Differential Equations

1. A particular species of bear survives only on fresh bamboo shoots. Based on historical data,
it is found that every 1 km2 of bamboo vegetation can feed and support the habitat of at
most 4 bears every year. In a new wildlife park with 225 km2 of bamboo vegetation, the
population growth (due to natural birth and death) of these bears can be modelled by the
differential equation
dy 1  y
  y ln  
dt 9  N
where y is the number of bears, in time t years, and N is the maximum number of
bears the park can support every year.
(i) Find the value of N . [1]
(ii) Given that 3% of the bear population is killed by illegal poachers every year,
modify the given differential equation to include this information. Hence, by

 y
using the substitution u  ln   , show that the differential equation can be
 N

du 1 3
written as  u . [4]
dt 9 100
(iii) What is the long-term stable population of this particular species of bears in
the park? [6]
(iv) State one assumption about the model. [1]

06/NJC/Promo/Qn12

2. By using the substitution y  cos 2  , show that

dx
cos ec 2  sin 2 ------------------------ (1)
d
dx
can be reduced to  y 1 .
dy
Hence find the general solution for differential equation (1), expressing x
in terms of  .
1 
Given that x  when   , find the particular solution for (1). [6]
8 4

07/NJC/MCT/Qn1
3. Use the substitution y  u  2 x to find the general solution of the differential equation
dy 8x  4 y  1 dy
 . Given that  0 when x  0 , show that the particular solution is
dx 4x  2 y 1 dx
 y  2x
2
 y  x  A , where A is a constant to be determined. Prove that in the
d2y B
general case;  n , where B and n are integers to be determined.
dx 2
 2 y  4 x  1
[8]

07/HCI/MCT/Q
4

4. A gardener is weeding at a rate proportional to the amount of weeds present in the

garden, and weeds are growing a at a rate inversely proportional to the amount of
weeds present. Let x be the amount of weeds present at time t hour. When x  0.5 kg,
dx  1 
the amount of weeds remain constant. Show that  k   4 x  , where k is
dt  x 
positive constant.

Initially, the garden has 15 kg of weeds to be cleared, and the gardener takes 2 hours
to clear 5 kg of weeds.

(i) Solve the differential equation and find the exact value of k. [5]

(ii) The garden can be rid of weeds by applying weed killer when the garden has
2kg of weeds remaining. Find the time, to the nearest minute, before weed
killer is applied.
[2]

07/HCI/MCT/Q6

v
5(a) By using the substitution y , show that the differential equation
x
dy 2 y dv 2x
  may be reduced to  .
dx 1  x 2
x dx 1  x 2

Hence, solve the differential equation, expressing y in terms of x. [5]

(b) A balloon is expanding and at time t seconds, its surface area is s cm2. The expansion
is such that the rate of increase of s is inversely proportional to s . When the surface
area is 900 cm2, it is increasing at a rate of 60cm2s-1.
 ds 1800
(i) Show that  and solve this differential equation given that s  400
dt s
when t  0.
[5]

(ii) Find, to the nearest second, the time at which 900cm2. [1]

07/SAJC/MCT/Q7

d2y x 1 dy 1
6. (a) Solve the differential equation dx 2  , given that y  and 
 1 4x  2 3
8 dx 4
when x  0 .

(b) Use the substitution y  u  3x to find the general solution of the differential
equation
dy 4  9 y  27 x

dx 3y  9x 1
07/VJC/MCT/Q13

dy
7. Show that the general solution of the differential equation  y  1  y  can be
dx
ex
expressed as y  , where C is an arbitrary constant. Hence, sketch on a single
ex  C
diagram, solution curves for this equation for C > 0, C = 0, and -1< C < 0, showing
clearly in terms of C your axial intercepts and asymptotes where necessary.
[12]

07/HCI/MCT/Q8

Answers:

1. (i) 900 (iii) 687

cos  4
cos 4  1
2. x   cos 2   A ; x   cos 2  
2 2 2
3.  y  2 x   y  x  A
2

899
4. (i) k 
48
1 C
5(a) y  ln  x  1 
2 3
(b) (i) s 2  2700t  8000 (ii) 7s
x x
1 1 1 3
(b)  y  3 x   y  4 x  C
2
6. (a) y  sin 2 x 
8 8 2