Calculus for AT & EE

Guided self study – Week 2

1. Decide for each statement below whether it is true or false. In each case motivate your
answer.
a) {𝑦(𝑡)| 𝑦 ′ = 𝑘𝑦, 𝑘 ∈ ℝ} = {𝑦(𝑡) = 𝐶𝑒 𝑘𝑡 | 𝐶 ∈ ℝ, 𝑘 ∈ ℝ}
b) 0 ∈ {𝑦(𝑡)| 𝑦 ′ = 5𝑦}

2. Draw the slope field of 𝑦 ′ = 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦. You can do this by hand (grid paper helps) or use a
digital aid (e.g. GeoGebra), whichever is easier for you. Use the slope field to sketch the
solution passing through (1,0).

3. Sugar dissolves in water at a rate proportional to the amount still undissolved. If there were
50 kg of sugar present initially, and at the end of 5 hours only 20 kg are left how long will it
take until 90% of the sugar is dissolved?

4. Solve the differential equation

𝑑𝑦 1 𝑥
+ 𝑦= , 𝑥 > −1
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 + 1 𝑥+1

5. There are many techniques one can use to turn differential equations from one sort (that is
not directly solvable or not easily solvable) into another sort that is easier to solve. Here is
one such method:
Show that by defining 𝑧(𝑥) = 1⁄𝑦(𝑥) the differential equation
𝑦 ′ = 4𝑦 2 + 𝑦
can be written as a linear differential equation in terms of the function z.
Solve this DE for 𝑧(𝑥) and hence solve for 𝑦(𝑥).