, 40]
dt 200 − 5t
(b) Find the concentration of salt in the tank after t minutes.
(c) Find the amount of salt in the tank after 15 minutes.

Q3. Consider the equation

d2 y dy
x2 + px + qy = 0 (x > 0),
dx2 dx
where p, q ∈ R.

(a) Show that the substitution x = ez transforms this equation into the equation

d2 y dy
2
+ (p − 1) + qy = 0
dz dz
(b) Using part (a), solve

d2 y dy
x2 −x − 2y = 0 (x > 0).
dx2 dx

1
Q4. Bonus marks (Extension question) In this Calculus subject, you have only ex-
plored first order linear differential equations and second order constant coefficient
differential equations.
However, differential equations are a whole area of study themselves (and also a
second year subject at the university of Melbourne, so get excited for that!).
There are lots of techniques available that help us solve different kinds of differential
equations. One such technique is the method of variation of parameters.

(a) Do some research on the method of variation of parameters. You will prob-
ably encounter references to your future best friend for the beginning of any
differential equations course: the Wronskian. This part does not require any
answers, just for you to familiarise yourself with the concepts.
(b) Let a, b ∈ R. Use the method of variation of parameters to show that the
general solution of the second order ODE

y 00 (x) + (a + b)y 0 (x) + aby = F (x),

can be written as
Z x
1
y(x) = C1 1e−ax + C2 e−bx + [e−a(x−t) − e−b(x−t) ]F (t)dt,
b−a x0

where x0 is some initial point.