Name

M242
Numerical Assignment 1
July 7, 2021

Directions: Use Excel to complete the assignment below and upload your excel file to Blackboard.

1. Use Euler’s method with ∆x = 1 and then ∆x = .1 to estimate the solution of the initial value
problem
1
y0 = y(100 − y), y(0) = 2, (1)
50
for 0 ≤ x ≤ 10. Give a plot of both approximate solutions you obtain. Note that this differential
equation could be used to model population growth with a carrying capacity of K = 100. Discuss
the accuracy of both of your approximate solutions in relation to this population model.

2. Use Euler’s method with ∆t = .25 and then ∆t = .1 to estimate the solution of the initial value
problem

T 0 (t) = 30 − T (t) + t2 , T (0) = 100, (2)

for 0 ≤ t ≤ 10. Give a plot of both approximate solutions you obtain. Note that this differential
equation could be used to model Newton’s law of cooling which we will discuss later in this class
(p.38).