Core 4

Differential Equations

More Logs
Further Exponentials
 The laws of logs
Laws of logs: Laws of logs:
 ln a + ln b = ln ab  ln a k = k ln a
Example: Example:
ln 2 + ln 8 =ln 16
ln 35 = 5 ln 3
 ln a - ln b = ln (a/b)
Example:
ln 42 – ln 6 = ln 7  a = ex
ln a = ln ex
ln a = x ln e = x
 eln a = a
Using these rules ……..
a = eln a
x

5 =e
x ln 5
x
ax = e ln a
5x = ex ln 5 ax = ex ln a

5 =e
x 1.61x a =e
x (ln a)x

If y = ax
then y = e(ln a)x
The derivative y’ = (ln a) e(ln a)x
The derivative of ax is (ln a) ax
Key Points:
By using the equivalence: a =e
x (ln a)x

Function of the type ax can be more flexibly used.

Most importantly: The derivative of ax is (ln a) ax

 Example question
In a colony, where t is time since the population was counted, the population is represented by P

P  A 1.08 t
It can be modelled
by the equation:
a) After 3 years the population has grown to 5400.
What was it originally (3 sf)?

5400  A 1.08 3
A
5400
 4290 P  4290 1 . 08 t

1.083 P = 4290 at t = 0

b) How long would it take the population to grow to 10000?

10000  4290 1.08t ln 1.08t = 2.331
10000 t ln 1.08 = 2.331 t = 11.0 (3 sf)
1.08  t
 2.331
4290
c) At 3 years, what is the rate of increase in population?
 Example question
In a colony, where t is time since the population was counted, the population is represented by P

It can be modelled
by the equation:
P  42901.08 t

a) After 3 years the population has grown to 5400.

What was it originally (3 sf)? P = 4290 at t = 0
b) How long would it take the population to grow to 10000?
t = 11.0 (3 sf)
c) At 3 years, what is the rate of increase in population?
P  42901.08t “The derivative of ax is (ln a) ax”
dP When dP
 4290  ln 1.08 1.08t  4290  ln 1.08 1.083
dt t=3 dt
dP “The population increases at the rate of
 416
dt 416 animals per year at 3 years
Summary of Topic
Example : Find the general solution of ...
dy
 2 x( y  4)
First-order differential equations can be solved
by separating the variables and integrating
dx
dy
Separate the variables  2 x dx
y4
1
Solve by Integrating both sides  dy   2 x dx
y4
Gives .. ln( y  4)  x 2  c
ln( y  4 ) x 2 c x2 c
To make y the subject e e e e
x2
Replace e with another constant
c
y  4  Ae
x2
Becomes y  Ae  4
Solving Differential Equations - Summary
E.g. The rate of growth at a time (t) is proportional to the size of the population (P)

dP First-order differential equations can be solved

 0.5P by separating the variables and integrating
dt
Becomes P  Ae 0.5t
This is the general solution of the D.E.
(with a constant in it)
Given some info… at the start the population was 200
when t=0 P = 200

200  Ae 0
So, A = 200
this is a particular solution
Then
P  200e 0.5t
of the equation
Exponential growth and decay - Summary
Exponential growth The general form is
y  ae bt (a>0, b>0)

Exponential decay The general form is

 bt
y  ae (a>0, b>0)

 bt
y  c  ae
y  c  ae bt (a>0, b>0)

C
Represents the process where y gets
y  c  ae bt
closer and closer to c as ‘t  ’
Further Exponential Functions

 Now work: Page 78

 Exercise E 1-3

 Homework: Page 79
 Test Yourself : AQA questions