GCE Maths Unit 4 – 4.

5 Differentiation

Rates of change and proportionality Construction of differential equations

• The rate of increase of W is directly proportional to W, i.e. Context: Kinematics
At time t seconds, a particle moves with velocity v ms-1. This is inversely proportional to its displacement, which is x m from a fixed point.
Therefore, when x = 2, v = 5.

• The rate of decrease of N is directly proportional to N2, i.e. using x = 2, v = 5 gives k = 10.

∴ since

• The rate of decrease of x is directly proportional to , i.e.

Construction of differential equations

Context: Kinematics
• The rate of increase of P is inversely proportional to P, i.e.
A crate, of mass m kg, is projected along a rough horizontal floor. The coefficient of friction between the body and the floor is μ. In addition to friction,
the body experiences a resistive force of mv N, where v ms-1 is the velocity of the body at time t seconds.

Using N2L, Fnet = ma

k represents the constant of proportionality. – mv – μmg = ma
– (v + μg) = a

Construction of differential equations

∴ = – (v + μg) since a =
Context: Population change
At time t seconds, the rate of increase of a population of
bacteria is directly proportional to the size of the population P.

Construction of differential equations

Context: Depreciation
The value, £ V, of a luxury car may be modelled as a continuous
random variable. At time t years, the rate of decrease of V is
directly proportional to V 3 .
Context: Kinematics
A particle, of mass 5 kg, is projected vertically downwards from a point A. The resistance acting on the particle has magnitude v2 where v ms-1 is the
velocity of the body at time t seconds.
Using N2L downwards, Fnet = ma
5g – v2 = 5a

9 ∙ 8 – 0 ∙ 2v2 = a

Rates of change in kinematics

∴ = 0 ∙ 2(49 – v2 ) since a =
Note:

and