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The Logistic Population Model Math 121 Calculus II

The document summarizes the logistic population model. The logistic model assumes a population y will increase when below a carrying capacity K but decrease when above K. This is modeled by the logistic differential equation dy/dt = ry(1 - y/K), where r is a positive constant. The equation can be solved using separation of variables and partial fractions to obtain the solution y = K/(1 + Ae-rt), which graphs as a sigmoid curve approaching K as its upper limit.

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Junior Alexis Julon Ventura
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91 views2 pages

The Logistic Population Model Math 121 Calculus II

The document summarizes the logistic population model. The logistic model assumes a population y will increase when below a carrying capacity K but decrease when above K. This is modeled by the logistic differential equation dy/dt = ry(1 - y/K), where r is a positive constant. The equation can be solved using separation of variables and partial fractions to obtain the solution y = K/(1 + Ae-rt), which graphs as a sigmoid curve approaching K as its upper limit.

Uploaded by

Junior Alexis Julon Ventura
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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For this model it is assumed that ther rate of

dy
change
of the population y is proportional to the
dt
product of the current population y and K y, or
The Logistic Population Model
what is the same thing, proportion to the product
Math 121 Calculus II
y(1 y/K). That gives us the logistic differential
D Joyce, Spring 2013
equation
dy
Summary of the exponential model. Back a
= ry(1 y/K).
dt
while ago we discussed the exponential population
Here, r is a positive constant. Note that when
model. For that model, it is assumed that the rate
dy
dy
is positive, so y increases, but when
of the population y is proportional y < K ,
of change
dt
dt
to the current population. If r is the constant of y < K, the derivative is negative, so y decreases.
proportionality, thats the exponential differential
We can solve this differential equation by the
equation
method of separation of variables. First, separate
the variables to get
dy
= ry
1
dt
dy = r dt
y(1 y/K)
and that has the general solution
and integrate
Z

y = Aert
where A is the initial population y(0). Rather than
using the base e for exponentiation, any other convenient base b can be used

1
dy =
y(1 y/K)

Z
r dt.

Z
Of course,

y = Abst

r dt = rt + C, but what about the

integral on the left side of the equation?


r
For that, well need the method of partial fracwhere s =
.
1
ln b
There are many assumptions of this exponen- tions. Write y(1 y/K) as the sum of two simpler
tial model. In particular, it is assumed that there rational functions:
are unlimited resources and there is no competition
1
A
B
within the population.
= +
y(1 y/K)
y
1 y/K
More reasonable models for population growth
can be devised to fit actual populations better at
where A and B are coefficients yet to be deterthe expense of complicating the model.
mined. Clear the denominators to get the equation
The logistic model. Verhulst proposed a model,
A
called the logistic model, for population growth in
1 = A(1 y/K) + By = A y + By
K
1838. It does not assume unlimited resources. Instead, it assumes there is a carrying capacity K for from which it follows that A = 1 and B = 1/K.
the population. This carrying capacity is the stable Thus,
population level. If the population is above K, then
the population will decrease, but if below, then it
1
1
1/K
1
1
=
+
=
+
.
will increase.
y(1 y/K)
y 1 y/K
y K y
1

Therefore,
Z

Z
Z
dy
dy
dy
=
+
y(1 y/K)
y
K y
= ln y ln |K y|


y
.
= ln
y K

Now that weve integrated the left side of the


equation, we can continue


y
= rt + C
ln
y K
Next, the application of a little algebra gives us
y=

K
1 + Aert

where A is a constant.
The graph of this function is asymptotic to the
y-axis on the left, asymptotic to the line y = K on
the right, and symmetric with respect to the point
where y = K/2, which is an inflection point. To its
left, the graph is concave upward, but to its right,
concave downward.
Heres the graph of for K = 1, A = 1, and r = 1,
so that
1
.
y=
1 + et

Math
121
Home
Page
http://math.clarku.edu/~djoyce/ma121/

at

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